Luxury and divine assistance, all in one tiny, traditional package.
No matter how much you may love your money, you probably don’t sleep with your wallet cradled gently against your chest. However, thanks to Nakategawa Futon, a futon maker in Kanagawa Prefecture that’s been in business for 140 years, you can now give your wallet more elegant nighttime accommodations than just tossing it in a drawer until morning.
Using the same techniques and materials it does for human bedding, Nakategawa has created the Saifuton, a futon for your wallet (saifu in Japanese). Made of high-quality cotton, the Saifuton not only includes a pad and cover, but even a little pillow, although it’s up to you to determine which side of your wallet counts as the head.
In addition to comfort and quality, the Saifuton also boasts a blessing from the priests at Tokyo’s Anazawaten Shrine. Reportedly founded in 299 BC, the shrine houses a god of commerce, with the implication that bestowing its blessing upon your wallet’s bedding will translate into economic prosperity for you.
If you’d like to go even more upscale, you can also order a miniature bed to lay the Saifuton out on, made from the same variety of Japanese cypress used in constructing the famed Ise Shrine.
The Saifuton is priced at 14,900 yen (US$145), and can be ordered domestically direct from the manufacturer or through Amazon. The price of the bed (available through the manufacturer’s website) is considerably more startling at 37,900 yen, though you can save 10 percent by ordering it as a bundle with the Saifuton for 47,520 yen.
Oh, and don’t forget to make sure your wallet gets out of bed in the morning, even if you’re not going out that day. On the product’s official website, the makers caution users that just like with humans, sleeping for too long can make your wallet ineffective, and it won’t be able to usher in the good luck the Saifuton claims to provide.
Source: IT Media
Top image: Nakategawa Futon
Insert images: Nakategawa, Amazon Japan
Sweet dreams, MasterCard: People in Japan are putting their wallets to bed in tiny futons
Wearable blankets blessed by 1,100-year old Shinto shrine on sale in Japan, surprisingly affordable
Shinto priest blesses Domino’s pizzas to bring love to those who eat them on Valentine’s Day
Shinto shrine will bless your bike helmet and give you a sacred bike helmet stamp
Give your smartphone the rest it deserves with its very own Japanese futon
Foreign tourists in Japan eat far more rice than previously thought, according to new data
Kyoto receives more foreign tourists than ever before, but fewer visitors say they’ll return
JR releases prediction of peak Shinkansen crowdedness for Japan’s Obon travel season
Starbucks Japan unveils new coffee drinks… for people who don’t drink coffee
Starbucks Japan unveils exclusive new Frappuccinos limited to three regional areas
Life-size Legendary Pokémon Mega Rayquaza digitally greeting travelers at Tokyo train station [Vid]
Maximum entry fee for sento public baths in Tokyo increases slightly for adults next month
Official Final Fantasy beers are going on sale in Tokyo this month, giant Aetheryte appearing too
Starbucks Japan releases new “Afterword” collection that gives coffee waste a second life
Japan has a maid hotel you can stay in, and it’s now taking reservation applications
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Which country’s foreign tourists spend the most money per-person in Japan? Hint: Not the U..S. or China
Starbucks Japan releases a miniature display rack so you can create your very own store at home
Giant Evangelion Spear of Longinus to be installed at Japanese train station with Eva art trains
Face lettuce appears in Japan, with the face of Death Note’s Light Yagami, but why?
Kodama Shinkansen trains on popular Japan route get a whole new look this winter
Starbucks Japan adds a new summer Frappuccino to the menu, but is it as refreshing as it looks?
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Sanrio Character Poll announces winners, Hello Kitty absent from top 10 in many countries
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Keep your smartphone safe in a pouch styled after Japanese Shinto/Buddhist protection amulets