Futon (布団) is the Japanese traditional style of bedding.
A complete futon set consists of a mattress
Traditionally, futons are used on tatami, a type of mat used as a flooring material which also provides a softer base for the futon than most harder flooring types, such as wood or stone. Futons must be folded away daily and aired in the sun regularly to prevent mold from developing and also to keep the futon free of mites. All over Japan, futons can commonly be seen hanging over balconies airing in the sun. A futon dryer is also available for those unable to hang out their futon.
Western-style futons, which typically resemble low, wooden sofa beds, differ substantially from their Japanese counterparts. They often have the dimensions of a western mattress, and are too thick to fold. They are often set up and stored on a slatted frame, which avoids having to move them to air regularly, especially in the dry indoor air of a centrally-heated house (Japanese homes were not traditionally centrally-heated).
See also
Floor Sleeping with a Japanese Futon | The "Minimalist" Bed Shikibuton - Get ready to throw away your bed for this crazy but realistic-minimalist solution to sleeping. Once I slept on the floor, I didn't want to go back to a traditional ...
- Day bed (bed used for other purposes during the day)
- Ken (unit on which houses are traditionally built)
- Washitsu (the type of rooms in which futons are frequently used)
- Zabuton (sitting futon, a smaller cushion)
References
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