But it's not all misery. With summer comes the yukata - a lightweight, casual kimono. The vibrant colors and lively patterns of these comfortable cotton robes bring a certain joy and exuberance to the city when the temperature soars.
Yukata means "bathing cloth" and it was originally worn after bathing at a sento (communal bathhouse). It has long since evolved into the essential item in the Japanese summer wardrobe, especially in Kyoto. A yukata and geta (wooden sandals) are the de rigueur festival fashion for the month-long Gion Matsuri in July. Perhaps because it is less fussy than the traditional kimono it seems to be particularly popular with young people, both men and women.
While beating the heat seems a truly impossible task, one can at least suffer in style in a cool yukata.
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