There are only three of these adorable verdant vehicles out on the streets — flag one down if you get the chance!
kotatsu
Kitty-sized furniture comes bundled with a huge supply of winter snacks for their human caretakers.
Japan’s amazingly cozy heated tables combined with movie magic? Sounds like the perfect way to spend a winter day.
The cold never bothered her anyway! Check out Elsa showing the proper way to enjoy winter in Japan!
Ditch the dining room table and sit at a Japanese-style one with a heater, like at this ingenious Tokyo restaurant.
Winter is undoubtedly the worst season to be alone in Japan. Soon singles will be starting the annual desperate search for the special someone to spend Christmas with and it’s not hard to see why. Having someone to cuddle up to during the upcoming cold, long months is far preferable to fighting off the chill by yourself.
Of course, not everyone wants to jump into a relationship just for a little extra body heat, and now thanks to one Japanese electronics maker and their kotatsu for one, singles just might be in for the warmest winter yet.
Depending on where you are, winters in Japan can be bitterly cold or actually rather temperate, but due to a general lack of insulation, it seems like most Japanese homes are always a little cold. But this general chilliness gave birth to that magical piece of furniture, the kotatsu. Basically a covered table with a heater attached, the kotatsu is often the centerpiece of a Japanese living room and a great way to get in some family time.
And with these new cat-themed kotatsu covers, cushions, and hoodies, it’ll be twice as difficult to pull yourself away from the kotatsu on a chilly winter morning!
When a Japanese Twitter user removed the covering from the top of her kotatsu (heated table) for cleaning, she discovered that she had disrupted the peaceful slumber of the thing that was lurking beneath…make that things, and cute things, in fact!
One of the worst things about winter in Japan is that with no central heating and a lack of insulation, the temperature inside your house feels pretty much the same as the temperature outside your house. One of the best things is taking the opportunity to snuggle up under a kotatsu, especially if you have a furry friend to join you.
As you may have already heard, winter is cold in Japan. Maybe not as cold as some other more northern countries, but it’s still very chilly even indoors because many people still choose to only heat one room in the house at a time, or live in buildings made out of lightweight materials in an effort to make them as earthquake-safe as possible. This proves to be a bit of an issue for pet owners. Many pets are built to resist some amount of cold (because duh, fur!) but others aren’t equipped to deal with the cold daytime weather.
Perhaps this is why Japan sells some pretty ridiculous pet clothes! UNIHABITAT has a couple of new pet outfits that are going to turn some heads, but will also keep your pets warm and cozy this winter season.
Chilly as winter may get in Japan, we’ve got to admit there are some cool things about the coldest part of the year. For example, the Christmas decorations around Tokyo are amazing, and even if you’re not feeling up to braving the cold weather, Japan offers a couple of ways to make winter more bearable even if you’re staying indoors. High on the list are mikan, the mandarin oranges that’re at their tastiest in winter, and kotatsu, the blanket-covered, heater-equipped tables that’re so cozy it’s almost impossible to pull yourself out of one once you get situated comfortably.
Don’t take our word for it, though, as these adorable cats lounging though a Japanese winter serve as far better spokescreatures for mikan and kotatsu than we ever could.
Every cat owner has, at one time or another, experienced the soul-crushing disappointment that comes from giving your cat a thoughtful gift, only to have them throw it back in your face in favor of a paper ball or a plain old cardboard box. It’s almost as if cats the world over are in on some sort of conspiracy designed to make their owners feel inadequate. And that’s exactly what happened to “kitty blogger” Udama when they attempted to create a cosy, cat-sized kotatsu to delight their feline family members. As our pictures show, the experiment didn’t exactly go according to plan…
Even though Japan is a great place to live, not everyone likes every aspect of life in the country. Dishes like grilled eel and organ skewers are pretty polarizing, as is the public transportation system, which is clean and punctual, but crowded and shuts down early.
I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone, though, who doesn’t love Japan’s heated tables, called kotatsu, so more than a few people will be happy about these three ways to get even more out of Japan’s coziest piece of furniture.
Winter in Japan can be pretty brutal. It gets cold, very cold, and most buildings in Japan are only lightly insulated. It’s no wonder, then, that people (and cats!) tend to want to hibernate in one cosy, warm spot during winter. One option is the kotatsu, a table with a thick padded blanket and heater underneath, which you use to toast your legs and feet during those cold winter months. The only problem is that they don’t really do anything to keep your upper body warm. Some people compensate by also wearing a thick padded housecoat inside during the winter, but wouldn’t it be great if you could use the kotatsu’s warmth to heat your entire body? Well, now you can, thanks to this new “wearable kotatsu” designed by Hatra!
The kotatsu, that low table heater that is often the only source of heat in a Japanese room, is sometimes just too big for one person…said absolutely no one in Japan. Who hasn’t enjoyed diving under the table, fluffy futon pulled up to your eyeballs while you think of warm sandy beaches…a volcano…anything to take you away from the ice cave that is your Japanese home. That’s why we were so upset to find this kotatsu for singles. Not only does it not allow you to completely immerse yourself in life-giving warmth, its tiny stature is like a little footnote in the middle of the room, whispering, “P.S. You’re still single.”
MOST POPULAR
Now
Japan’s leading maker of giant cat heads needs your help!
Evangelion teams up with fashion brand glamb to bring us seriously cool street art apparel
Tokyo in 60 frames-per-second, 107 years in the past, looks amazing【Video】
Japanese hamster shows impressive feat of strength, Twitter more focused on its butt
10-second Japanese katsu curry – Is this the world’s most amazing instant food?【Video】
Terrace House star Kai Kobayashi says staff asked him to touch Hana Kimura’s breasts
Take bites of the Milky Way and summer with traditional, Tanabata-inspired Japanese sweets【Pics】
Mr. Sato tries to make himself invisible by wearing mirror paper, creates cool modern art instead
Customers race to Uniqlo for new summer face masks, but are they really worth the hype?
Cosplay like a cool cat with an ultra-realistic, giant cat head from Japan!
Weekly
- Terrace House star Kai Kobayashi says staff asked him to touch Hana Kimura’s breasts
We try Muji’s new “communist” suit【Photos】
To combat declining birth rate, Japan to begin offering “Breeding Visas” to foreigners- Evangelion teams up with fashion brand glamb to bring us seriously cool street art apparel
Japanese idol singer responds to fan who gushes over how much he loves her thighs
Old dog shows new trick with very Japanese solution to toilet paper wall challenge【Video】
Japanese mom praises hard-studying teenage son…for his Pokémon notes?!?
The most satisfying McDonald’s burger, according to Japanese customers
Japan’s beautiful new campground looks perfect for living out your Princess Mononoke fantasies
Japanese mom physically subdues man who groped her schoolgirl daughter
Monthly
- Customers race to Uniqlo for new summer face masks, but are they really worth the hype?
Sailor Moon Wedding Dress Collection lets you dress like Usagi, Tuxedo Mask as you say I do【Pics】
Pandemic hair trend: A haircut to match your mask not your face
Full-size Evangelion statue appears at Japanese theme park with entry plug synchronization tests
Do the new Uniqlo summer face masks really deserve bad reviews?
How to make your own sold-out Uniqlo Airism mask in less than two minutes
Hana Kimura’s mother slams Terrace House castmates for partying after daughter’s death- Terrace House star Kai Kobayashi says staff asked him to touch Hana Kimura’s breasts
- We try Muji’s new “communist” suit【Photos】
Japan’s one-person mini tempura pot turns every day into fry day
Yearly
Adult Cream Pie coming to McDonald’s Japan
Jason calls off Friday the 13th activities due to coronavirus
Japan goes beyond rice cookers with new curry rice cooker, the kitchen gadget we need right now
Microsoft Japan’s experiment with 3-day weekend boosts worker productivity by 40 percent
Japanese cosplay model shows off thighs, but fans’ eyes are on her Nintendo 64 controller grip
Which Pokémon are you? Official quiz reveals your Poké-personality, and how to take it in English- Customers race to Uniqlo for new summer face masks, but are they really worth the hype?
Parasite movie releases free official wallpapers to download as backgrounds for video calls
Pokémon fan learns the startling truth about the Wooloo plushie
Japanese students hold graduation ceremony in Minecraft amid school cancellation
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Terrace House star Kai Kobayashi says staff asked him to touch Hana Kimura’s breasts
Take bites of the Milky Way and summer with traditional, Tanabata-inspired Japanese sweets【Pics】
Mr. Sato tries to make himself invisible by wearing mirror paper, creates cool modern art instead
Customers race to Uniqlo for new summer face masks, but are they really worth the hype?
Cosplay like a cool cat with an ultra-realistic, giant cat head from Japan!
Hana Kimura’s mother slams Terrace House castmates for partying after daughter’s death
10 awesome ice creams available from convenience stores in Japan
Japanese women show overwhelming resistance to unisex bathrooms in survey
Find a red envelope on the ground? Here’s why you should never pick it up
Sailor Moon Wedding Dress Collection lets you dress like Usagi, Tuxedo Mask as you say I do【Pics】
Pet owner builds tiny ninja house for hamster, escape panels and hidden doors galore
Company’s smoking regulations cover all bases with math, technology, psychology, and courtesy
Hamster house hides a hysterical surprise for its handler【Video】
W.T.F. Japan: Top 5 strangest kanji ever 【Weird Top Five】
-
