{"id":3770,"date":"2016-03-28T08:00:54","date_gmt":"2016-03-27T23:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=3770"},"modified":"2021-01-12T10:13:08","modified_gmt":"2021-01-12T01:13:08","slug":"kotatsu-warm-cold-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/kotatsu-warm-cold-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Kotatsu, a great way to stay warm when it’s cold in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Kotatsu<\/strong> (\u3053\u305f\u3064) hot tables are a popular cost-efficient way to keep warm during Japan’s colder seasons. Integral to household culture, a kotatsu has a low coffee table with a heating element installed underneath<\/strong>. A blanket sits atop the table, then another hard wooden piece over that. This creates a cozy little environment for sitting around, relaxing in warmth whilst you cover yourself with an edge of the kotatsu blanket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alongside Japanese using kotatsu, remember that you must always sit on the floor around the table. Moving the table or pulling the blankets towards a nearby couch is not polite. Cushions and Zaisu chairs are acceptable if you need a seat a little softer than a tatami mat. Zaisu chairs are reclining chairs that have no legs but still have a normal seat and back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Japanese culture, eating mikan (mandarins) and drinking ocha (green tea) while sitting around the kotatsu is tradtional. Kotatsu often have a bowl filled with mikan placed upon it for both decoration and a healthy snack. I believe that mikan are required because you are at risk of becoming hungry; because you will be reluctant to get up after the irresistibly cozy warmth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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What should we consider when using a kotatsu?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How can we enjoy Kotatsu?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n