{"id":74180,"date":"2020-12-04T20:57:26","date_gmt":"2020-12-04T11:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=74180"},"modified":"2023-04-21T15:05:22","modified_gmt":"2023-04-21T06:05:22","slug":"futon-why-japanese-sleep-floor-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/futon-why-japanese-sleep-floor-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Why do the Japanese sleep on the floor? History of the futon in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The experience of sleeping on a futon <\/em>(\u5e03\u56e3) remains one of the most appealing activities for travelers coming to Japan. This normally happens when staying in a ryokan <\/a><\/em>(\u65c5\u9928, traditional Japanese hotel) or a guesthouse, where Japanese style rooms<\/a>, called washitsu <\/em>(\u548c\u5ba4), tend to be the norm. The futon is part of that group of things that many consider quintessentially Japanese, such as kimono or sushi. But unlike the latter, sleeping on a futon on a tatami floor (\u7573) is not particularly accessible in the West. Japanese cuisine or many of the items produced in Japan are easily within our reach anywhere in the world. But globalization still does not make it practical to have tatamis in any western home.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Futon
An unmissable sleeping experience. \u00a9 Mika Senda<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

What are the origins of the futon in Japan?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When we say futon<\/em>, we mean the set of the cotton mattress and the comforter that goes on top, called shikubuton <\/em>(\u6577\u5e03\u56e3) and kakebuton <\/em>(\u639b\u5e03\u56e3), respectively. As traditional as it may seem, its widespread use is relatively recent. Its origins date back to the period of civil wars. But, its massive introduction into Japanese homes didn’t happen until the twentieth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n