Best Japanese Futon Sets to Match Your Tatami Mattress (2023)

FAQs

Do you really need tatami mat for futon? ›

Obviously tatami mats are ideal, but any soft surface, such as a carpet or mat will work. Place your pillow and comforter on top, and you have your futon!

Tatami mats are made from woven straw and are often used underneath the Japanese futon mattress. Tatami mats provide an extra layer of support with softness and could be compared to a larger, softer yoga mat.

Unlike a normal Japanese futon that is used on the floor, this traditional futon is meant to be used with a bed mattress instead.

In recent years, there has been a decline in their popularity, largely due to difficulty in cleaning the grass material, along with the need to occasionally replace them. However, it is still very common for Japanese houses to have at least one room with a tatami mat floor.

Many of our customers prefer futon mattresses to other traditional bedding. So yes, well made futons are an excellent choice for everynight sleeping. Be sure to check out the difference between good quality and the imposters selling a cheap night's sleep.

A firm surface helps keep the spine aligned and reduce chances of back pain every time you wake up. Moreover, even pregnant women have benefitted from sleeping on futons. The dreaded back pain was the least of their problems as a result. You can add another soft layer to achieve your desired level of comfort.

Tatami made with the highest-quality core material can last up 50 years. Tatami made with man-made core materials are cheaper and can last about 25 years. Even the cheapest tatami are more durable than carpet.

Of course it isn't that simple; the difference stems from approaching the mattress from two different philosophies—in the West, the futon is a bed/sofa replacement, while in Japan the shikibuton is a mattress that is designed to be used on the floor and put away each morning (hence its easily-folding thin profile).

The traditional Japanese mattress, the shikifuton, is made with all natural cotton and no synthetic materials. Because of this, they require a bit more love and care than the traditional western mattress, but if well cared for these futons can last up to ten years or more.

Although many people in Japan have Western-style mattresses and box springs, futons remain a popular choice, especially in compact apartments, because they're easy to move or store away.

What is the ideal futon thickness? ›

For the best futon experience, we recommend selecting an eight inch thick or above futon mattress.

The tatami mats are made of straws and easily absorb moisture. If the surfaces is covered for prolonged periods, it will get moldy and even attract bugs ( yuck! ). A damaged tatami mat will require replacement, and this means you'll need to shell out an extra the day you move out!

Tatami is a natural product that, if cared for properly, can last years, but such care can be bothersome and expensive. It's recommended that you change the omote every four or five years, and the entire mat every 10 to 15 years.

If you wish to use large furniture, we recommend you to place protective sheets of plywood underneath to reduce damage. If you wish to use beds or sofas in a tatami room, we recommend you to use frameless or legless types so they don't damage the tatami surface.

The Bottom Line

For a futon that will last for years, look great in your home, and give you tons of comfortable support, we recommend the Novogratz Tallulah Memory Foam Futon. It has cozy cushions and a sturdy frame, among many other features, making it the overall best futon on our list.

It is most important to give your futon time to air out. Please fold up your futon mattress every day. The best care is leaving the futon out in the direct sunlight for about 2 hours for each side when the sunlight is strong.

Futon can be used no matter if you are a side-sleeper or stomach-sleeper. Although side sleepers feel more comfortable when their shoulders sink into the mattress.

Yes you can sleep directly on a tatami mat (and many Japanese do) but if you have never done it, it may take some getting used to. The tatami mat would act like an ultra firm mattress.

Futons & Shikibutons Make sure your organic futon or shikibuton wears evenly (avoiding body impressions) by flipping and rotating it regularly, so you end up sleeping on all different parts of the bed equally. We recommend doing this once a week for the first month, then once every other week thereafter.

Simply air your Tatami mat outdoors for a few days if the smell is too strong, and be sure to avoid moisture from rain or sprinklers. You can also just clean the surface with a mixture of lemon oil and water, just wiping it with a damp cloth, to have it smelling fresh in no time!

Can tatami mattress be washed? ›

You should avoid cleaning tatami with a wet cloth because tatami mats are highly absorbent and any retained moisture may cause mold to grow. A wet cloth may also remove some of the natural surface oils which help protect the mat from aging too quickly. For deeper cleaning, using a dry cloth and wipe along the grain.

If tatami gest wet, it can get damaged, mold can set in, and fleas can proliferate. Do not wipe with a damp cloth. If you do wipe with a damp cloth, be sure to also wipe with a dry cloth and ventilate, to make sure it is dry.

A tatami (畳) is a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms. Tatamis are made in standard sizes, twice as long as wide, about 0.9 m by 1.8 m depending on the region. In martial arts, tatami are the floor used for training in a dojo and for competition.

A well-maintained futon or shikibuton should last between 10 and 15 years. An organic latex mattress will last 20 to 30 years. A futon or shikibuton is a firm, yet supportive sleeping surface.

The Shiki Futon is a traditional Japanese hand-quilted mattress that is filled with cotton. The futon is rolled out on the floor at night for sleeping and can be easily rolled up and stored away during the day when they were not needed.

Low to the ground

“People who have back pain may find it more difficult to stand up from shikibuton, as it's spread on the floor,” says Kaifu. “It's easier to do so from a bed, as you can just slide down from it.” If you have trouble sitting on or rising from the floor, a shikibuton may not be for you.

Futon sofa beds are a type of bed that can be converted into a couch when not in use. Like traditional futons, these beds come equipped with thin, firm mattresses, and often require a mattress topper or mattress pad for extra comfort.

Although cotton was used in the traditional futons in the past, it had a tendency to matt down and produce lumps. We now use a pure cotton filling blended with a small amount of polyester fibres. This product has all the advantages of cotton, but the polyester reduces the matting and compression process.

Proponents of the Japanese sleep system claim many benefits--both health and otherwise--to sleeping on the floor. Among them: Cooler temperatures, since cool air settles to the floor. Better circulation, and reduced back and muscle pain.

What time does the average Japanese person wake up? ›

Tatami Mats

It is common practice in Japan to sleep on a very thin mattress over a tatami mat, made of rice straw and woven with soft rush grass. The Japanese believe this practice will help your muscles relax, allowing for a natural alignment of your hips, shoulders and spine.

Japanese futons can be folded and put away. Most Japanese who use a Japanese futon fold them every morning upon waking up, and place them in a corner of the room or store them in a closet. Because they are laid directly on the floor, has not good air circulation, and moisture is likely to be trapped in the futon.

Most futon mattresses come in a full size/double size because they can easily fit two people, but when opened up to be used as a bed, they don't take up too much space. They are also big enough to be folded up and used as a couch when they aren't being used for sleep.

You should fold or roll up the futon and place it in the breathable storage case before putting it in the closet. The storage case will help keep off dust and keep insects out.

Place an air mattress on top of the futon

Since futons are usually thin and closer to the ground, putting an air mattress on top of the futon makes it a great height and a lot more comfortable. Buy an air mattress that is easy to inflate and deflate to make less work for yourself when setting up your futon for a guest.

However, that being said I would recommend the twin size beds because these futons are traditionally made from cotton and they can get pretty heavy.

To prevent a dani infestation, first rule is to keep clean: vacuum your tatami every week and shake out and change bedding frequently. Heat and UV light will kill dani, which is why you see your Japanese neighbors hang out their bedding and futons out in the sun.

Keep your futons fresh

Dani love to live in warm, moist places like your futon and the tatami underneath it. In the warmer, sunnier months, strip the sheets and padding off your futons and hang them outside to bake in the sun on warm days. Heat kills dani. In addition, wash your sheets and blankets regularly.

Even if Western-style bedding is popular, Japanese people often still sleep on a tatami mat with a futon, a thin mattress, on top.

Why are tatami mats expensive? ›

The tatami mats are also heat - treated to prepare for customs clearance into the US. International shipping has been very expensive recently and has increased up to 6 times pre-2019 levels. There are also customs clearance costs and tariffs for the import of tatami mats into the U.S.

Keep the mats away from damp or hot places, such as radiators. In addition lofts and basements are not ideal storage areas. It may be dry but if these places aren't visited regularly there will be little airflow. Wherever you store Tatami try and put them on pallets or pieces of timber so air can circulate.

Tatami mats are known for their comfortable texture that allow for better grip, which is why they are an attractive surface for yoga.

One common type of bug is called "dani" (ダニ), or often known to foreigners as tatami bugs. These tiny, tiny bugs dwell deep within tatami mats and feed on human blood at night, leaving tiny bumps on the skin.

Not only do Tatami mats help improve back pain, but they can improve your posture, too. The neutral sleeping position lets your spine rest without creating knots in your back. You can wake up feeling less sore and with looser joints.

A shikibuton is a Japanese futon mattress designed to rest on the floor. It can be rolled up and put away when you're not sleeping, freeing up extra space. When rolled out, it's usually between 3 and 4.5 inches thick, giving the sleeper the experience of laying on the earth with a little extra support.

While a fitted sheet can be used in place of a futon cover, it fits best if the futon is used flat, in the bed position only. A futon cover is designed to stay put even as the futon mattress flexes.

They were traditionally used as flooring throughout Japanese homes, but today they're primarily found in a designated tatami room, which is most often used for sleeping.

Bed bases, like foundations and even simple wooden slats, can make a major difference in your futon's comfort level. If you don't have a bed base under your futon, consider adding slats under the mattress. The slats will even out the futon's sleeping surface and provide support.

The frame usually includes wooden slats, with numerous joints where the slats attach. Each of these joints must be inspected carefully since they are prime bed bug hiding places. Some futons have hollow metal tubing where bed bugs hide.

How often should you flip your futon mattress? ›

New mattresses should be rotated, on average, every 3 months. But use your best judgment and if you feel a bit of a sag or can see one with the naked eye, it might be best to rotate your mattress more often. Cotton needs to be rotated quarterly.

Futon can be used no matter if you are a side-sleeper or stomach-sleeper. Although side sleepers feel more comfortable when their shoulders sink into the mattress.

Full-size futon mattresses are the most common kind you'll find in stores and online, and there's a good reason for that: They're the best balance between cost and convenience. Full or double-size mattresses and futons are 54 inches wide and 75 inches long.

The tatami mats are made of straws and easily absorb moisture. If the surfaces is covered for prolonged periods, it will get moldy and even attract bugs ( yuck! ). A damaged tatami mat will require replacement, and this means you'll need to shell out an extra the day you move out!

Mold: Sometimes a bit of mold will grow on your Tatami mat if it is exposed to moisture. If you find some on your Tatami mat, gently brush off the mold. Then, wipe with a clean cloth moistened with ethyl alcohol to completely clean the area.

The core material determines the price and life-span of tatami. Tatami made with the highest-quality core material can last up 50 years. Tatami made with man-made core materials are cheaper and can last about 25 years.