How to Wear a Yukata: Steps for Women and Men, Obi Knots, Ryokan Etiquette and Rentals

"I'd love to wear a yukata in Japan, but will I put it on correctly?" When you are handed a yukata at a ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn), or when you want to go out to a summer festival in one, many people feel unsure about which side goes on top and how to tie the obi (sash). You may also be wondering whether it is disrespectful for a foreigner to wear a yukata.

This guide brings together how to wear a ryokan yukata and a yukata for going out, with separate steps for women and men and how to tie the obi. The steps follow kimono-dressing teaching materials from a Japanese university and official guidance from public bodies.

Along the way, it also covers yukata etiquette at a ryokan and how to choose a yukata rental that includes dressing in Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, and Fukuoka.

3 Things to Know Before You Put On a Yukata

A yukata is an unlined cotton kimono. For both women and men, you place the right front panel against your body first and lay the left panel on top. The yukata you are given at a ryokan and the one you wear for sightseeing or summer festivals call for different items and different steps, so first check which kind you will be wearing.

• A Yukata Is an Unlined Cotton Kimono Worn in Summer and at Ryokan
• For Women and Men Alike, Right Goes First and Left Goes on Top
• Ryokan Yukata and Yukata for Going Out Are Worn Differently

A Yukata Is an Unlined Cotton Kimono Worn in Summer and at Ryokan

A yukata is a type of kimono: casual wear made from thin, light fabric. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)'s guide to kimono and yukata, it was originally worn for bathing and as sleepwear afterward. Ryokan still provide yukata for their guests today, and outside the inn, they are worn mainly at summer festivals.

Information from the Japan Ryokan & Hotel Association also describes the yukata as an unlined cotton kimono. According to a kimono culture education program created by Yokohama National University and others with support from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the name "yukata" is a shortened form of yukatabira, a linen kimono that people of high rank wore while bathing. Cotton yukata became widespread in the Edo period.

For Women and Men Alike, Right Goes First and Left Goes on Top

Both women and men wear a yukata by placing the right front panel against the body first and then laying the left panel over it. This way of wearing it is called migimae. In English it is described as "left over right," so remember that the left side ends up on the outside.

The reverse, called hidarimae, is considered the way a kimono is put on a person who has died. A case record in the National Diet Library's Collaborative Reference Database explains this rule, citing sources such as books for children.

There are several theories about why, including that in the 8th century the way of closing the collar was standardized with the right side first, and that this way is easier for right-handed people to adjust. The yukata guide on Kinosaki Onsen's official tourism website is one of the guides that remind visitors in English not to put the right side on top.

Ryokan Yukata and Yukata for Going Out Are Worn Differently

A ryokan yukata only needs the obi wrapped around and tied, but a yukata for going out or for summer festivals takes more steps, from adjusting the length to tying the obi. The Kinosaki Onsen guide likewise describes 4 steps for a ryokan yukata and 10 steps for a colorful patterned yukata.

According to the Kinosaki Onsen guide, some ryokan also lend colorful patterned yukata. If you will wear one at a ryokan, read on from the next section. If you will wear one around town, women can start from the third section and men from the fourth.

How to Wear a Ryokan Yukata and Etiquette at the Inn

To wear a ryokan yukata, put it on over your underwear, overlap the right side and then the left, and wrap the obi around 2 to 3 times before tying it. Where you may walk around in a yukata differs from inn to inn, so it helps to check when you arrive.

• Wear It Over Your Underwear and Overlap Right, Then Left
• Women Tie the Obi at the Waist, Men at the Hip Bones
• In the Cold Season, Layer a Tanzen and Haori on Top
• Where You Can Go in a Yukata Differs by Inn

Wear It Over Your Underwear and Overlap Right, Then Left

Put on the ryokan yukata with your underwear still on, then overlap the right side and then the left. In the Kinosaki Onsen guide, you bring the right side of the yukata across to your left hip, lay the left side over it, and even out the length of the hem.

The Japan Ryokan & Hotel Association's information recommends changing into the yukata provided in your room after you have had a bath. JNTO's ryokan guide notes that the staff at the inn can explain customs such as taking off your shoes, how to use the hot spring baths, and how to wear a yukata.

Women Tie the Obi at the Waist, Men at the Hip Bones

Holding the front closed, wrap the obi around 2 to 3 times. As a rule, women tie it at the waist (the narrowest part of the torso) and men at the level of the hip bones. The Kinosaki Onsen guide has you tie it in a bow and says the knot can stay in front or be moved to the back.

The Sapporo Tourist Association's guide also says to tie the obi in front and that you may shift the knot to the side or the back. On the other hand, Aichi Prefecture's guide to ryokan etiquette cautions that wearing a yukata sloppily is considered rude, so adjust it so the front does not fall open at the chest.

In the Cold Season, Layer a Tanzen and Haori on Top

At a ryokan in the cold season, you layer a tanzen or haori over your yukata. According to the Japan Ryokan & Hotel Association's information, a tanzen is a thick kimono padded with cotton, and a haori is a short jacket worn over a yukata or tanzen.

The same information says the room attendant prepares a yukata in a size that fits you. If yours is too short or too long, feel free to ask the staff for a different one.

Where You Can Go in a Yukata Differs by Inn

Whether you can step outside the building in your yukata depends on the inn and the hot spring town. Aichi Prefecture's guide says you cannot go outside the building in your yukata and slippers, while adding that the rules differ from inn to inn, so you should check with the staff first.

In Kinosaki Onsen, by contrast, it is customary to make the rounds of the town's 7 public bathhouses in the yukata and geta (wooden sandals) lent by your inn, and shops in town welcome guests in yukata. JNTO's guide to customs and manners also explains that whether you can wear your room's yukata outside depends on the situation.

Even inside the building, some hotels do not allow yukata in their restaurants, so ask when you check in. Aichi Prefecture's guide recommends that you not take the yukata home after use, and instead fold it loosely and leave it neatly in one place.

How Women Put On a Yukata for Going Out

To put on a yukata for going out, women adjust the length, secure it with a koshi-himo (waist tie), arrange the ohashori (the fold of extra fabric at the waist) and the collar, and finish with a datejime (a wide under-sash) and the obi. Here, we go through the steps in order, following the kimono culture education program by Yokohama National University and others, and a Japanese-language class textbook posted on the MEXT website.

• 6 Items to Prepare, Including the Yukata, Hanhaba Obi, and Koshi-himo
• Set the Hem at a Length That Covers Your Ankles
• Arrange the Ohashori and Collar, Then Wrap the Datejime
• Tie the Obi in a Bunko Musubi or Butterfly Bow and Turn It to the Back

6 Items to Prepare, Including the Yukata, Hanhaba Obi, and Koshi-himo

For a woman's yukata, you need the following 6 items. The education program's guide to how women wear a yukata lists this set.

• Yukata
• Hanhaba obi (half-width obi)
• Koshi-himo (waist tie)
• Datejime (wide under-sash)
• Undergarment for yukata
• Geta (wooden sandals)

The textbook posted on the MEXT website lists 2 koshi-himo as necessary items, along with a towel to fill in the curve of the waist and straighten the line of the body, and describes an obi-ita (a thin board that keeps the front of the obi flat) as useful to have. As a guide, a woman's yukata should be about as long as she is tall.

Set the Hem at a Length That Covers Your Ankles

First, fit the length and width of the yukata to your body. In the education program's steps, you line up the back seam with the center of your spine. As a guide, the back hem should sit about 2cm above the floor, and the sides should be long enough to cover your ankles.

Next, bring the left front panel across to your right hip bone to set the width. In the Japanese-language steps from the same program, you open the left side without shifting the width, wrap the right panel around your body, and lift the edge of its hem by about 4cm. Then lay the left panel over it so that the hem tapers inward. For the koshi-himo, place its center at the front center of your body, wrap it around twice just above your hip bones, and tie it.

Arrange the Ohashori and Collar, Then Wrap the Datejime

The extra fabric above the koshi-himo is called the ohashori, a fold that shows a little below the obi. In the education program's steps, you fold the inner panel up diagonally and tuck it out of sight under the obi, so that the ohashori does not turn into a thick double layer.

Pull the collar back so that it sits about 5cm away from the back of your neck. According to the textbook posted on the MEXT website, wrapping a datejime under your chest instead of a second koshi-himo makes it less likely to feel tight around the chest.

In front of a mirror, check that the ohashori is even at the front and back and that the back seam is centered before you move on to the obi.

Tie the Obi in a Bunko Musubi or Butterfly Bow and Turn It to the Back

Tie the hanhaba obi in the basic bunko musubi knot or in a butterfly-shaped bow, and finally turn the knot around to the back. The education program also introduces other knots, such as ichimonji musubi and katanagashi.

In the Kinosaki Onsen guide, you wrap the obi about twice just above the waist, fold the longer end back and forth like an accordion to form a butterfly shape, and finally turn it around to the back. The textbook posted on the MEXT website also explains that you simply wrap the obi twice and tie it twice.

How Men Wear a Yukata and Tie a Kaku Obi

For men, a yukata is ready once you secure the koshi-himo at the hip bones without making an ohashori and tie a kaku obi (stiff men's obi) in the kai-no-kuchi knot. Because there is no ohashori to make, there are fewer steps than for women.

• Items to Prepare: Yukata, Kaku Obi, Koshi-himo, and Geta
• Wrap the Koshi-himo Twice at Hip-Bone Level
• Tie the Kaku Obi in a Kai-no-kuchi Knot and Turn It Clockwise to the Back

Items to Prepare: Yukata, Kaku Obi, Koshi-himo, and Geta

The 4 basic items men need are a yukata, a kaku obi, a koshi-himo, and geta. The education program's guide to how men wear a yukata adds an undergarment, a towel, and a heko obi (soft men's obi) to these.

A man's yukata does not have an ohashori, the fold at the waist that women make to adjust the length. That means fewer steps between closing the front and tying the koshi-himo.

Wrap the Koshi-himo Twice at Hip-Bone Level

Once the yukata is on your shoulders, bring the right front panel across to your left hip bone first, then lay the left panel over it. The textbook posted on the MEXT website cautions that you must always start with the right side, noting that closing the left side first is the way a kimono is put on a person who has died.

In the education program's steps, you wrap a soft koshi-himo twice around at hip-bone level and tie it. In the textbook posted on the MEXT website, you place the center of the tie below your navel, at roughly the height of your hip bones.

Tie the Kaku Obi in a Kai-no-kuchi Knot and Turn It Clockwise to the Back

Tie the kaku obi in the kai-no-kuchi, the basic knot for a man's yukata, and turn the knot clockwise to the back. According to the textbook posted on the MEXT website, the key is to always turn the knot clockwise and to tie the obi so that it sits lower at the front.

If you use a soft heko obi, the education program introduces a knot called ryowa. Choose the knot that suits the type of obi you have.

How to Choose a Yukata Rental with Dressing Service

If you are not confident about dressing yourself, a yukata rental that includes dressing is a convenient option. Based on the published prices of the 5 shops in the table below as of October 2026, converted to include tax, women can expect to pay roughly ¥3,300–6,600 and men ¥3,300–6,900. Compare the hair styling and return-time conditions when you choose.

• Women Can Expect to Pay About ¥3,300–6,600, Tax Included
• Some Shops Include Hair Styling and Others Charge Extra
• Same-Day Returns Are Often Due Between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
• The Yukata Rental Season Differs by Shop

Women Can Expect to Pay About ¥3,300–6,600, Tax Included

In each of Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, and Fukuoka, you can generally rent a yukata with dressing for a few thousand yen and up. Every shop in the table includes the yukata, the obi, accessories such as geta, and dressing in the price, and depending on the shop, hair styling and luggage storage are included as well.

Prices are each shop's published rates as of October 2026. The shops in Kyoto, Asakusa, and Fukuoka list prices excluding tax, so we added the 10% consumption tax to convert them to tax-inclusive amounts. All amounts in the table include tax. The Osaka shop's price is for online payment, and the Fukuoka shop's price is for online booking. Some shops change their prices depending on the day of the week or the date, so check on the booking screen.

Some Shops Include Hair Styling and Others Charge Extra

Shops are split between those that include hair styling in the price and those that charge for it separately. The Kyoto shop near the station and the Asakusa shop include hair styling in their women's plans, the shop in central Kyoto charges from ¥500, and the Fukuoka shop offers it as an add-on option.

The chain that runs the Osaka shop includes a simple updo, but in online booking a ¥1,100 hair option is selected by default, and you can remove it. When you compare total costs, compare plans on the same basis, either with or without hair styling.

Same-Day Returns Are Often Due Between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

At the shops in the table, same-day return deadlines range from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Some shops charge an extra fee of about ¥1,000–2,200 to return the yukata the next day. However, some shops require a deposit for next-day returns, and some do not accept next-day returns at all.

If you plan to wear your yukata to an evening fireworks festival, pay attention to the return time. According to GO TOKYO's fireworks guide, the Sumida River Fireworks Festival is held on the last Saturday of July. For the 2026 festival, one shop offered a special plan that let you return the yukata later at night (¥8,800 for women and ¥7,480 for men, tax included). The listing also noted that extra fees may apply depending on the return time, so check the return time and the total cost when you book.

According to one shop's information, getting ready at the shop takes 1 to 1.5 hours for women and 30 to 40 minutes for men. Decide on your arrival time early so that it fits your plans.

The Yukata Rental Season Differs by Shop

Yukata rentals are limited to the summer season, and the rental period differs by shop. At the Asakusa shop, yukata season runs from mid-May to early October, while at another chain it runs from June to September. The Kyoto Tourist Information Center's list of kimono rental shops also states that yukata are available only in summer, that reservations are required, and that the last customers are accepted 1 to 2 hours before closing.

If you are tall, let the shop know your size when you book. According to one shop's information, its yukata fit women of about 150–175cm and men of about 165–200cm in height, and sizes for women 175cm or taller are limited in number. If you would like a professional to photograph you in yukata, our guide to yukata couple photo shoots may also help.

Frequently Asked Questions

In Kyoto, local governments welcome foreign travelers dressed in kimono and yukata. Yukata are worn around town in summer and at ryokan all year round, and some cities even provide places where you can have your yukata fixed if it comes loose.

• Is It Disrespectful for Foreigners to Wear a Yukata?
• Can You Wear a Yukata in Winter?
• What Should You Do If Your Yukata Comes Loose Around Town?

Is It Disrespectful for Foreigners to Wear a Yukata?

Kyoto City and Kyoto Prefecture welcome people who walk around town in kimono or yukata, including foreign travelers. In a 2019 official document, the mayor of Kyoto wrote that the growing number of foreign travelers walking around Kyoto in kimono shows that kimono is loved by people around the world. What matters is not wearing it hidarimae (the reversed, right-over-left way) and following local etiquette, such as not photographing geiko or maiko in Kyoto's Gion district without permission.

Can You Wear a Yukata in Winter?

You can wear a ryokan yukata in winter, but a yukata for going out is summer wear. At a ryokan, you layer a tanzen or haori over your yukata in the cold season. On the other hand, the Kyoto Tourist Information Center's list shows yukata rentals as summer only, so for sightseeing in winter, choose a kimono rental instead.

What Should You Do If Your Yukata Comes Loose Around Town?

To keep it from coming loose in the first place, walk with the hem firmly closed, and on windy days hold the front opening with one hand. The Kyoto Kimono Passport, which Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, and others run each year, started its 2026-2027 edition on October 1, 2026, and it can be used until September 30, 2027. It includes Kimono Rescue, through which participating department stores and other locations will fix your kimono if it comes loose, and according to the FAQ on the official website, you can receive the benefits when wearing a yukata too.

Summary

The correct way to wear a yukata, for women and men alike, is to place the right front panel against your body first and lay the left panel on top. A ryokan yukata only needs the obi wrapped around 2 to 3 times and tied. For a yukata for going out, the key points are the ohashori and the obi knot for women, and the koshi-himo and the kai-no-kuchi knot on the kaku obi for men. If you are not confident about dressing yourself, you can also leave it to a rental shop that includes dressing.

Start by deciding whether you will wear a ryokan yukata or a yukata for going out, then try it while following the matching steps. If you two want photos of yourselves in yukata, you can look for photographers near your destination in our photographer directory.

References

• Japan National Tourism Organization: Guide to Kimono and Yukata Experiences
• Yokohama National University and Others: Kimono Culture Education Program (What Is a Yukata?)
• Same Program: How Women Wear a Yukata
• Same Program: Starting to Put On a Woman's Yukata
• Same Program: Starting to Put On Women's Kimono (Japanese Version)
• Same Program: Arranging the Ohashori and Collar
• Same Program: How Men Wear a Yukata
• Same Program: How Men Tie the Koshi-himo
• "Let's Try Wearing a Yukata," a Japanese-Language Class Textbook Created Under an Agency for Cultural Affairs Commissioned Project in FY2012 (Heisei 24), Posted on the MEXT Website
• National Diet Library, Collaborative Reference Database: Why Kimono Collars Close Right Side First (Migimae)
• Kinosaki Onsen: How to Wear a Yukata
• Sapporo Tourist Association: How to Wear a Yukata
• Japan Ryokan & Hotel Association: Yukata (Older Page Published in 2006)
• Japan National Tourism Organization: Guide to Ryokan
• Aichi Prefecture: Etiquette for Staying at a Ryokan
• Japan National Tourism Organization: Customs and Manners
• GO TOKYO: Fireworks Guide
• Kyoto Tourist Information Center: List of Kimono Rental Shops
• Kyoto City: The Mayor's Document on the "KIMONO" Trademark
• Kyoto Prefecture: Kyoto Kimono Passport 2026-2027
• Kyoto Kimono Passport Official Website