At Japanese inns, yukata is provided as loungewear. This yukata is designed to keep you comfortable during Japan’s hot summers, making it the perfect outfit to wear after taking a bath. It is easy to wear, so give it a try and get in the mood for your trip to Japan. This time we will introduce you to the correct way to wear a yukata at a ryokan.
◆How to Wear a Yukata
1) Choose the size of the yukata according to your height.
When worn, the hem should be around ankle length.
Reference
S: Height 145-155cm
M: Height 155-165cm
L: Height 165-175cm
LL: Height 175cm or more
2) Put both arms through the sleeves, align the back seam with the center of your body, and align the tips of both collars.
3) Wrap the right garment around your left hip and push it in as far as possible. Next, wrap the left side around your right hip so that it is on top of the right garment.
⚠️The order of right first, then left is important. In Japan, wearing clothes with the left side below the right side is not allowed as it is only done for the deceased, and is considered bad luck!
4) While holding the fabric, hold the obi (belt) and align the center of the obi with the center of your stomach. While holding it in place with your hands, cross it at the back, then come back to the front and tie it in front of your body.
5) Wear a haori (jacket) or tanzen (winter garment) over your yukata when it is cold.
★ Yukata Tips for Women
– The collar should be slightly loose the front of the collar should be about two fingers below your neck.
– Leave one fist’s worth of space behind the collar Hold the left and right sides of the collar in front of your chest with your left hand and hold the center of your back with your right hand and adjust the collar. If the width of the collar is removed by about the size of one fist, the collar will look beautiful.
★ Yukata Tips for Men
– The obi should be wrapped around the hip Rather than wrapping it around the waist, men’s obi should be wrapped around the hipbone. Turn the knot from the left to the back, insert the thumbs of both hands into the obi, and lower it to create a balanced look.
– Do not leave space on the back of the collar Only women’s kimono leaves space behind the collar. For men, make sure that the collar sits on the back of the neck.
◆Be Mindful about Manner and Attire while Wearing a Yukata
– When sitting or squatting, keep your knees together.
Emphasize good posture by sitting with your knees together, and keeping your upper body straight when lowering your hips so that the yukata does not roll up. When you sit down, do not lean back, but keep your back straight and maintain a good posture.
– When reaching out, hold the sleeves.
Gently press down the sleeves with your other hand so that it does not get in the way when you eat or reach for things.
– When using stairs, slightly lift the hem.
There is a risk of falling and the hem may get dirty if you step on the hem of your yukata on the stairs. When using stairs, lean your body slightly and lift the front hem of your yukata.
– When using the restroom, tuck the hem into the obi.
To avoid staining your yukata, lift the hem from the top to the bottom and tuck it into the obi when using the bathroom. When you walk out of the bathroom, pull your hem back to make sure everything is clean.
◆Colorful Yukata
Ryokan yukata are worn inside the inn or as pajamas, but “colorful yukata” are yukata with a rich design and color that brightens up the hot spring town. Taking a stroll around the hot spring town, visiting the public baths, and taking photos wearing a colorful yukata is sure to bring out the holiday spirit. The most famous spot for colorful yukata is Kinosaki Onsen, where the colorful yukata service originated, but it is now offered at ryokans all over Japan. Some places rent them out for free while others charge a fee, and many accommodation plans include colorful yukata services. When staying at a ryokan, be sure to wear a colorful yukata to liven up your trip.
This has been the introduction to the yukata at Japanese ryokans.
Yukata is a type of Japanese clothing (kimono) that is worn on bare skin and originated as a form of relaxing home wear. Nowadays, yukata is popular as a fashionable item to wear during the summer, and yukatas for women come in many gorgeous patterns and colors. Yukata are worn during summer events such as firework festivals and Bon-odori dance festivals. The yukata provided at ryokans is a simplified version and easy to wear, but the real yukata is slightly more complex. If you are interested, we encourage you to look into yukata.