Tips From a Ryokan! How to Wear a Yukata and Tie an Obi

• Table of Contents
• Wearing a Yukata at a Ryokan
• How to wear a yukata: It's actually easy in 4 steps!
• Step.0 About the length of yukata
• Step 1 Put on the yukata
• Step 2: Fit the right side of the garment around your body starting from your left hip.
• Step 3 Wrap the left side of the garment around your right hip
• Step 4 How to tie the obi
• Tips on how to dress for men and women
• Things to note when wearing a yukata
• How to walk on tatami mats
• Colorful yukatas are also available! Stay at Gero Onsen Suimeikan and enjoy a stroll around the hot spring town!

Wearing a Yukata at a Ryokan

Many lodgings provide yukata, but have you ever had trouble figuring out how to wear them properly? Some people travel with the goal of walking around the hot spring resort in a yukata, and while they're there, they also want to look good in it and take some photos of themselves at the hot spring resort.

In this article, staff from a long-established inn will give you a lesson on how to wear a yukata at a ryokan!

How to wear a yukata: It's actually easy in 4 steps!

Yukata are completely different from the Western clothes we normally wear, so some people may feel uncomfortable wearing them, but in fact, the yukatas provided at inns are shorter and surprisingly easy to put on.

Step 1 Put on the yukata

Step 2: Fit the right side of the garment around your body starting from your left hip.

Step 3 Wrap the left side of the garment around your right hip

Step 4 Tie the obi

By the way, it's of course OK to go out in a yukata, but since it's generally prepared as pajamas, there are no rules that say you have to wear it a certain way. Feel free to give it a try!

Step.0 About the length of yukata

We've heard that yukatas at ryokans are short, but unlike regular long yukatas, you don't need to adjust the length when you put them on. So first, make sure the yukata length is right for your height. If the length is too short or too long, you can ask the ryokan staff and they should be able to prepare something that fits you. Some ryokans will check the length when you check in.

Step 1 Put on the yukata

Now, let's try putting on a yukata. The trick is to keep your back straight and align the seam on the back with the center of your body (your spine). Once you've put it on, try spreading the yukata out and you'll get an idea of how much you should wrap it around your body. When doing this, be careful not to misalign the seam of the yukata that you aligned earlier with the center of your body.

Step 2: Fit the right side of the garment around your body starting from your left hip.

Always fit the right side to your body first. When wrapping it around your body, imagine tucking the fabric as far back as possible. Lifting the end of the fabric at your feet (your toes) a little will give a neater impression when you're finished wearing it.

Again, be careful not to shift the center that you confirmed in Step 1.

Step 3 Wrap the left side of the garment around your right hip

The collar should be wrapped around the right hip with the left side on top. Be careful not to wear the collar the wrong way, as it will look like the way a deceased person wore it.

Be careful not to lift your left toe too much so that too much of the garment behind you (the fabric on the right) is visible.

This completes the process of putting on a yukata!

Step 4 How to tie the obi

While holding the yukata in place with your left hand, hold the center of the obi string with your right hand. When you bring your right hand up to your belly button, switch hands and open up the obi, being careful not to let the yukata fall apart. Slide your hands to both sides and bring the hands (obi) around your back, cross them behind your back, then return to the front and tie the ribbon.

There are no particular rules for where to tie the knot, but tying it slightly off-center will give it a more feminine look.

Tips on how to dress for men and women

For men

We have already explained how to tie the obi, but for men, it is ideal to tie the knot at the back. Hold the tied obi with both hands and turn it clockwise. Be careful not to turn it the other way around, as it will come undone. For men, it looks better if you lower the position of the obi to around the anus.

For women

Be careful not to open the collar too much. It will be uncomfortable if it is too open, so it is best to have the collar just open enough so that the hollow of the throat is slightly visible. If you pull the back of the collar a little and create a gap about the size of a fist, you will be able to see the nape of the neck, but the collars of yukatas at hot spring inns are often soft and difficult to adjust, so it is OK to just pull it lightly to create a slight gap.

Things to note when wearing a yukata

If you are not used to wearing traditional Japanese clothing, you may make some unexpected mistakes. We have summarized some points to be careful of, so please check them out.

・When eating, be careful not to get food on your sleeves, as they are longer than your regular clothes. When reaching for something far away, lightly hold the cuff of your sleeve with your other hand.

・When sitting on a chair, make sure to bring your knees together. Be careful not to spread your legs too much, as your underwear may be exposed.

・When going up or down stairs or steps, be sure to lift the hem of your yukata lightly. The hem of a yukata tends to spread out, so it is easy to step on it and fall, especially on steps, so be careful.

How to walk on tatami mats

As an added bonus, since you will have the opportunity to wear a kimono, we will also share some tips on how to walk beautifully in a Japanese-style room.

When walking on tatami mats, you should walk quietly on tiptoe and be careful not to step on the edges of the mats.

Also, if you make sure to walk with your back straight and your chest out, you too can become a beautiful woman in a kimono starting today!

Colorful yukatas are also available! Stay at Gero Onsen Suimeikan and enjoy a stroll around the hot spring town!

Gero Onsen Suimeikan is a long-established inn with over 90 years of history in Gero Onsen, an hour and a half from Nagoya, and is conveniently located just a 3-minute walk from Gero Station and a 10-minute walk from the hot spring town. The location is perfect for strolling around in a yukata, and women can enjoy wearing colorful yukatas during the summer only! If you are traveling to the Tokai region, be sure to soothe your mind and body at Suimeikan.

*Advance reservations are required to use colored yukata.