Why do Japanese people sleep on futons?

The experience of sleeping on a futon (布団) is one of the most attractive activities for people who come to Japan. This typically happens when staying at a ryokan (旅館, traditional Japanese hotel) or guest house, where Japanese-style rooms, called washitsu (和室), tend to be the norm.

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The futon 布団is a traditional Japanese bedding style that consists of three main pieces: the mattress (shikibuton 敷き布団), the quilt (kakebuton 掛け布団), and the pillow (makura 枕). The mattress and quilt are made of cotton and as a good insulator You will stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The quilt can be filled with wadding, wool or goose feathers. The mattress also prevents the weight of the body from concentrating on a single point and causing any pain. The pillow is traditionally filled with beans or soba shells (sobagara そばがら枕) as they bring many benefits to sleep.

Traditionally, futons are used on tatami mats (a type of flooring used in traditional Japanese-style rooms) which provides a softer base than most other types of flooring such as wood or stone, which are harder .

One of the biggest differences between the futon and Western-style beds is that it fulfills its function when necessary, that is, at bedtime since, as it is not so thick and can be folded, it can be stored during the day in a closet allowing Let the tatami air out. In this way, the space is recovered and other uses can be given to that same room.

Futons are very easy to clean, they should be aired out in the sun regularly to prevent mold from developing and keep it dust mite free. It should also be vacuumed regularly, at least once a month on both sides, since being filled with cotton, the dust that accumulates inside.

In Japan, a very characteristic scene in residential areas is to see futons hanging over the balconies of houses to ventilate them in the sun. Futons can last up to 15 years and need to be replaced less often than a Western mattress.

History of the Futon

From the Nara period (710 – 794 AD) to the Muromachi period (1336 – 1573), people slept on tatami mats and slept in the kimono they wore during the day, including high-ranking people. When cotton cultivation spread during the Sengokujidai Period (1467-1568), cotton mattresses began to be made and came into use after the middle of the Edo period, though only for wealthy people as they were expensive to produce and there was no large-scale manufacturing.

It was not until the end of the Tokugawa shogunate (1603 – 1868) that futons began to spread to the general public, and by the middle of the Meiji era cotton futons were used by almost the entire population.

Generally, the futon is not slept on as it is, but covered with cotton cloth to facilitate regular washing and keep it clean. They are available in individual, matrimonial and individual double sizes.

Currently in Japan, people still sleep on futons, although on wooden structures, since new houses do not usually have a room in the traditional style (washitsu) and the rooms usually have wooden floors.

And not only! Sleeping on a futon brings great benefits to your health! Research has shown that sleeping on a relatively hard surface helps prevent back problems. The Japanese have increased their life expectancy and become healthier more and more. Could this be in part because they sleep on futons? Could be. A firm surface helps keep your spine in alignment and reduces the chances of back pain upon waking. Even pregnant women have noticed the benefits of sleeping on a futon.