See Japanese Futon Products on Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n Is a Japanese futon really all that different from the futon we know in the West? Well, yes.\u00a0The most important thing to know about the Japanese futon is that it is different from what we think of as a futon in the US. It is not the space-saving sofa bed popular with college students, although it is\u00a0likewise\u00a0flexible.<\/p>\n The name of this\u00a0Asian bedding set\u00a0is something of a long-running misnomer. Futon<\/em> (\u5e03\u56e3) is actually a Japanese loanword—similar to words such as emoji<\/em>\u00a0(\u7d75\u6587\u5b57) or tsunami<\/em>\u00a0(\u6d25\u6ce2). Why, then, do we define the futon differently from the Japanese?<\/p>\n Simple: The English-speaking world\u00a0doesn’t always appropriate words and keep their original meanings. The\u00a0word futon<\/em>\u00a0came to mean something different outside of Japan over the years—so much so that\u00a0we now have to use\u00a0a qualifier.\u00a0This is why we have the term Japanese futon to denote the traditional kind.<\/p>\n Many think of the Japanese futon as an Asian version of a portable indoor sleeping bag,\u00a0but\u00a0it is actually a set of items that make up a ground-based sleeping setup.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n While just a few items are truly essential to a very basic Japanese futon setup, accessories are often stored and used with it. Moreover, these add-ons can be considered as part of the Japanese futon.<\/p>\n It’s similar to\u00a0how we\u00a0think of our beds as being not just\u00a0a mattress and box spring—but also inclusive of blankets, comforters, pillows and more.<\/p>\n Two parts are a must: a shikibuton\u00a0(\u6577\u304d\u5e03\u56e3) and a kakebuton\u00a0(\u639b\u3051\u5e03\u56e3). They are sometimes accompanied by a makura (\u6795), a mofu (\u6bdb\u5e03), and occasionally a taoruketto (\u30bf\u30aa\u30eb\u30b1\u30c3\u30c8).<\/strong><\/p>\n More traditional setups also require tatami(\u7573) flooring, or at least one tatami mat, to place between the floor and the Japanese futon.<\/p>\n Let’s go through the different parts of the Asian bedding set below.<\/p>\n The main component is the mattress: the shikibuton. It’s about three to four inches thick; and\u00a0the same\u00a0dimensions as one tatami mat, at 5.9 feet long and half as wide.<\/p>\n Historically it was stuffed with 100% cotton, but contemporary models available today use a variety of materials; such as wool, latex, foam, and other synthetic materials.<\/p>\n On top of the shikibuton is the kakebuton: a comforter or duvet of varying thickness and make. A kakebuton is a little larger in size than the shikibuton, and laid on top its edges usually spill over the side.<\/p>\n It can be machine- or hand-quilted; and made of fabrics ranging from the most cost-efficient cotton and polyester, to more expensive options such as silk. The former tends to be heavier and more prone to dust mites, while the latter is naturally hypoallergenic and more able to regulate temperature through the seasons.<\/p>\n Like a duvet, the kakebuton is often protected by a cover that is easily and regularly washed; these covers are usually simple compared to the kakebuton, which can still be seen through a popular “open window” design that faces outward.<\/p>\n You can use any kind of pillow with a Japanese futon—after all, it is your bedroom setup, and you can alter it as you see fit. But if you want a\u00a0complete cultural experience, then a traditional makura should be part of your bedding.<\/p>\n A makura is smaller and firmer than a typical pillow, and authentic models are\u00a0packed with buckwheat hulls. However, many commercially available makura sold as part of Japanese futon sets\u00a0now contain foam or other synthetic fillers.<\/p>\n As an aside, even if you are not thinking of getting a Japanese futon, consider the makura!\u00a0Buckwheat hull pillows are actually recommended for people with allergies, neck pain and tension—as they’re organic, hypoallergenic, easy to shape and provide great support—although they can be noisy if you’re not used to them.<\/p>\n The\u00a0mofu (\u6bdb\u5e03) and\u00a0the taoruketto (\u30bf\u30aa\u30eb\u30b1\u30c3\u30c8) are simply Japanese blankets. The mofu is for cold weather and is typically made of wool,\u00a0while the taoruketto is for hot weather and\u00a0looks and feels like a large beach towel.<\/p>\n Tatami flooring\u00a0is\u00a0composed of tatami mats arranged and laid out on the floor. The firm yet cushioned tatami is made of rush grass and rice straw, and was commonly found in Japanese homes for centuries. <\/strong><\/p>\n These days, Japanese homes\u00a0are not\u00a0 automatically expected to have tatami flooring.\u00a0Still, many maintain at least one washitsu (\u548c\u5ba4)—a traditional Japanese-style room—or have tatami mats specifically to use in between the ground and their Japanese futons.<\/p>\n Tatami provides additional padding and protection to the Japanese futon, is similarly flexible and easy to roll up and put away, and adds authenticity to the bedding set. However, worth noting here that a tatami is completely optional, and that most Japanese futon sets available online will not have this bundled in.\u00a0You will have to purchase it separately.<\/p>\n A Japanese futon should ideally be folded up and stored in an oshiire (\u62bc\u5165) or a deep closet during the day.\u00a0To further preserve the quality and lengthen the lifespan of a Japanese futon, it also must be aired out, preferably under direct sunlight, on a regular basis.<\/strong><\/p>\n Keeping a Japanese futon hidden away while you’re not using it prevents molding and the accumulation of dirt.\u00a0It is also normal in Japan to see people beat their futons with a special stick made of bamboo before airing them out, to aid in shaking off dust and other particles.<\/p>\n A popular but non-traditional measure you can take is to\u00a0place\u00a0a sleeping bag or tri-fold mattress under the shikibuton. This updated take on a Japanese futon setup adds layers between you and the floor—making for a softer feel and a better chance of avoiding dirt or dust.<\/p>\n Japanese futons are excellent for living areas with limited space or a minimalist theme. They are also good to keep on hand as guest beds, although some may find them uncomfortable without extra padding.<\/strong><\/p>\n To fix that problem, you can layer shikibuton on top of each other until you reach the desired feel or opt for the modern solution already mentioned above—a tri-fold mattress underneath.<\/p>\n Occasionally you will see\u00a0something of a compromise: a Japanese futon on top of a tatami or mattress placed on a low platform bed. This offers the best of both worlds for some.<\/p>\n Nothing beats going to Japan and looking for the perfect traditional Japanese futon set there. However, if you’re okay with more mainstream and less traditional\u00a0choices, there are many online options to choose from. Below are some of our favorites.<\/p>\n Jump to: What Is a Japanese Futon? What Are the Parts of\u00a0a Japanese Futon? What Is Tatami Flooring? How Do You Take Care of a Japanese Futon? Where Can You Buy a Japanese Futon? See Japanese Futon Products on Amazon Is a Japanese futon really all that different from the futon we know in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1196,"parent":1191,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"article-template.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1208"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1208"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1208\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4296,"href":"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1208\/revisions\/4296"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1191"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/a>What Is a Japanese Futon?<\/h2>\n
<\/a>What Are the Parts of\u00a0a Japanese Futon?<\/h2>\n
1. Shikibuton<\/h3>\n
2. Kakebuton<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/article-japanese-futon-01.png\")
3. Makura<\/h3>\n
4. Mofu and Taoruketto<\/h3>\n
<\/a>What\u00a0Is Tatami Flooring?<\/h2>\n
<\/a>How Do You\u00a0Take Care of\u00a0a Japanese Futon?<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/emoor-japanese-futon-set-01.png\")
Why Use a Japanese Futon?<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Where Can You Buy a Japanese Futon?<\/h2>\n
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