Kimono and Yukata Accessories: The Complete Beginner's Guide

Wearing kimono or yukata for the first time - whether for a matsuri festival, a tea ceremony, a wedding, or simply because you want to - involves navigating a set of accessories that are not always well documented in English. The good news is that the system is more logical than it initially appears, and getting the basics right makes the whole experience considerably more enjoyable.

Yukata versus kimono

A yukata is a casual summer version of kimono, made from cotton rather than silk and worn without the multiple layering layers of formal kimono. Yukata are appropriate for matsuri, fireworks festivals (hanabi), and other informal summer events. They are also the robes provided at Japanese ryokan (traditional inns) and onsen (hot springs). Kimono, in their formal versions, are for weddings, tea ceremony, and coming-of-age ceremonies.

Essential accessories

The obi is the wide sash wrapped around the waist - for yukata, this is typically a hanhaba obi (half-width) that can be tied in several simple styles. The koshi-himo are thin cords used to secure the kimono at the waist before the obi is tied. The datejime is a narrower band that smooths the kimono layer before the obi goes on. These are the core structural accessories.

Footwear and socks

With formal kimono, the footwear is zori sandals - flat, lacquered or fabric-covered sandals with a thong strap. These require white cotton tabi socks. With yukata, geta (wooden platform clogs) are more common, and white cotton tabi remain the standard sock choice. Our traditional tabi collection has the correct white cotton styles for both contexts, imported directly from Japanese manufacturers who produce tabi for exactly this purpose.

For the full range of tabi styles, including contemporary fashion versions, our complete tabi socks collection covers both ends of the spectrum.