Value Improvement

Acintya Cornelia Perwitasari

XI IPS 3/02

Yukata
The yukata (浴衣) is a casual version of the kimono. It is a robe usually made of cotton or synthetic
fabric, wrapped around the body and fastened with a sash (obi). Yukata literally means "bathing
cloth", and it was originally intended to be just that. Traditionally, the garment is worn after bathing in
a communal bath, functioning as a quick way to cover the body and to absorb remaining moisture.

The yukata is often worn in hot spring (onsen) towns. It is also the typical dress for guests at ryokan.
The enjoyable experience of strolling the streets in yukata and geta (wooden clogs) is provided by
visiting an onsen town.

The yukata has also become a popular way of dressing for summer festivals. Increasingly fashionable
designs have surfaced to a degree that it is sometimes difficult for the untrained eye to discern
between a yukata and a kimono. Darker colors are usually seen by Yukata for men, while that for
young women is usually bright and colorful, often with floral designs. Yukata for matured women
tend to be less flashy.