Girl in a Yukata Coloring Page

Here is a coloring page of a young girl in a yukata, drawn from behind. Her floral-patterned robe, red sash, and the paper fan in her hand bring back memories of cool, breezy evenings at a summer festival. Color in the small details — the sash, the hairpin, the fan — in your favorite shades for an even more festive result. A soothing activity for senior recreation, care facilities, and day services alike, this page prints free at A4 size.

About the Yukata

The yukata is a lightweight, unlined cotton robe that Japanese people have worn to keep cool since the Edo period, when it evolved from the simple bathrobes worn at hot-spring bathhouses into everyday summer wear. Unlike the formal silk kimono, which requires many layers and a skilled hand to put on, a yukata is easy to slip into and comfortable even in the sticky heat of a Japanese summer. It is tied at the waist with a wide sash called an obi, and finished off with wooden sandals called geta and, for many young women and girls, a decorative hairpin known as a kanzashi tucked into their hair. Even today, putting on a yukata and heading out to a summer festival or fireworks show is one of the season's best-loved traditions, especially for children and young people.

This particular page shows the girl from behind, walking off as if toward the sound of festival drums in the distance, which makes it a wonderfully relaxed sheet to color — there is no face to get 'right,' just open space to fill in however you like. Try choosing one main color for the yukata itself, such as a classic indigo blue or a soft pink, and then let the floral pattern printed across the fabric stand out in a second, contrasting shade. The bright red obi wrapped around her waist is a natural focal point and a good place to practice staying inside a bold, simple shape. The small paper fan, called an uchiwa, in her hand and the hairpin at the back of her head are perfect spots for a touch of gold, yellow, or orange, bringing warmth to the whole scene and a satisfying sense of a summer evening well spent.