Futon 4, originally uploaded by kahoristori.

CONTRIBUTED BY KAHO

If you’re expecting multiple house guests at the same time, but do not have enough beds to offer, or you’re in the dog house and don’t get to sleep on your bed :), a Japanese “futon” will come in very handy! It is better for your back to sleep on a hard surface, so it might help alleviate a back problem. You might think that futon on a hard floor will be too hard and uncomfortable, futons actually have enough cushion that it won’t hurt your back. I think it’s comfortable, but I grew up sleeping on it.  The great thing about futon is that you can fold the mattresses to make them compact and put them away in your closet. We bought a set of futon for our daughter since she is growing out of her crib. A futon works great since we do not have to buy a side guard for the bed or do not have to worry about her falling off the bed.  It is convenient to us since our 2-year-old all of the sudden started feeling spooked about staying in a dark room all by herself, so I need to stay with her until she falls asleep. Sometimes I lay next to her and this futon is convenient for that.

Was I able to convince you that futons rock? If you’re interested in purchasing one for your time in Japan, where could you go to buy a set? NITORI, a home furnishing store, would be a great place to buy one. Nitori is like IKEA of Japan. Not only do they have modern and fashionable furniture and household items, but the prices are very reasonable. Nitori sells futon sets which come with two mattresses, a blanket, a pillow, a mattress cover, a blanket cover and a pillow case and all of this cost 7,990 yen (about $68). For more detailed information on this product CLICK HERE. It is in Japanese, but you should be able to see pictures of the individual items included in the package.

Nitori Homepage

[post edited to include directions from comments] Directions to Nitori from Kadena: head straight out Gate 2 and keep going, it will seem like too far, pass the zoo and head down hill, then look for KFC and MaxValue on your right, and then turn left on 85, I think there is a San A at this intersection. Just follow 85 north for a few blocks and when you start to see harbor/ocean on your right then look for Nitori on your left. The sign is in Japanese so check out this link and familiarize yourself with the symbols.

19 COMMENTS

  1. *NEW NITORI* just opened on the west side of the island on Route 58! If you are heading SOUTH on Rt58, drive past Camp Foster, drive past MCAS Futenma… so heading south, it’ll be on your right side just past the “Actors Building” on the corner; therefore, you’ll have to U-turn back around to head north…. and then it’ll be on your left side. It has a big teal sign, like the one on their website (http://www.nitori.co.jp/ ). Closest thing to Target I’ve seen here…. 🙂

  4. I went and checked this place out today. I wasn’t able to figure out the futon portion but got a great chair and will be coming back soon for some super awesome rugs that are actually quite cheap. All around great store!

  10. Directions to Nitori from Kadena: head straight out Gate 2 and keep going, it will seem like too far, pass the zoo and head down hill, then look for KFC and MaxValue on your right, and then turn left on 85, I think there is a San A at this intersection. Just follow 85 north for a few blocks and when you start to see harbor/ocean on your right then look for Nitori on your left. The sign is in Japanese so check out this link and familiarize yourself with the symbols. Have fun!

  12. Nitori is now open in their new location (see above comment)! We drove by today and there was a traffic jam of people trying to get in. I believe some were parking at the mall and walking over. It is two stories now, way bigger than their mall store. I think they are having a big grand opening sale, Tim picked up a flyer for me and it has some really good prices, as far as I could tell. Hope to make it over there this week for some good deals.

  14. Nitori is a few blocks from our house (KaihoCho) and we go there often. We noticed a few weeks ago that they were moving stuff around, discounting stuff to like 70% off and blocking off parts of the store. Then we saw that further south on 85, past the pachinko parlor with the silly Engrish banner around their rooftop parking lot, then, after that, there is a new contruction building with a sign for Nitori (it’s in kana). The sign also says Sports Depo in English. Tim says they aren’t open yet. They must be in the process of moving.

    Tim wants to know, anyone? what’s with the bamboo sheets (reminiscent of those cabbie seat covers with the wooden beads) we have been seeing at Nitori and Jusco? Do you sleep on top of them or under them, or are they just for show?

  15. I just went to Nitori and it was all boarded up! I can’t read the sign posted. Does anyone know when they will open, again? Are they closed for good or just for remodeling? Also, does anyone know how to get to the home store Maxplus, from Kadena?

  18. We just dropped a hundred bucks for a mattress & toddler bedframe combo at the Foster furniture store. Should have done this instead. While the toddler bed isn’t high, it just doesn’t allow him much room to roll. Not to mention how stinking cute that whole set is. Why do we have beds up off the floor anyway? To store stuff under? So we don’t have to bend down?

    Thanks for sharing, Kaho.