Geta – Japanese Sandals

Geta are a type of traditional Japanese footwear. They help keep our lovely kimono out of the mud or snow by rising high enough when wearing them.

Although Kirigeta (paulownia geta) was the main geta maker until the late 19th century, the city of Hita began making geta around this time, using very high-quality pine and cedar wood from the Hita Valley area. After 1907, machines were introduced to geta factories, giving way to mass production. Hita’s geta were distributed throughout Japan, making it one of the top three geta producers in all of Japan, along with Shizuoka and Matsunaga (Hiroshima). With the passing of time and the change in the daily life of the Japanese, Hita adjusted its products by introducing modern sandals and shoes to its catalog. This made Hita currently considered the city of footwear in Japan.

As a peculiarity of the traditional design of a geta, there is no difference between the left or the right shoe.

The geta are generally worn with the kimono. However, they are very comfortable and your feet will probably thank you after wearing regular shoes all day. Some people use geta at home (outside) or on the weekend. The surface of the geta is flat and hard, where the fingers hold the loop naturally.

The smooth movement that results from the position of the toes helps to stimulate important points on your foot, which promotes blood circulation throughout your body. The geta, being flat, greatly help your posture, reducing back and shoulder pain. The pressure points between the toes where the laces go through connect to our eyes and neck, so geta are great for when you find yourself tired of sitting at your desk for long hours.

The geta come in a single width measurement, where the ties are used to make adjustments. You can ask stores to adjust them for you so that they fit you perfectly.