Shikibutons

Used in Japan for thousands of years, the thin, layerable sleeping mats called shikibutons (pronounced "shick-ee-boo-tahn" try it, it's fun!) are one of the best ways to experience natural sleep at its most pure.

About Layering

One of the best ways to approach the assembly of a natural bed system is to stack several thin shikibutons on top of one another, sometimes in conjunction with a wool topper for extra softness. Plus, this way a system can be added to over time whenever a new layer is desired.

The combinations we've found to be most popular over the years are:

One Cotton Shikibuton underneath one Cotton & Wool Shikibuton. This combination is pretty much identical in its firm support to our regular thick Cotton Futon, but with a touch more softness because of that outer layer of wool.

One Classic Latex Shikibuton underneath one Cotton & Wool Shikibuton. This pairing maintains the firm, solid support of sleeping on cotton, but the latex layer allows for a gentle contouring to the body which is more appealing for side sleepers.

The Willow: One Cotton Shikibuton, one Latex Shikibuton, and a 4" Wool Topper. Originally suggested to us by our customers, this versatile setup feels like no other. It combines the firmness of cotton, the contouring quality of latex, and the cloudy softness of wool - it's like getting a little bit of everything we make all in one bed. And depending on what feels best to you, the bottom two layers can be arranged however you like: for a firmer bed, try putting the latex layer on the bottom and the cotton layer in the middle; for a softer bed, place the cotton layer on the bottom (the wool topper should always be the top layer).