futon

A Japanese quilt, equivalent to Western eiderdowns or duvets, traditionally filled with (heavy) cotton padding (now polyester or feathers). Most Japanese sleep on a thick futon on the tatami matting, with another on top in winter. All bedding is kept in a cupboard during the day, leaving the room free for use.

A futon (布団, futon) is a type of mattress that makes up a Japanese bed.

Japanese futons are flat, about 5 cm (2 in) thick with a fabric exterior stuffed with cotton or synthetic batting. They are often sold in sets which include the futon mattress (shikibuton), a comforter (kakebuton) or blanket (mōfu), a summer blanket resembling a large towel (towelket), and pillow (makura), generally filled with beans, buckwheat chaff or plastic beads.

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. In addition, many Japanese people beat their futons regularly using a special tool, traditionally made from bamboo, resembling a Western carpet beater. 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. 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; in fact, in the United States, "futon" often refers to the frame, not the mattress. Most Japanese people would not recognize a Western-style "futon" as a futon. While still not traditional futons, they lack the springs and synthetic casings of traditional mattresses and tend to be constructed primarily out of cotton.