In addition, many Japanese people beat their futons regularly using a special tool, traditionally made from bamboo, resembling a Western carpet beater. Futons must be aired in sunlight regularly, especially if not put away during the day. Futons are designed to be placed on tatami flooring, and are traditionally folded away and stored in a closet during the day to allow the tatami to breathe and to allow for flexibility in the use of the room
Japanese futons are flat, about 5 centimetres thick, with a fabric exterior stuffed with cotton or synthetic batting. They are often sold in sets which include the futon mattress , a comforter or blanket , a summer blanket resembling a large towel, and pillow , generally filled with beans, buckwheat chaff or plastic beads
A futon listen is a type of mattress that makes up a Japanese bed. They are sold in Japan at specialty stores called futon-ya as well as at department stores
Typically, the frame folds in the middle allowing the futon to be used as a couch and flattens to be used as a bed. Western-style futons are a cheap alternative to a bed or other furniture, and are often sold in sets that include the mattress and frame. They are often placed on a configurable frame for dual use as a bed and a chair or couch. They are usually filled with foam as well as batting, often in several layers, and are almost always much thicker and larger than Japanese futons, resembling a traditional mattress in size. Futons normally feature a removeable and replaceable cover, giving them more versatility. Western futons are only loosely based on the Japanese original, with several major differences
In Japanese, a zabuton is a cushion for sitting on. Zabuton are often used for sitting on tatami floors