[5-Minute Guide] 5 Key Differences Between Kimono and Yukata

It’s gradually getting hotter, isn’t it? The season for summer festivals and fireworks displays is approaching, and many people are probably planning to participate while wearing yukata.

First of all, there are various things that people don’t know about, such as the differences between yukata and kimono, when to wear yukata, and where it can be worn, so let’s explain the differences between yukata and kimono in five points.

Occasion, Situation, and Season

First, let’s explain when and where yukata is typically worn.

Generally, yukata is worn during the summer months (from mid-June to August). It is commonly worn at summer festivals, bon dances, fireworks displays, and can also be worn as casual streetwear during the daytime.

Yukata is the most casual type of traditional Japanese clothing, so it is not suitable for formal occasions, ceremonies, or upscale restaurants where people gather for special events.

The origin of yukata can be traced back to the Heian period when aristocrats wore a garment called “yukatabira” during bathing. Over time, it evolved into a garment worn after bathing. Today, when staying at traditional Japanese inns or ryokans, guests often wear yukata as nightwear, although it has a similar appearance to the casual yukata worn for outdoor events.

Next, let’s discuss the appropriateness of wearing kimono for different occasions, situations, and seasons. Kimono can be worn throughout the year, and the type of kimono chosen can vary based on the season and the specific event.

Season

・Awase (lined kimono) – Worn from October to May. It has a lining (nagajuban) attached.
・Hitoe (unlined kimono) – Worn from May to June and from September to October. It does not have a lining.
・Ro and Sha (summer kimono) – Worn from late June to August. These kimono have high breathability.
In addition to the season, the appropriateness of wearing kimono also depends on the occasion. Kimono can be categorized into formal wear and casual wear, and the choice varies depending on the event.

Formal Wear

Furisode – The primary formal wear for unmarried women. It is worn for coming-of-age ceremonies and weddings.
Tomesode – The primary formal wear for married women. It is worn for family weddings. Tomesode kimono have five family crests.

Visiting Kimono – It can be worn by people of various ages, regardless of whether they are married or unmarried.
Tsukesage – A formal kimono with a subtle pattern.
Iromuji – A plain kimono with no pattern. It is perfect for occasions where you are not the main focus, such as tea ceremonies, entrance ceremonies, and graduation ceremonies.

Casual Wear

Komon – A kimono with a continuous pattern throughout.

Tsumugi – A kimono where the threads are dyed before weaving the fabric. It has a pattern similar to Komon but is more casual than Komon.

As you can see, there are various types of kimono depending on the occasion, formality, and other factors.

Visual Differences

There are primarily three visual differences between kimono and yukata.

Firstly, when wearing a kimono, you wear a kimono undergarment called “nagajuban” and a longer undergarment known as “nagajuban” beneath the kimono. In contrast, you can wear a yukata directly over a kimono undergarment or regular underwear.

Secondly, while yukata is typically secured with a half-width obi or heko obi, kimono is fastened with a Nagoya obi or Fukuro obi, using accessories like obiage and obijime. Additionally, kimono is worn with tabi socks and zori sandals, whereas yukata is worn with bare feet and geta sandals, although some people may opt for lace tabi socks even with yukata for a fashionable touch.

Lastly, yukata tends to have more vibrant and summery patterns compared to kimono. Since yukata is often worn at festivals and fireworks displays, it features colorful and eye-catching designs that are suitable for evening events. Yukata also frequently features motifs associated with summer, such as flowers, fireworks, fans, and goldfish.

Material Differences

Both kimono and yukata can be made from various materials, but traditionally, kimono are often made from silk, while yukata are made from cotton.

Other materials used for kimono and yukata include:

1. Materials for Yukata: Cotton, Polyester, Hemp, Shibori (Tie-dye), Cotton Koubai (Red plum blossoms), Silk Koubai (Red plum blossoms), etc.
2. Materials for Kimono: Real silk (Genuine silk), Cotton, Polyester, Hemp, Shibori, etc.

Silk, which is commonly used for kimono, has a pleasant texture, making it comfortable to wear. Its smoothness also makes kimono relatively easy to put on.

However, real silk kimono cannot be washed by oneself and can be challenging to maintain. If stored in a closet for an extended period, they can develop stains, and in severe cases, the lining can turn completely brown. Therefore, they require careful storage methods, such as drying them in the shade and using desiccants.

On the other hand, yukata, which is made of cotton, has a more manageable maintenance routine. Cotton yukata can be hand-washed by the wearer, and they are less prone to staining even when folded and stored in a closet.

Among yukata, cotton koubai, silk koubai, and shibori yukata are considered high-end options. Especially, silk koubai is made of silk, making it one of the most luxurious types of yukata. Some silk koubai yukata can cost over 100,000 yen. These yukata can be worn both as regular yukata and as summer kimono when paired with a longer undergarment, tabi socks, a summer obi, and obi accessories, expanding their versatility beyond standard yukata.

Cotton koubai is made of cotton and is also suitable for summer kimono. They are often slightly more affordable than silk koubai yukata, but some can still cost between 50,000 to 100,000 yen.

Shibori yukata refers to yukata dyed using the shibori technique, which involves folding and tying fabric with threads or machinery before dyeing. The more intricate the shibori patterns, the more labor-intensive the process, which can lead to higher prices compared to regular yukata.

Additionally, at Kimono Roman, a kimono and yukata rental shop in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, you can find kimono made from local specialties, such as “Denim Kimono.” This shop is recommended for those who want to rent unique materials for kimono or yukata in Okayama Prefecture.

>>Kimono Roman, a kimono and yukata rental shop in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, is here

Differences in Dressing

As mentioned earlier, there are visual differences between kimono and yukata. Kimono require additional layers such as nagajuban (undergarment), obi (sash), obijime, and tabi socks, which add complexity to the dressing process.

Let’s compare the items needed and the steps involved in dressing for kimono and yukata.

Items Needed for Dressing

For Kimono:

1. Kimono
2. Nagajuban (long undergarment)
3. Haneri (decorative collar)
4. Eri-shin (collar stiffener)
5. Obi (sash, Fukuro obi or Nagoya obi)
6. Hadajuban (kimono undergarment)
7. Susoyoke (underskirt)
8. Tabi socks
9. Koshihimo (waist cords, 3 pieces)
10. Datejime (decorative cords, 2 pieces)
11. Obi-ita (obi stiffener)
12. Obiage (obi sash)
13. Obijime (obi cord)
14. Zori sandals
15. Collar belt

For Yukata:

1. Yukata
2. Obi (half-width obi or heko obi)
3. Hadajuban (one-piece kimono undergarment)
4. Koshihimo (waist cords, 2 pieces)
5. Datejime (decorative cord, 1 piece)
6. Obi-ita (obi stiffener)
7. Geta sandals
8. Collar belt
9. Obi accessories

*While having a collar belt can help secure the collar area and provide stability during dressing, it is not essential.

Dressing Procedure

If you want to learn more about the differences in dressing between kimono and yukata, you can check out this article: “Differences in Dressing Between Yukata and Kimono: A Comprehensive Guide in 5 Points!”

Kimono

Undergarment (Hadajuban) → Long undergarment (Nagajuban) → Kimono → Obi (Obi sash, Obi stiffener) → Geta sandals

Yukata

Undergarment (Hadajuban) → Yukata → Half-width obi or Heko obi → Geta sandals

As you can see, yukata requires fewer accessories and a simpler dressing procedure compared to kimono, making it easier and more casual to wear. Many people who are new to dressing in traditional Japanese clothing start with yukata before moving on to kimono.

The basic principles of dressing, such as having the left side overlap the right, and the use of obi-age and obi-jime, are the same for both kimono and yukata. However, there are some differences. For example, kimono should have the hem almost touching the floor, while yukata is worn a bit shorter, around the ankles. Additionally, because yukata is more casual, there is more flexibility to experiment with accessories and styling, such as wearing a hat, using two obi-jime cords for creative obi tying, or adding obi accessories to enhance your look.

There are numerous possibilities for yukata styling, so don’t hesitate to explore and try different options to express your personal style.

Differences Between Casual and Formal Kimono

As mentioned earlier, yukata is considered a more casual form of traditional Japanese clothing. However, there are distinctions within kimono as well, with some being casual wear and others reserved for formal occasions.

When renting a kimono for sightseeing or other occasions, you typically wear casual kimono such as “komon” and “tsumugi” for everyday wear. However, for formal events like weddings or ceremonies, you wear ceremonial kimono like “furisode” and “homongi.”

Furisode and homongi are types of ceremonial kimono that many of us have the opportunity to wear. In this section, we’ll explain these two types of kimono and highlight the differences between everyday wear and ceremonial wear.

Furisode

Furisode is often referred to as the first ceremonial kimono for unmarried women, and many young women wear it for their Coming of Age Day celebration. It is characterized by its long sleeves and elaborate obi tying, making it a very ornate kimono. Besides Coming of Age Day, it is also worn for events like weddings and graduation ceremonies when paired with “hakama.”

For women who are already married at the age of 20, while it’s common to wear furisode for their Coming of Age Day, it’s recommended to choose homongi for other ceremonial occasions.

Homongi

Homongi can be worn by both unmarried and married individuals and is suitable for a wide range of occasions, including weddings, tea ceremonies, Shichi-Go-San (a traditional rite of passage for children), school entrance and graduation ceremonies, and more.

Differences from Everyday Wear

The main differences between furisode, homongi, and everyday wear kimono (komon and tsumugi) lie in the patterns and motifs. While everyday wear kimono typically feature repeating patterns throughout the garment, furisode and homongi have what is known as “eba” patterns, where the motifs around the hem form a continuous picture or scene.

Furisode and homongi often feature auspicious patterns. Although there are modern kimono with Western-style patterns available today, traditional furisode and homongi frequently include designs such as pine, bamboo, plum blossoms, and diamond-shaped motifs.

Additionally, the accessories like kimono, obi, obi-dome, and obi-age used with furisode and homongi often incorporate gold and silver threads, which create a stunning effect during formal events.

Above are the key differences between kimono and yukata. Now that you understand the distinctions, you can confidently enjoy wearing yukata on various occasions. For those who want to delve deeper into the differences between kimono and yukata, you can read this article: “Differences Between Kimono and Yukata: Explained in 5 Key Differences”.

Author of this article

Kyoto Kimono Rental Rikawafuku operates four kimono rental shops in Kyoto city, including locations in Arashiyama, Gion, Kiyomizu Temple, and in front of Kyoto Station. In 2023, they served over 230,000 customers in the Kyoto area!
They offer affordable plans, with a kimono dressing plan starting from 3,500 yen, and a hair setting plan from 5,500 yen.
Close to popular tourist spots such as Togetsukyo Bridge, Kiyomizu Temple, Yasaka Koshindo, and Yasaka Shrine!
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