The biggest differentiator in the traditional way the Japanese sleep is that they sleep on the floor, on top of a precisely arranged combination of cushions and mats. At the bottom is a
By sleeping with the mat on the floor – rather than on a bed frame, as in Western culture – the Japanese believe it helps to relax the muscles, while enabling the hips, shoulders and spine to maintain a natural alignment during rest.
In Japan, the majority of people sleep on the floor rather than in western-style beds. This has always been a part of Japanese customs dating back to the 10th century when people placed hemp mats on the floor before sleeping. Today, many Japanese people sleep on a tatami mat made of rice straw.
They have a rich sleeping culture that spans back for centuries. Japanese people sleep on the floor and beddings are rolled out on top of the tatamis. Even today, many Japanese homes do not have classical beds, and people often prefer to sleep on the floor because it is seen as more comfortable and natural.
For many generations, Japanese people have slept on the floor rather than in Western-style beds. This is a proud part of Japanese culture and tradition that has survived into modern times, and will not be changing any time soon.
Sleeping on the floor became common when ondol floor heating was introduced to the Koreans. When HVAC systems were not a thing, households had to find ways to keep warm and remain cool. Ondol floor heating was a process that used the smoke from fireplaces to warm up the whole house from under the floor.
3. For the Japanese, separate sleep means peace. And while the rest of the world sees sleeping in different rooms mostly as a sign of divorce, the Japanese think quite differently. They simply appreciate quality sleep, which will not allow anything to disturb them while they sleep.
There are a number of hypotheses on why the country is so sleep deprived, including the long working hours and long commutes. Traditional Japanese working culture also places a strong emphasis on compulsory social events where alcohol is typically consumed, which could also contribute to the sleeplessness.
According to a 2021 survey by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Japanese sleep an average of seven hours and 22 minutes. This is the shortest duration among the member countries and almost an hour less than the OECD average of 8 hours and 24 minutes.
Unlike the sofa beds called “futons” in the US, Japanese futons are quilted sleeping pads that are stuffed with cotton or fiber fill and can sit directly on the floor or on a foam, tatami, or wooden mat.
As their diet is traditionally high in soy and fish this may also play a significant role in reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. The Japanese also have the lowest rates of obesity among men and women as well as long life expectancy.
Sitting upright on the floor is common in many situations in Japan. For example, meals are traditionally held on a tatami floor around a low table. Sitting on the floor is also customary during the tea ceremony and other traditional events.
It May Improve Your Posture
Good posture supports the natural curvature of your spine. Sleeping on the floor can make it easier for you to keep your spine straight during sleep, since you don't have to worry about sinking too deeply into a mattress.
If you have been to Japan before, you may have noticed that many people tend to sleep in public places. It's widely accepted in Japan to sleep and to have no one bother them or take their belongings. For people from some countries it may seem insane, but here it's something you can see multiple times a day!
Typically, the average Japanese person goes to bed around 11 pm or 12 am, and wakes up around 6 am or 7 am. This sleeping pattern is often driven by the pressure to get sufficient rest before starting a long day of work, as Japanese workers are known for working longer hours compared to other developed countries.
Although the legal recommendation for working hours in Japan is 40 hours per week, historically, many Japanese employers have required their employees to work as much as 80 hours of overtime per month. This has led to the Japanese term “karoshi”, which translates to “death by overwork”.
In Japan, inemuri literally translates to dozing or nodding off, but in this case, it can also mean “sleeping while present.” It's a culturally accepted power nap that you can take in the middle of the workday in Japan.
In most countries, sleeping on the job isn't just frowned upon, it may get you fired. But in Japan, napping in the office is common and culturally accepted. And in fact, it is often seen as a subtle sign of diligence: You must be working yourself to exhaustion.
Today, people wear them to sleep, lounge around, or attend to their children's bedtime rituals. In Japan, pajamas are called yukata or jinbei. Yukaya are always one-piece garments with wide sleeves and are traditionally made from cotton or silk fabrics in bright colors.
In many cultures, cosleeping is the norm until children are weaned, and some continue long after weaning. Japanese parents (or grandparents) often sleep in proximity with their children until they are teenagers, referring to this arrangement as a river - the mother is one bank, the father another, and the child ...
In Japan, it's the rule rather than the exception for families to sleep together, with babies co-sleeping with their parents until the next baby arrives. And even then, the first child tends to co-sleep with another family member until the age of ten.
“The main reason they have for staying single is wanting to use their money on themselves. There is a common perception that for men, marriage means having their freedom to use money restricted. This is in direct opposition to women listing 'financial security' as one of the benefits of getting married.”