Are Japanese Futons Comfortable?

Question

I'm outgrowing my bed and I need a new one... I think a Japanese style futon might be good (because my room is small and i would like to put it away for the day.) I heard that sleeping on a Japanese futon is good for your back. ARE futons good for everyday use? Should I get one? Thanks!!!!

And I mean the mattress that Japanese people traditionally sleep on. NOT the couch/bed.

Answer 1

Well, a lot of Japanese people use them every day and seem perfectly fine with it.



If you're not used to sleeping on the floor with nothing more than a couple of inches of rather firm padding between you and the hard floor it can be kind of rough. I usually have to stack two or three futon on top of each other to be really comfortable on them. However, sleeping on just one probably is something you could get used to. You really won't know until you try it for yourself.



Also, keep in mind that getting off of a futon and getting out of bed are somewhat different actions. It's not a big deal when you're fully awake or the room is lit, but sometimes when I tried to get up in the middle of the night I would get really dizzy and almost fall over. I slept on a futon for a year and never really got used to the difference involved in getting out of bed at night when my bed was a futon. Again, you're not me, so this is probably something you could get used to, but do be careful.

Answer 2

Japanese Futon Bed

Answer 3

Japanese Futon Mattress

Answer 4

I think that the answers thus far clearly indicate it is simply a matter of preference. The unfortunate part would be for you to buy one and find out that you didn't like it. I prefer a bed, but sleep on them when we stay overnight at the in-law's house.



Just to give some support to some things previously said....



1- All the additional information about the care of futons by Robyn.



2- Aya's comment about it perhaps being a bit more difficult getting up off a futon. I have some back problems sometimes and although the futon doesn't seem to cause the problem, getting up can require more effort and pain when it is acting up.



3- The idea of using a quilted liner is a good idea. Easier to wash than the whole futon.



It all comes down to a matter of preference.

Answer 5

Not especially comfortable. When I was on bed rest I put mine on top of my hubby's one in the daytime so it wasn't so bad. Of course higher quality (and price) futons will be thicker and more comfortable, but mine gives me a back-ache.



I go with the person who suggested getting two, and if you find you don't need the second one you'll have a spare bed in the cupboard.



I also go with the person who said to air them out to prevent bugs, it'll also prevent mould. Normally they're draped across the veranda railings and clipped in place, but if you don't have a veranda you should be ok draping it so that up to half of it hangs out of your window to get the sun and air. Make sure you secure it so it doesn't fall out though. If you put the futon away while it's still warm from your body you're asking for trouble. At the very least leave it to cool off first, or drape it over a chair or something so it can dry out quicker. They absorb sweat a lot, people often use things they call kilts, it's a kind of quilted pad which absorbs most of the moisture before it can soak through to the futon. A blanket under the futon cover would suffice.

Answer 6

RE:

Are Japanese Futons Comfortable?

I'm outgrowing my bed and I need a new one... I think a Japanese style futon might be good (because my room is small and i would like to put it away for the day.) I heard that sleeping on a Japanese futon is good for your back. ARE futons good for everyday use? Should I get one? Thanks!!!!...

Answer 7

Incredibly comfortable! You don't need to go to Heaven in a hurry to know what Heaven is. All you need to do is to sleep on Futon! You can experience the eternal peace in your dream every night, which would never be possible as long as you are sleeping on whatyoumacall a bed? No way!

Answer 8

YES!



It is good for your waist and backbone and eco in winter. I japanese think, the American mattress is to soft to rest long time. My body is sink to the mattress and it makes my backbone stoop.



Futon mattress is not thick and is set on hard floor. Thick Futon blanket including down feather is very warm, no need the heater in winter.



If you use it everyday, you should air the futon once a week on a day so that the bugs do not occur.



The most japanese people is not tall, so, I hope you can find big one.

Answer 9

Japanese futon are hard mats that are roughly 1-2 inches thick. They take a lot of getting used to, as the floor is pretty hard and the mat provides little comfort. It took me weeks to get used to sleeping on one. As in, my back and legs were sore every single morning, and some areas of my hip or knee got bruised when I slept on my side. It was pretty bad. You might want to stack two together for a little more cushion.



Be sure you get a good quality one. The ones I use now on my bed are cheap and are kind of like foam. Not very good at supporting ... anything.

Answer 10

I love futons! When I visit family in Japan I always opt to sleep one rather than a bed. It is convenient especially if you live in a small space because you can put it alway when you wake up.



They are comfortable and I feel like its better on my back for some reason.