20+ Differences between Yukata And Kimono (Explained)

Japanese apparel includes yukata and kimonos. Few individuals recognize the difference between yukata and kimono beyond their names. Yukata and kimonos vary in fabric. Yukata is cotton. Kimono dresses are made of silk.

Yukata are worn in the summer. Hot Springs use them as bathrobes. Yukata means bathing garments and is formed from ‘Yu,’ which means bath, and ‘katara,’ which means underwear. ‘Ki,’ which means ‘wear,’ and mono signifies ‘item to wear’ in Japanese.

Comparison Between Yukata And Kimono

Parameter	Yukata	Kimono
Shape	Because of the fabric it is made from, the collar of a yukata is only about half as broad as the collar of a kimono, but it is much stiffer. In addition, because a Cuban collar is not worn beneath a yukata, just one collar is present on the yukata itself.	The fluffy, full-width collar may identify a kimono that it has. A kimono often features at least two collars, one worn tight to the neck and another worn just below it, known as a Cuban collar.
Sleeves	The yukata sleeves can’t be much longer than around fifty centimeters, so they will never reach the ground.	Depending on the wearer’s age and the gravity of the occasion, a kimono’s sleeves may be shorter or longer. Women who are not married traditionally wear kimonos with sleeves that are so long they touch the ground. This has traditionally helped eligible men identify whether women were dating or open to marriage. In addition, kimonos with elbow-length sleeves are available.
Material	Yukata was initially designed for the Japanese aristocracy to wear after a bath to cool off. Historically worn for this occasion, yukata are often fashioned from cotton or polyester, making them less expensive than kimonos. Please go back to our prior article if you’d want to learn more about the history of kimonos.	Regarding Japanese clothing, kimonos are the more classic and expensive option. Typically constructed from silk or brocade, a kimono has not one but two collars. The kimono’s elaborate designs are meant to convey the wearer’s status since the silk fabric is associated with high social status.
Season	During the warmer summer months, you are more likely to see someone wearing a yukata than a kimono due to the yukata’s more breathable fabric. On the other hand, shorter versions of the kimono are also available for those times of the year when it is appropriate to wear one.	The fact that kimonos are constructed from more substantial fabric makes them an excellent choice for the colder months. As there is only one substantial layer of silk used in the construction of the kimono, some kimonos are accessorized with fur shawls and other items to make the garment more adaptable to a wider range of climatic conditions.
Occasion	Yukata are generally worn more casually throughout the summer months, making them a great option for attending summer festivals or fireworks displays because of the relaxed nature of the apparel. Unlike kimonos, which are often worn for formal occasions, yukata are typically more casual garb and include brighter designs and colors.	For more somber occasions, like weddings and graduations, kimonos are a suitable clothing choice.
Accessories	Unlike the more complicated kimono, a yukata requires fewer accessories to complete an outfit. As opposed to a kimono, which requires three or four strings to close, you need one or two to put this over any outfit. The obi worn with a yukata is more relaxed and straightforward to knot. Girls in Japan frequently experiment with new ways of tying their obis since doing so is often seen as a game while wearing a more relaxed obi.	Depending on the event’s formality, kimonos are accessorized with either a formal or semi-formal obi. It is customary to wear a yukata with geta and no shoes, whereas a kimono is worn with zori and tabi.

Major Differences Between Yukata And Kimono

What exactly is Yukata?

Yukatas are T-shaped kimonos. They’re occasionally called yukata kimonos and summer kimonos but are usually in a different category. Their job is something between a summer dress, Kimono, and robe.

A yukata is often constructed of breathable textiles like cotton or light synthetic cloth. Originally, Yukata meant swimming cloth. Originally, bathers traveling from hot tub to hot tub wore them.

Types of patterns in a yukata:

Geometric and sophisticated, both women and men adore this yukata design.

Hemp leaf grows quickly. Thus many parents use it as their baby’s first outfit.

Botan or poeny are common yukata motifs. It’s classy and beautiful.

Botan may blossom from a little seed, symbolizing happiness, riches, and dignity.

It represents the seven riches and harmony; hence people wish many children love this design.

In Japan’s spring, you may see ‘ume or plum. We’re drawn to the little flower’s bright hue.

Many Japanese know this yukata pattern represents ume owing to its realistic aspect.

Ume flowers after winter symbolize patience and beauty.

Ume means childbirth in Japanese. Therefore this yukata design prays for safe delivery.

This geometric pattern is utilized in Yukata, Kimono, and other Japanese styles.

Sigaiha represents a long, serene existence like a calm ocean.

Key Differences: Yukata

Yukata comes in cotton fabric.

You are not necessary to do this when wearing a yukata outfit, but you may choose to do so.

Yukata is a traditional Japanese garment often worn during the warmer months of the year.

People will use them as bathrobes in places like Hot Springs.

The yukata is traditionally more popular among women than it is among men.

The yukata is a traditional piece of clothing in Japan that is well-known for comfort.

What exactly is Kimono?

You wear a kimono since ki means to wear and mono means item. China has inspired Japan’s dress for millennia. Kimono was a localized variant of the hanfu. The Kimono is made of four different pieces of cloth stitched into a T-shape and fastened with an obi belt.

Despite its numerous layers, the Kimono proved functional in Japan. In snowy winters, a cotton and silk kimono might be worn to resist the weather while looking nice.

Types of Kimono:

The Homon-gi, a less formal variety of the Kimono, would be the best choice for a party.

This kind of Kimono is traditional for weddings and tea ceremonies and is worn by ladies of various ages and marital statuses.

The eba-moyo design is ubiquitous over the clothing and is a defining characteristic.

This simplified variation on the traditional Homon-gi is characterized by its disjointed ornamentation, which crisscrosses the garment rather than joins at strategic points.

Women often wear this kind of Kimono to formal gatherings like reunions and formal meals.

The tomesode Kimono, or simply tomesode, is the most traditional Kimono worn by married ladies.

This mostly black Kimono has designs on the bottom section and is typically gold-trimmed.

A lady may wear this if she is not married but is celebrating a significant milestone in her life.

Many married ladies wear this kind of Kimono, unlike the timecode, which unmarried women only wear.

Key Differences: Kimono

Silk, on the other hand, is the material that is traditionally used for making kimonos.

In contrast to the dress associated with yukata, kimono apparel often consists of at least two collars.

Shoes like zori or geta, which are traditionally worn with kimono clothing, must be worn.

Kimonos are a part of Japan’s cultural heritage, worn by men and women.

In terms of cost, the yukata is more accessible to those on a tighter budget than the kimono.

There are many different costumes, but kimonos have a well-deserved reputation for being the most exquisite.

Contrast Between Yukata And Kimono

Style:

Yukata- In terms of appearance, a yukata is relatively like a bathrobe or dressing gown. It is often worn with a lower level of formality and fewer embellishments than a kimono would need. On the other hand, Yukata are simpler to maintain and clean than nagajuban, so they are often worn without the latter.

Kimono- Kimonos made of expensive silk or intricately adorned are only cleaned on a very seldom basis. As a result, these kimonos are always worn with an inside layer called a nagajuban, which prevents dirt and moisture from accumulating on the outer garment.

Obi:

Yukata- Hanhaba obi are often worn with Yukata; they are less complicated and more svelte than other types of obi.

On the other hand, pairing Yukata with a formal kimono is not something that happens very often. This is mostly because traditional kimonos tend to be too thick and heavy for the warmer months of the year.

Kimono- The obi, often crafted from silk and may take on an intricate appearance, is a belt frequently used with kimonos. You could also decide to adorn your Kimono with a hanhaba obi, but this decision will depend on the occasion and your own style.

Jacket:

Yukata- During the hot summer months in Japan, women and men alike use lightweight cotton yukata that are often worn without outer layers.

However, if you stay at a ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn), you may expect to find a yukata in your room, and it is quite acceptable to wear it even in the dead of winter.

Kimono- On the other hand, kimonos are often accessorized with hair, which is a formal silk jacket that falls to the hip or thigh and may be worn by either men or women.

A michiyuki, a single-breasted button overcoat with a square-shaped collar, may be the most appropriate alternative on more formal occasions.

Occasion:

Yukata- Because of the celebratory nature of Yukata, people frequently wear them to events like parties, festivals, and even events such as fireworks displays.

Although it may be difficult for an outsider to differentiate between the two, wearing a yukata that is excessively thin and has bright colors to an auspicious occasion may give the impression that you are not taking the event seriously, even though it may be difficult for an outsider to tell the difference between the two.

Kimono- On the other hand, in contrast to the Kimono, they are not used for formal ceremonial events. Rather, these garments are reserved for everyday wear. Instead, they are meant to be worn throughout regular activities.

Undergarments:

Yukata- Because Yukata are worn during the warmer months, nagajuban are not often worn with them. Instead, you may get the same effect by wearing a straightforward kimono slip or, for males, a lightweight vest.

Kimono- A simple robe-like garment known as a nagajuban is traditionally worn underneath a kimono in its traditional form.

They are often crafted from cotton or artificial materials like polyester and worn as undergarments underneath the Kimono to protect it from wear and tear and stains.

The collar of a nagajuban is an either white or contrasting color. However, you can only see the collar when the nagajuban is worn with a kimono.

Fabric:

Yukata- The great majority of Yukata are made with either cotton or linen as the principal cloth used in their production. Linen is also a common alternative.

Kimono- Silk is the material of choice for making kimonos. Therefore it makes sense that kimonos are often constructed out of silk.

It is not inconceivable that the fabric’s origin, the embellishments’ standard, and the level of expertise of the stitching might all contribute to an increase in the value of a kimono. This is indeed the situation.

Gender:

Yukata- Men may also wear jinbei in the summer instead of Yukata. Jinbei is a two-piece suit that has a kimono-style top and baggy pants that hit about the middle of the leg. The finest examples are crafted using all-organic materials; our store has a variety of jinbei for guys.

Kimono- However, there are exceptions to this rule, and Kimono may also be crafted from cotton or linen. The pattern provides a more meaningful statistic.

Dark, natural hues like blue, brown, or black, which highlight the cloth more than any elaborate motifs, are more usual for males to wear while donning a kimono. The Yukata is a more casual and summery take on the traditional Japanese Kimono for men.

Hairstyle:

Yukata- Aside from these events, how one wears their hair is mostly a matter of personal preference.

People have a tendency to wear their hair in a style that will be comfortable in the warmth of an evening during the summer months since yukata are often connected with the summer months and are the preferred outfit of festival attire.

Kimono- Combs and hairpins known as kanzashi are used to adorn the hairstyles of women wearing kimonos. Wigs sometimes create more complex hairstyles, such as those worn by geisha, maiko, and brides.

Price:

Yukata- The cost of a plain cotton yukata produced from the commercially colored cloth will be far lower than that of a yukata handcrafted in Japan.

The going rate for a casual yukata these days is between $50 and $150, while the more elaborate ones may cost as much as $500. However, the lowest price for a brand-new silk kimono is closer to $500, and the most luxurious kimonos may cost several thousand dollars.

Kimono- Nishijin brocade, produced in Kyoto, Japan’s silk industry’s center, is often used to create the most prestigious formal Kimono.

This Kimono is hand-dyed, hand-stitched, and hand-embroidered with gold and silver threads. Exceptionally well-made kimonos like these are treasured possessions that may be handed down from mother to daughter to granddaughter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Does the Yukata have an outdoor wearability rating?

Answer. Yes. The months of July and August, together with the beginning of summer in June and the beginning of autumn in September, are prime times to sport a yukata.

Outside of these times, if you wish to wear a yukata, it must be an anatase, a winter kimono with a lining.

Q2. What precisely does the term jinbei refer to?

Answer. To put it another way, a jinbei may be considered a yukata that has been shortened.

Jinbei is still another kind of traditional Japanese clothing; however, instead of being worn in public, they are often kept for private situations such as the house or the school. Jinbei is also known as a jinbei.

Q3. Do Yukata has only one size?

Answer. People stock two different sizes of men’s Yukatas but only one for women’s Yukatas. This is true for the vast majority of our Yukata products.

It’s possible that you’ll get the notion that there aren’t many size options to choose from. There is no need for you to be very worried about the size. That much is certain. Yukata may fit different folks.

Q4. What is the average number of kimono layers?

Answer. The term “juni-hitoe” refers to the traditional number of layers of a Japanese kimono, which was twelve.

Twelve layers used to be standard. However, that was cut down due to weight concerns. Even when dressed formally, men’s obis are often no wider than 10 centimeters (3.9 in) across.

Q5. What exactly are geishas?

The Japanese term for a female performer is known as a geisha. They have mastered many facets of Japanese culture, including Japan’s performing arts, literature, and poetry.

Although some may assume otherwise, geisha do not engage in prostitution. The Japanese word geisha is derived from two characters: gei, meaning “art,” and sha, meaning “one who does” or “to be engaged in.” An artist is the closest exact English word for what we mean.