 The yukata is an informal kimono of unlined cotton that is for summer wear. It was originally a finely woven cotton kimono worn while bathing. Around the 19th century the yukata became summer wear that could be worn both indoors and outdoors. Today yukata refers to an unlined cotton kimono that is worn from June through September. Yukatas are ordinary clothes and usually have simple coloring such as floral or geometric patterns dyed or printed on a white or indigo blue background. In the summer many people can be seen wearing yukatas and wooden clogs at seasonal events such as Bon Festival dances, fireworks displays, and festivals at temples and shrines. As yukatas are also worn as nightclothes, most hotels in Japan including ryokan (Japanese-style hotels) and Western-style hotels provide their guests with yukatas. |
Japanese sandals called zori are worn with formal Japanese kimonos unlike
the wooden clogs called geta that are worn with yukatas. Like geta, the
sandals have thongs that are put between the big toe and the other toes.
Japanese sandals are worn with white Japanese socks called tabi while wooden
clogs are worn without socks. Various materials ranging from expensive
ox hide to relatively cheap vinyl are used for Japanese sandals. There
are also deluxe beautifully embroidered sandals. Long ago sandals were
made of straw, rush, and bamboo. They were called waraji and were used
as daily footwear.