Firm support
Use a level surface that supports the full shikibuton without deep sagging.
Australia guide · Japanese floor bedding
Japanese shikibuton, made in Japan.
A shikibuton is a foldable Japanese sleeping surface: laid out at night, aired and folded by day, and cared for as part of the room rather than left permanently sealed against the floor.
Shikibuton, not sofa bed
A sleeping layer built for floor-level living.
In British English, “futon” often means a convertible sofa. A Japanese shikibuton is different: it is the mattress layer of futon bedding. It rests on tatami, a suitable platform, a ventilated frame, or a carefully managed hard floor, then folds for airing and storage.
Airflow
Lift, fold, or stand it regularly so moisture does not remain trapped underneath.
Measured space
Choose from exact centimetre dimensions, not assumptions based on Australian mattress labels.
Two models · One atelier
Choose by feel, loft, and measured space.
Prices include delivery from Japan. Any import duties or taxes charged on arrival are paid separately by the recipient. See your country’s Terms of Sale for the contribution towards import charges and how to claim it.
01
Everyday signature
HIMARI 日葵
25% wool · Approx. 10 cm
Balanced support, natural warmth, and an approachable feel for everyday floor sleep.
- Made and finished at the Oyama atelier
- Continue to the official store with your delivery country and English selected.
02
150th anniversary limited edition
SORA 宙
50% premium wool blend · Approx. 12 cm
A generously lofted expression of the traditional Japanese shikibuton, renewed for 2026.
- Made and finished at the Oyama atelier
- Continue to the official store with your delivery country and English selected.
Made in Oyama, Tochigi
Prepared, layered, sewn, inspected, and finished in Japan.
Each product page sets out the model’s dimensions, materials, construction, care and place of manufacture. For current sizes, prices and delivery information, choose your delivery country and continue to the official store.
Visit our workshopMoisture routine
The floor is part of the bedding system.
Warmth and humidity move between the sleeper, shikibuton, and base. A firm surface alone is not enough: check for condensation, air both sides, wash removable sheets separately, and never machine-wash or soak the complete shikibuton.
Inside a shikibuton
What a Japanese shikibuton is made of.
A shikibuton is quilted in layers rather than built on springs. HIMARI is approx. 10 cm thick: wool-blend filling, 25% wool, quilted above and below an approx. 8 cm firm polyester support core developed in our own workshop. SORA is approx. 12 cm thick, with a 50% premium wool blend for a fuller, balanced feel. Both have a 100% cotton outer fabric and fold into thirds for airing and storage.
HIMARI combines a firm polyester support core with quilted wool-blend layers for surface cushioning. SORA offers fuller cushioning with a balanced medium feel. Check the construction of each model when comparing it with a topper or another floor mattress.
Sizes and weights
Japanese sizes, measured in centimetres.
Japanese size names do not guarantee a matching local length and width, so compare the centimetre dimensions with the floor space, platform or frame you have. These are the sizes we deliver to your country, with the weight and the folded size of each one.
| Model | Size | Length × width × thickness | Weight | Folded in three | In local bed terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIMARI | Japanese Standard Single | 210 × 100 × approx. 10 cm · 82.7 × 39.4 × 3.9 in | Approx. 5 kg | Approx. 70 × 100 × 30 cm | Between a Single and a King Single: the traditional Japanese single width. |
| SORA | Japanese Standard Single | 200 × 100 × approx. 12 cm · 78.7 × 39.4 × 4.7 in | Approx. 6 kg | Approx. 67 × 100 × 36 cm | Between a Single and a King Single: the traditional Japanese single width. |
Common Australian bed widths: Single 92 cm · King Single 107 cm · Double 138 cm. Measure your floor, platform, or frame before ordering.
Made in Japan, and verifiable
Who makes it, and how you can check.
OFUTON KOBO Co., Ltd. sews, inspects and finishes every shikibuton in its own workshop in Oyama, Tochigi, Japan. The family business began in 1873 as a cotton shop in Tokyo and is led today by Nakajō Yūsuke, the fifth generation. The manufacturer is a J∞QUALITY member company, futon manufacturer certification No. K2600190003, and a member of the Japan Futon Manufacturers' Co-operative.
This matters because “Japanese-style” bedding sold abroad is often made elsewhere to a different specification. Ours is made in Japan and shipped from Japan, and the people who make it are named on this site.
Is a shikibuton the same as a Western futon sofa?
No. A Japanese shikibuton is a foldable sleeping layer laid on a firm surface. It is bedding, not a convertible sofa frame.
Can I use a shikibuton every night?
Yes, when the model suits the sleeper and it is used on a clean, firm, level, and breathable surface. Regular airing and moisture checks are part of nightly floor-bedding care.
Can I use it directly on the floor?
A hard floor can work, but it does not breathe like tatami. Use a suitable moisture-control layer, lift the shikibuton after sleep, and check both the underside and floor regularly.
Are the sizes the same as Single or King Single?
No. OFUTON KOBO uses Japanese centimetre dimensions. Inch values are approximate references, so measure the intended floor, platform, or frame before ordering.