Uchimizu refers to the Japanese practice of sprinkling water in dry gardens, but everyone also sprinkles the street in front of their house to cool the air on hot summer days.
Uchimizu came into being during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, when the tea ceremony first appeared. In the tea ceremony, uchimizu is practiced as a form of etiquette.
During the Edo period, uchimizu was described in haikus and depicted in ukiyo-e prints, demonstrating the importance of this practice in Japanese culture.
In addition to providing relief from the summer heat, uchimizu is said to have prevented dust from invading the streets, welcomed guests by sprinkling water over the entrance or street, and purified the air.
For Hanabi and uchimizu, Japanese people often wear Yukata (a lightweight cotton kimono).
YUKATA
Linen was the main material used during the Heian period, and was worn as a bathrobe or nightwear.
Cotton then replaced linen, and was generally dyed with indigo. Finally, in the mid-Edo period, the cotton yukata was worn for short outings or festivals, and is still worn today.
When you walk around in yukata and Geta, raised wooden sandals, you can feel that summer atmosphere.
