CONTENTS
Although similar in appearance to those who unfamiliar, there is a big difference between the traditional garments kimonos (着物) and yukatas (浴衣). It is more than just when to wear them.
Kimono👘Yukata
In modern Japan, yukatas are a traditional garment usually worn in spring and summer, while kimonos are usually considered as formal wear for an important event such as a ceremony, in the fall and winter. To get more into detail, we went over four main factors that differentiate between kimonos and yukatas.
👘What You Wear Underneath
Photo source: Rakuten
The first difference between kimono and yukata is whether or not to wear long the underwear called "nagajuban" (長襦袢). Nagajuban is an essential robe normally made of cotton or silk that goes under your kimono primarily to keep it clean. If you look closely, you can see it in the double sleeve of the kimono. Primarily the robe is white, but sometimes you will see people wearing red or blue, or a patterned robe. Due to the yukata being more simple and viewed as a summer garment, you will not need a nagajuban.
👘Cloth Materials
Simple and thin yukata fabric
Luxurious and thick kimono fabric
In the case of yukata, since normally you wear them in the hot season or more traditionally as a bathrobe, the fabric is thin, light, and breathable typically made from cotton or polyester. Kimonos, on the other hand, are the more traditional and expensive garment usually made of silk or brocade.
👘Socks, or “Tabi”
Since kimonos are more formal, it is easy to remember that with kimonos you wear socks called "tabi" (たび) to cover your feet. Whereas with yukata you show your bare feet when wearing geta (下駄) or zori (草履). So if you see a person who is not wearing socks, chances are you're looking at a yukata, not a kimono.
👘When and How to Wear
Yukatas are best for summer festivals and firework displays (hanabi; 花火)
Beautiful locations and special events for kimonos
As mentioned earlier, due to being a more casual garment yukatas can be worn in everyday life. You would never wear a yukata to a concert, ceremony, or any other formal occasion. Since it is important to keep to the formality of a kimono, decorative accessories and ways they tye the obi (belt) also differ. For instance, if you see an obi that's twisted or folded in the front, you're almost definitely looking at a yukata, because it takes away the simplicity of the obi for a kimono. Even the collar is different. A kimono has at least two collars (due to the robe worn underneath) which also helps cover the collar bones for modesty. When you wear a yukata though, they base the whole fitting on the collar and having the drape of your neck and collar bones show (since there is only one collar).
Kimono👘Yukata
There are other differences between kimonos and yukatas like the way the obi is tied, but above are the main ways to tell the difference between the two. If you have a Japanese person to help you you should be fine, but one rule to remember is that you must wear them with the left panel over the right. In Japanese tradition that is what they do for dead people in funerals. So be careful!
For many that come to Japan, renting a kimono or yukata and walking around the city is on their list of things to do. It is a really fun experience and something special that you can add to your trip. If you rent one and walk around say Asakusa, you may even have Japanese people ask to take your pictures. There are so many designs and colors to choose from, so if this is something you are interested in doing you will be sure to find a yukata or kimono that fits you perfectly.
Be sure to look at JAPANKURU🐶 for more exciting articles every day!!
Or add us on Instagram and Facebook to share your Japanese pictures💖🗾
PROFILE
Follow us @Japankuru on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
COMMENT
FEATURED MEDIA
VIEW MOREA Very Special Trip on the Ferry Sunflower #japankuru #ferrysunflower #hokkaidotrip #japanexperience #japantrip #girlstrip #oarai #tomakomai #北海道 #北海道旅行 #茨城 #홋가이도 #일본선박여행 #토마코마이 #이바라키 #북해도 #페리여행 #여행에미치다 #여자끼리 #日本渡輪 #sunflower號 #坐船旅行 #日本女子旅 #日本體驗
Japanese Makeup Shopping • A Trip to Kamakura & Enoshima With Canmake’s Cool-Toned Summer Makeup #pr #canmake #enoshima #enoden #에노시마 #캔메이크 #japanesemakeup #japanesecosmetics
⚔️The Robot Restaurant is gone, but the Samurai Restaurant is here to take its place. Check it out, and don't forget your coupon! 🍣신주쿠의 명소 로봇 레스토랑이 사무라이 레스토랑으로 부활! 절찬 쿠폰 발급중 💃18歲以上才能入場的歌舞秀,和你想的不一樣!拿好優惠券去看看~ #tokyo #shinjuku #samurairestaurant #robotrestaurant #tokyotrip #도쿄여행 #신주쿠 #사무라이레스토랑 #이색체험 #할인이벤트 #歌舞伎町 #東京景點 #武士餐廳 #日本表演 #日本文化體驗 #japankuru #japantrip #japantravel #japanlovers #japan_of_insta
Japanese appliance & electronics shopping with our KOJIMA x BicCamera coupon! 用JAPANKURU的KOJIMA x BicCamera優惠券買這些正好❤️ 코지마 x 빅 카메라 쿠폰으로 일본 가전 제품 쇼핑하기 #pr #japankuru #japanshopping #kojima #biccamera #japaneseskincare #yaman #dji #osmopocket3 #skincaredevice #日本購物 #美容儀 #相機 #雅萌 #日本家電 #일본여행 #면세 #여행꿀팁 #일본쇼핑리스트 #쿠폰 #일본쇼핑 #일본브랜드 #할인 #코지마 #빅카메라 #japankurucoupon
Odaiba's DiverCity Tokyo Plaza is home to the famous real-size 20m-tall Unicorn Gundam, and the popular shopping center has even more Gundam on the inside! Check out the Gundam Base Tokyo on the 7th floor for shelves upon shelves of Gunpla, and the Gundam Base Tokyo Annex on the 2nd floor for cool anime merchandise. Both shops have tons of limited-edition items! #pr #odaiba #tokyo #tokyotrip #japantrip #japantravel #PR #divercity #divercitytokyoplaza #tokyoshopping #gundam #unicorngundam #gundambasetokyo #anime #otaku #gunpla #japankuru #오다이바 #다이바시티도쿄 #오다이바건담 #건담 #일본건담 #건프라 #건담베이스도쿄
#okinawa #japankuru #littleuniverse #littleuniverseokinawa #오키나와 #리틀유니버스오키나와 #일본여행 #沖縄 #iias沖縄豊崎 #dmm카리유시수족관 #오키나와여행 #沖繩小小宇宙博物館 #iiasokinawatoyosaki #이이아스오키나와 #japanesekawaii #japantrip #okinawajapan #okinawatrip