If you stay at a five star hotel during your brief stay in Japan, chances are that you will find the same type of bed and fluffy, western-style mattress that you would find at any Holiday Inn in the United States or Europe. Katie. I am actually already sleeping ‘on the floor’, but am considering getting a regular cushy mattress just for comfort when nursing a new baby. 2, is debatable. This is the informal way of saying, “I love you” and is used between people that are close, such as lovers, making it one of the most commonly used expressions in Korean dramas. She twitches/rolls in her sleep and I wake up throughout the night because the bed moves. Over there you often see futon hung over the balcony rail on a sunny day, Let your futon air out in your backyard under the mid-day sun. When you sleep, it sags in the middle because the cotton migrates to the edges. Thanks for such a speedy reply. I use it like a floor couch, if that makes any sense. I suggest buying at least one futon mattress and seeing if it is soft enough for you. This problem can be associated with either mental or physical health issues, including anxiety attacks, improper functioning of the heart, amongst others. Thanks for your reply. While many people might swear that a soft and spongy mattress is the best for their back, several studies have begun to show why firm (but not hard) bedding options are better for your back, spine, and overall posture. ✅ Receive Lifestyle articles straight to your inbox! I just rolled over on one side, used a hand to prop up my torso and bump, and then moved into a sitting position and stood up. I put mine on the floor, and my futons are from years ago from a local futon shop. I suspect it is because everyone no matter how tall is at their same height, they can see your face to interact with you instead of your unresponsive navel or legs. I have researched futons quite a bit the last week and I read that I should not put a futon mattress on the floor because it will build up moisture and mold within the cotton. Any help/info will be much appreciated! I do know I want a floor model. (All Pricing Shown on our Website INCLUDES Shipping -- No Additional Shipping Charges!). I had a bed, but I never slept there. Even flipping it, rotating it, the bulk of the weight will always be in the midsection of the futon. Hi there, thanks for your blog and responses – really helpful. I like the idea of having a futon, because it’s a bed and a couch in one. If they were that great for our backs, and more comfortable, and had no issues, than one should be enough, the fact that you keep suggesting to layer them really raises a red flag. I did not realize that. Thank you for sharing a personal real-life experience and insight. Smell of the futon, manufacture location, not trustworthy, not getting the price you pay for,etc.]. Like the first respondent said, we just used the futon itself without any extra bedding; we did occasionally use a thin waterproof sheet (not a fitted sheet) that grandma bought him in Japan, but we eventually scrapped it because it would get bunched up underneath him since he’s such a mover. I prefer carpet but wood flooring is not as bad as concrete. I am wondering how using a futon has worked for you, with nursing a new baby. I can't stand the Japanese … Another quality benefit of a Japanese futon mattress is that they are essentially impossible to break. Super soft and spongy mattresses often lead to improper back angles and postures for side sleepers while the firmness of a Japanese futon offers just the right amount of support. splurge. It comes in different sizes that you can choose from. Splurge. Koreans, Japanese and other Asians sleep on these type of beds. That is a good idea. Thanks for this super helpful article! I still have queen sized sheets and just tuck the excess underneath. I’m currently living in Japan and a great deal of the non luxury houses/apartments use tatami mat floors for the bedroom and putting anything heavy that doesn’t displace weight over the full surface area will damage the floors. Simply sprinkle your futon with a healthy amount of baking soda. They tried to sell us a headboard but we said no. WRITES: Books (also available on Amazon). If you try a fitted waterproof sheet for seniors on the bed, it works great. We are going to buy tatami mats when we move and those will be under our futons.. We do not have a cold floor problem so we do not need a futon frame but I can see how you might. To which I will answer: It’s because we’re reading North American stories, and in Japan as well as in the past, people sleep on these futons as “real beds”. Just look at how they dress! I have worked 50% of my career (taking 1-2 year breaks), and quadrupled my income within 2 years of graduating, going from $65K to $260K with an average lifetime savings rate of 50%. ap. And that my friends is why a Japanese-style all cotton 100% well-made futon rocks. . Hi, I was wondering if anyone had recommendations of futon bed frames? We had ours for years, we bought another layer recently because the other one was just getting too matted down & we didn’t want to fluff it out.. I’ve been sleeping on Japanese futons for 35 years. Was just curious and wondering if wood were soft enough as that’s what we have. I am hesitant to tell you to not try it, but here’s my 2 cents of why I wouldn’t bother wasting the money (you’ll end up buying the real one later): Mattress filled with white cotton, comforting fiber and resilient foam. I needed the second one because I’m too bony for just one layer. After waking up for months with a sore back I realized the culprit was my sagging mattress (which was pretty expensive and is less than 5 years old!!! I’ve recently been diagnosed with a herniated disc. Do you know how these feel with 2 people sleeping on one? You could layer 2 of these and have a very comfortable bed, trust me. In fact, tatami mats might have actually predated futons as the original type of bedding. So my husband bought a futon from ‘Surplus Furniture and Mattress Warehouse’, ( http://www.surplusfurniture.com/ ) Canada when I was pregnant. You mentioned below that your husband has a bad back and slept on these and it helps. what are these exactly? In most Japanese towns and cities, people gather up their futon and hang it on clotheslines outside during warm sunny mornings. You know that’s the rub that everyone is asking about. I also got a “traditional” sized buckwheat hull pillow and it is AMAZING. It makes it very difficult to take care of it. The UV rays of the sun will kill off the allergens and a gentle “beating” of your futon will get rid of accumulated dust and other particles. Money problems, health concerns, and an insecure political situation: there’s a lot to be anxious about in the modern world. I suggest taking at least a full-sized bed. P.S. I sleep right on the futon. So I u have time could you direct me to a link that has a good futon for me? uses affiliate links from Shopstyle, and Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com or ShopStyle. I don’t know if I could sleep that close to the floor. It is important as well to differentiate between an authentic Japanese futon mattress and the western imitation futons that are sold at virtually every furniture store around the country. I think you’re probably right and that it’d be better to stack futons, rather than use one as a topper. What about when you were pregnant!!? It comes down to space for me. It is easier for us to move, we roll it up, secure it with very thick, heavy straps and we both carry it (one adult takes one end). Throwing them on the floor is a sure way to encourage issues with mild also. It is easy to pull out a futon on the floor for a guest, 4. Just think of it this way. I couldn’t swing spending $700 on a futon from J-Life to try it out. If you are looking for a truly authentic Japanese sleeping experience, a tatami mat will deliver the real thing. So I have only had good experiences with futons. Cheaper than a futon, great for your back, promotes REM sleep, saves space because you can store it just like you can a roll-up futon. I’ll make it a futon, seems like the better choice. By midday, or when the clouds roll in, the futons are then taken inside and stored in an “oshiire”, or a special closet in the home where the futons are stored. 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