Kotatsu – A Must-Have for Winter in Japan

The kotatsuこたつis a must-have piece of furniture for winter in Japan. It consists of a wooden frame in the shape of a low table and a special cover ( shitagake in Japanese ) that is placed on it to place a table on this cover. Under the table there is an electric heater installed, which, by having the special cover, keeps the heat inside and in the lower part of your body. As simple as it sounds, it is a staple of life in Japan during Japan’s cool fall months and cold winter months (late October to early March).

The kotatsu represents the heart of the Japanese home during the winter as the family gathers around a campfire and enjoys watching TV, playing games and having long talks at night under the warmth of the kotatsu . And not only, but also pets recognize the excellent idea of kotatsu for the cold months, especially cats! It is an important element of Japanese culture.

It is believed that it originated in the Muromachi era of the 14th century, having a fairly simple and practical beginning, since the place on the ground that was used to heat the home, known as irori in Japanese, added a platform to sit on and separated the part of the kitchen heating. Finally, to allow the heat to be stored, a quilt was placed on top and this was the start of the kotatsu .

And it is that who does not want to spend a cold winter afternoon inside the kotatsu is reading a good book, watching a movie or simply resting for a while in the tranquility of your home, never better said! One very important thing to avoid though is falling asleep inside the kotatsu as there is always a risk of burns if you accidentally touch the heating system while asleep. Also the constant heat makes our body dry and causes us dehydration. It is recommended to leave the kotatsu regularly to avoid these accidents. Although the only one who endures and enjoys sleeping long hours under the kotatsu is the family cat!