Futon Is Supposed To Be Put Away During
Futon is supposed to be put away during the day in the closet called oshiire. The oshiire closet has sliding doors and usually divided into two shelves. It is best to keep futon on the upper shelf. Japanese houses are usually small and do not have many rooms. One room is often used for dual purposes. During the day, a room can be used as workroom or guestroom after futon is stored in the oshiire. It is very convenient.

It is important to occasionally dry futon under direct sunlight to prevent mold from forming and to kill dust mites in futon. It’s called futon-hoshi. You may ruin your futon if you keep them in the closet or spread on the floor all the time. Remember that Japan is very humid especially in rainy season. Don’t forget to do futon-hoshi. Or, you can use futon dryers (futon kansouki) available in Japan. Well-dried futon helps you sleep well.

The Futon mattress comes from Asian countries. In India and Asia the futon mattress is made out of cotton that is stuffed into the thick cover and taken apart at least once a year when the cotton is rewashed and beaten by a specialist who knows how to clean cotton. The futon is then re-stuffed and sometimes made thinner or thicker to the person’s request. Most homes in India and Asia have several futon mattresses for family, for guests and to use as chairs and sofas.