What is a Kotatsu? Choosing the Best Japanese Heated Table

by Jessica Esa | LIFESTYLE

A Family Dinner around the Heated Kotatsu Table

The kotatsu is a heartwarming Japanese object, a winter savior and the center point of the home during cold weather. Like a campfire drawing people (and cats) around it, it’s a source of warmth and joy that brings people together. But what exactly is a kotatsu, and how you can yourself get one? Keep reading to find out!

What is a Kotatsu?

Usually found in the center of the home, the modern kotatsu involves a low table with a special futon (or shitagake) placed over it. An electric heater is attached beneath which keeps your lower body toasty warm. While they took a dip in popularity at one point, after under-floor heating became more common, in attempts to save energy the Japanese heated table and blanket concept has taken off in a big way. Cheaper to run than an electric heater, it’s a wonder that much of the rest of the world hasn’t caught on to the joys of taking a book and a cup of tea under the kotatsu.

Where Did the Kotatsu Come From?

Woman, Cat, and Kotatsu by Utagawa Kunimasa, 1796

Evolving over the years, the the modern electric Japanese heated table had quite humble and practical beginnings, thought to have originated in the 14th-century Muromachi era. Charcoal was once used to heat a hearth set into the ground known as an irori. Later a seating platform was added which separated the cooking function from the heating and finally, to stop the heat disappearing too quickly, a quilt was placed on top to localize the heat. This early style was called the hori-gotatsu meaning a ditch foot warmer.

How Have Kotatsu Developed Over the Years?

Traditional Japanese houses have always been difficult to heat due to the thin walls, so it’s no wonder the kotatsu became a lasting fixture of Japanese culture. Of course, heating other rooms in the house, particularly the bedroom became more desirable and so the portable kotatsu was born. First coals in an earthen pot and then later electric heater was attached to the bottom of the table making it portable, the wonderful option to take a nap under your kotatsu was born. This modern style is named oki-gotatsu, oki meaning placement.

Where to Buy Japanese Kotatsu Tables Online?

Kotatsu have existed as part of Japanese tradition and as staples of the Japanese household for hundreds of years. Originally, they were not designed by specific firms and manufacturers. But in today’s society, where everything is made by some company or other, it’s vital to know what the best designers and manufacturers of kotatsu are, what they provide, and how their particular designs and styles are unique when stood beside those designs of their contemporaries. In short, who makes the best kotatsu? If you’re wondering where the best place to start is with regards to creating your own winter snug, then you can’t do better than some of the following Japanese kotatsu designers and manufacturers.

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Emoor - for Designer Futons

For gorgeous designs of futon, you’ll struggle to choose from the wealth of fantastic options available from Emoor, given how varied and high-quality they all are. You’ll find only the highest quality circular, rectangular, and square-shaped blankets in a multitude of cute and colorful designs, perfect for the modern city home. Available at Amazon.

Yamazen - for High-Quality Tables

For various styles of low table and heaters, then Yamazen is a well-known global company and the perfect choice if you’re looking for fantastic quality craftsmanship and design. Available at Amazon.

Azuyama - for Oversized Foldaway Tables

For an oversized kotatsu table that folds away like an ironing board, the Azuyama model is ideal for a family looking to maximize their space. There are few things in the modern Tokyo home and apartment more vital than space itself, and so having a cleverly made kotatsu that completely maximizes space without sacrificing the quality of craftsmanship, warmth, and functionality we all want from a top-quality kotatsu is absolutely essential. Available at Amazon.

Emoor Futon and Rug Set

For a choice of high quality futons in a range of stunning designs then these Emoor sets will be ideal although choosing just one might be the hard part. Purchase with the traditional Yamazen table and heater fan for a complete set. Available at Amazon.

Azuyama Folding Kotatsu

Here you’ll find the folding kotatsu table design with heater already installed which can be folded away when not needed. All you need to do is pick your perfect futon! This Azuyama square shape futon is a perfect match. Available at Amazon.

Innovative Kotatsu Designs

The Oki-gotatsu has developed even further in our modern era of electric heating and electric lighting, as well as advancements in engineering and interior decoration, with elaborate couch-bed setups and beautiful designs of shitagake that make it genuinely difficult to leave your house during the winter months. With the modern designs of kotatsu, it’s more tempting than ever to huddle in the lasting warmth and comfort with a good book for day and days on end. That is, after all, the undeniable majesty and eternal gift of the kotatsu. And so, to explore how the kotatsu design has been innovated upon and refined in a variety of ways in modern times, here are some interesting takes on the kotatsu for the modern Japanese home.

The Circular Kotatsu

For a twist on the traditional rectangle low table, this circular kotatsu is a more stylish option that many users prefer. Like the round Starbucks tables that were popularised for solo coffee drinkers, the round kotatsu is a clever and communal innovation for the family home. Grab your friends and gather around this warm focal point during the winter months. Available here (Japanese only).

Create a Bed/Sofa with your Kotatsu

The ultimate choice for indulgent kotatsu comfort. Here in this special kotatsu, you can basically and comfortably hibernate all the way through the Winter season before at last emerging refreshed and warm in the springtime, and you can have all of the essentials that you need with you the entire time. You can buy each of the seating panels separately, creating a sofa kotatsu setup as elaborate as you would like it to be.

Kotatsu With Storage

In small apartments, especially in the densely populated metropolis that is Tokyo, storage space is key. Finding clever innovations in the world of storage creation and management can be a real godsend. So, creating a kotatsu table that opens like a desk is a perfect way to keep your apartment organized as well as keeping warm, as a kotatsu was created to do. With a light wood finish and detachable futon, it complements a minimalist style which, combined with the practicality factor, means it’ll be useful all year round. Since minimalism grows in importance the smaller a home is, the more vital a clever kotatsu like this one becomes. Available from Rakuten (Japanese only).

One Person Kotatsu

If you live by yourself in a small apartment, or you aren’t looking to fill up too much space in your home and are prepared to fight it out then a single-space Japanese heated table is perfect for you. It takes up minimal space while providing maximum warmth and comfort. Available at Amazon.

January 31, 2020 | Lifestyle, Shopping

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