Futon
Futon is the Japanese bedding which is usually laid down on tatami. It is made of a padded mattress, and a very soft and thick blanket which is used during winter. During winter, Japanese houses are chilly because there is no central heating, thus, thick blanket is necessary. The Japanese style pillow is called makura.
Because futon is often less soft than western mattress, it is said to be good for people having back ache. But futon seems to be designed to be laid on tatami, which is slightly soft and temperature isolating surface. Futon laid on hard, cold floor would be hardly ideal.
Futon absorbs body moisture, thus it must be aired on every day basis. Furing humid months in june, futon requires a special care or it may start to gather mold. It is also important to air futon often in order to prevent ticks and mites.
Futon is the traditional Japanese bedding. It is still widely used in Japanese houses.
