There are many things that evoke images of summer in Japan. Summer festivals, fireworks, flavored shaved ice, paper fans, wind chimes, morning glory flowers, and tasty somen (Japanese noodles served cold) are all good examples of summer traditions long treasured in Japan. Besides the aforementioned, the yukata is also a typical summer sight all over Japan. In essence, the yukata is a kind of casual kimono that people wear during the summer. In addition to the more traditional patterns, various designs incorporating modern and pop prints are available for yukata nowadays. Not only are a wide variety of patterns available, but also there is a wide price range to choose from, including reasonably priced ones. This contributes to the ongoing popularity of yukatas each summer even among young people. And it is not uncommon to see foreign tourists in Japan shopping for yukatas to take home.

It is said that the origin of the yukata lies in the “yukatabira,” a hemp kimono that was used as a sort of bathrobe by aristocrats during the Heian Period (794 - 1185 A.D.). Yukatabira became widespread among the general public during the Edo Period (1603 - 1867 A.D.), and people started to use the shortened name “yukata” to refer to yukatabira. Although, as mentioned above, hemp was originally used to make yukatabira, gradually cotton became more a popular material as it became more readily available. The archetype of the modern yukata was born.