I bought a new studio apartment last November and due to the smaller space I decided to get rid of my western mattress. For a while I had an inflatable mattress that I would lift up and lean against my wall to make more space. After a lot of thought I decided to try a traditional Japanese Futon, something I used before while traveling in Japan. Never owning a futon, I had a lot of questions and concerns. So I reached out to two companies, one being Takaokaya. There I was immediately responded to by Valery, who was able to answer many of my questions. If she didn't have an answer, she found out and got back to me quickly. I live in Hawai'i so there was a time difference and she was great. Through my whole process of looking, she was the most helpful and she helped me with everything. She even helped me chose a pattern of cover to go with the color futon I chose. These futons are great but be warned. There are some things to get used to.
1) These futons are made to order and the fresh cotton batting has a fresh cotton fragrance. No not absent like a cotton ball. For me, it felt natural and relaxing. Nothing synthetic about it.
2) It does take time to get used to. One night, on the first week of use I had a hard time sleeping because my back was not used to it. (my old mattress and the air mattress after were both much more saggier). This did resolve over time and some stretching (LOL). Im 45, so it may have taken me a little longer to recover than if I was 20 again.
3) These require maintenance - meaning you should put it in the sun every few weeks is recommended. This is to fluff it up and the sun has a antimicrobial effect. Ever see a regular spring mattress with mold? Sunning the futon helps prevent this and it weighs much less than a spring mattress. Speaking to Valery, she was very helpful in ways to keep the futon clean and moisture free, especially if you live in a cloudy/rainy environment. (Hawai'i has a lot of sun but some times and places have a lot of rain.

Changing my lifestyle to a more minimalistic style this futon gives me a way to have a comfortable place to sleep, a relaxing environment to sit or lie in and with a quick fold, I have a bunch of extra space that I work out in or use for projects.
Overall this is good authentic craftsmanship straight from Japan. Don't get me wrong. The shipping and handling does kick up the price but overall it is still cheaper than a good mattress.
If you are worried if your body cannot accommodate well, especially as a side sleeper ( do both back and side), try a cheap one from Amazon first or layer a few sleeping bags and a try it out but give it a fair chance. Does take time. It took me a couple of weeks. Also if you have a softer flooring or a tatami, it makes it that much more comfortable.
Currently I use a gym floor padding with a thin folded tatami mat under my futon and I think it works well. Take a look. (the other cover I got was the Shima Ao - that one looks much better and was the recommendation of Valery, I should have taken that picture but it's too late now, Sorry Valery)
But if it were not for Valery. I never would have done it. Thanks Valery. Your advice has helped me enjoy and experience Kutsurogi - the Japanese art of Relaxation - in my home in the U.S.

It was a present to my son. He is very happy and sleeps on it very well :). Thank you for a fast and uncomplicated delivery.

Great quality and very comfortable. The fabric is very pleasant and beautiful. I sleep very well on it, especially when it's hot at night. I'm very happy with it!

It’s a great piece for my grandsons room
Even my dog loves it!!!
Nice to sit and play with toys on it.
The color is lovely and will be enjoyed for years to come
Thanks so much
Love the 100% cotton. Breathable and easy to spot clean

I recently purchased this meditation set. I got the zabuton in XL and the ojami in M. They are just what I was hoping for. The quality and workmanship are top-notch. I’m already familiar with Takaokaya as I own their shikifuton and mattress topper. Now I can go from the best night’s sleep to a restorative meditation practice! And it took only 1.5 weeks from when I placed the order until I received it in the USA. Thank you!

I recently purchased several Ojami cushions and they have served as an exceptional addition to my home. Each one is gorgeous, well constructed, and infinitely versatile. My kids use them as a cushion when reading on the floor; guests lean on them when sitting on our sofa; I use one on my desk chair when I know that I'll be working for an extended period. For such a beautiful item, they have wide-ranging functionality and I have not worried about using them in various ways because they feel so durable and well constructed (i.e. uniform stuffing and lavish fabric held together with tight, precise stitching). A uniquely high-quality product.

The cushion is very comfy and the color gorgeous with pretty sakura embroidery. I got it shipped to Boston, Massachusetts without any issues. It's worth paying for international shipping for handcrafted cushions and futon.

It's been fourteen years since I was last in Japan, but I have never forgotten the experience of sleeping on the futon. I've been sleeping on the floor all these years, but not in quite the same style and luxury. This shiki futon from the professionals at Takaokaya is worth every penny and I only wish I had purchased one sooner. The quality is impeccable. It is very beautiful, very comfortable and relaxing, and I love the morning and evening ritual of putting it out and taking it up. I highly recommend to anyone considering it to go for it! You won't regret it. Thank you everyone at Takaokaya! Sending much love from Virginia!

P.S. the shipping time was so fast!

There are not enough stars in the sky to rate Takaokaya Global for their superior service, quality, beauty and authenticity!
I cannot find in the USA anything comparable. It’s such a pleasure and so easy to conduct business with them via email. They are so conscientious and knowledgeable. It’s pretty impressive and most appreciated. I have purchased two shikifutons and two zabuton cushions from them on two separate occasions and all are such a beautiful addition to my rooms.
It’s all so effortless and I cannot thank them enough for everything…from beginning to end. I have to give special mention to Valery who I first spoke with via email about 1.5 years ago when I was looking for shikifuton mattresses. I was uncertain about everything. I wanted her thoughts on the measurements, fabrics /colors. Valery covered every base asking all the right questions so she could offer me her suggestions. She knew. She also helped me to determine the perfect size for my Zabuton cushions just before she left for a few days. I then heard from Nanako who wanted to confirm my choices before submitting the order. I truly appreciated her concern and effort. Such kind people. So genuine.
We love Takaokaya and our shikifutons and zabuton cushions.

Excellent quality. Very comfortable. Great company.

Received the mattress and cushions, beautiful.
I'm very happy with the order, from JP to France and it arrived quickly too.

As my first futon style bed I wasn't sure what to expect, but it's been quite comfortable, and has a lovely grassy scent. The stitching seems sturdy, although the threads studding the surface are a bit loose and tend to snag/fray if you're not careful. It's also worth noting that the cover is not a full enclosure, but more like a sheet that hooks over the ends. Works fine, but leaves the bottom exposed if that's a concern.

I went with the buckwheat pillow and can say that it works great as a neck support when you're just reclining, but I found it too firm to actually sleep on. If you sleep on your back it's not too bad, but if you're a side sleeper like me it will probably be uncomfortable, or at least take a lot of getting used to.

Shipping to the US was faster than I expected (~2 wks), and everything came sealed in a vacuum bag so no concerns there.

Overall happy with the purchase.

All aspects of these cushions are exceptional. The fabric exhibits a refined quality while also feeling durable. The stuffing is high-quality and uniformly distributed to create a cushy feel with just the right amount of firmness. Each stitch is precise and strong, thus giving the cushions a crisp, well-constructed feel. The cushions are the highest quality I can imagine and I am so glad that I purchased them. Also, I should mention that they shipped quickly and arrived in perfect condition.

This futon is exactly what I wanted. Not only is it super comfortable to sleep on, but I love how easy it is to fold and put away.

I love my shikibuton! I’ve been sleeping on it for about it month. I put it out once a week in the sun for a few hours (making sure to cover it with a white sheet to preserve the fabric color). This way it stays somewhat fluffy and airs out, else it would get pressed down. I also make sure to rotate it or flip it once a week so that the mattress compresses evenly. I also make sure to tri-fold it every morning in order to store it away. It’s a very nice ritual, and clears my space up. My sleep has been great. The whole set up and firmness naturally encourages me to sleep on my back, which is a big positive, since back-sleeping is the healthiest for the back. I love the color and fabric as well, absolutely gorgeous and feels very comfortable. The shipping was expensive, but that’s totally understandable since it’s come all the way from Japan and the package is very large (as one might expect!). Overall, I’m more than pleased with my purchase!