Just some nicer photos of the palace interior to show the whole thing doesn't look like a benihana. The women at right are (oviously) dressed in kimonos. That's actually fairly common in Japan. Of course traditional costume is long gone, but almost everyone would have a kimono for formal events and certain holidays. Of course, nothing in Japan is simple, so you can devote your life to the intricacies of kimonos, and the best ones, as worn by geishas for example can cost a fortune.