The kotatsu is a traditional piece of Japanese furniture that is designed to act as a heating device in the winter months. It is basically a table that has a warming function. The modern kotatsu is comprised of four parts:
- a table with electric heater attached to the underside
- a blanket
- a thicker futon cover (duvet)
- a tabletop
The picture below shows what a kotatsu can look like once it has been set up.
This one has a rug type flooring cover too but this is an optional extra. The way the kotatsu works is by trapping the warm air produced by the heater attached to the underside of the table. This is energy efficient as the blanket and futon cover effectively trap the warm air under the table. So just having a kotatsu in your room will not necessarily keep you warm. However when you sit down at the table and put your legs underneath, they soon become lovely and warm.
In Japan the kotatsu is often at the center of family life as people gather and eat and drink while keeping warm. Homes in Japan are usually no where near as well insulated as homes in the U.S. and Europe. Therefore they often rely on different kinds of space heating. The good thing about the kotatsu is that it does not let heat escape as easily as many other types of space heating solutions. This makes it one of the most efficient ways to stay warm in Japan.
These types of tables are becoming more widely available in the West and may appeal to you if you are interested in Japanese furniture.
