menu
menu
Long before the advent of air-conditioners, the Japanese would stay cool during the hot and humid summer nights with the yukata, a kind of kimono made of a single layer of cotton. With a name related to the word “yu-katabira” or bathrobe, the yukata is light and delicately textured to provide maximum coolness in the torrid summer months. Yet the garment is not strictly a bathrobe, and the yukata was customarily worn to firework events and bon-odori (dances to celebrate the Buddhist counterpart to All Saints’ Day) on summer nights – a tradition that persists to this day. Naturally, all of our guest rooms provide yukata ready to help you unwind after a long journey or a busy day. Most yukata traditionally featured indigo and white stripes for a visual cooling effect, but today, the yukata has gained a following among many young fans and can be found in a variety of vivid colors and patterns. The obi (belt) lets the wearer adjust the yukata to fit almost anybody, and the garments come in different heights. More affordable than formal kimono and easy to wash and wear, the yukata is an excellent way to relax in the home, and makes for a memorable souvenir from Japan.
Updated: 24 May, 2018
