Futon

A futon is Japanese floor bedding: a mattress and quilt laid out on a tatami mat floor at night and folded away in the morning. It is the standard bed in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn, and in some hotel rooms with a Japanese-style layout.

How does a futon room work?

In the evening, staff lay the futon on the tatami floor, often while you are at dinner. In the morning it is put away so the room becomes a sitting room. At a family-run minshuku, you may be asked to put away your own bedding.

Why does it matter for Malaysian travellers?

Sleeping at floor level is new for most families. The mattress is thinner than a bed, and getting up from the floor is hard for stiff knees or backs. For elders and young children, a room with beds, or a Japanese room with a raised mattress, is easier. Our tatami and futon guide for elders explains the options.

Floors in older inns can be cool in winter, so ask about heating. Bring warm socks.

What should you ask before booking?

Ask whether beds are available, how many futons fit the room, and who sets them out. Use our ryokan booking questions and the guesthouse and minshuku guide to prepare. We confirm bed type in writing before you pay.