Kyoto Zabuton Cushion Insert

We finally received our two zabuton cushions from Takaokaya, and the entire experience was exceptional from start to finish.

We had several exchanges via chat and email, and the service was incredibly friendly and thoughtful. When the cushions arrived in Canada, everything was beautifully packaged, with several handwritten notes and seasonal greeting cards included. It felt extremely personal and sincere.

The quality is undeniable. You can truly feel the nearly 100 years of craftsmanship and know-how behind these zabutons. To me, it doesn’t get more authentic or warmer than this. Every time I touch one, my eyes naturally close and I feel like I’m traveling to Japan.

We chose the zabutons without covers, along with removable covers so they can be washed occasionally — a perfect balance between tradition and practicality.

I recommend Takaokaya without any hesitation. In fact, I’m already keeping an eye on their beautiful smaller cushions for our next purchase.

Arigato gosaimasu
Manuel san

I have been using a floor cushion in my living room for some time now. After a fair amount of research, I decided to elevate my experience by ordering a Kyoto zabuton from Takaokaya.

It was hard to decide with so many beautiful options to choose from, but I ultimately went with the nude zabuton. I sit on a cushion when I eat meals at my low coffee table, so I wanted something I wouldn’t feel too bad putting in a relatively forgiving, machine-washable cover.

A couple things to consider: First, these cushions are hand-made in Kyoto, so you may need to wait a bit for them to be ready. My order included an Ojami cushion with a customized pattern, and it took three weeks from the purchase date for everything to be ready to ship. It might take less time for the nude zabuton alone. Second, if you are ordering from the United States, shipping will likely not be cheap.

For me, however, both the wait and the shipping costs are well worth it. I had some tricky delivery instructions, and Takaokaya staff were very prompt and courteous in sorting those out. A staff member even contacted me to make sure I received my order on time, and that everything was present and correct (it was :)

As for the cushion itself, it is handsome, supportive, and comfortable, and it fits nicely inside of the cover I purchased. The quality of materials and craftsmanship is evident, especially in the stitching. I LOVED that it came with a thank you card signed and stamped by the craftspeople involved in its construction.

It is rare these days you purchase something that you can tell people took great care and pride in making and getting to you. This will not be my last purchase from Takaokaya.

(Photos include the Aizome-Fu / Asanoha cover that I purchased separately.)

I heard that spending more time on the floor is good for health and mobility, but I could never make the habit stick until I tried this zabuton pillow. I’ve never experienced a supportive pillow like this before (I am In the US). The shape and density are so good—the way the pillow rises up in this mound shape towards the center but is much thinner at the corners, it just makes floor sitting comfortable. Now, I sit on the floor all the time, and my husband loves his pillow too. He is 6’5” tall and likes the L size. I am 5’8” tall and like the S size. We like the nude pillows with separate covers so we can wash them regularly and also swap colors.

I recently bought a few more of these S size pillows because I realized they also work really well as back support pillows. I’ve tried so many other types of pillows for back support that weren’t quite right, like feather, molded latex, shredded latex, wool, buckwheat, etc. These zabutons really are the best.

I also wanted to mention that I have many serious allergies and chemical sensitivities and cannot use the vast majority of products out there. Everything from Takaokaya has been perfect—no smells, irritations, reactions. Most people don’t need to notice or worry about these issues, but it means a lot to people who have special needs.