Now that the temperatures have dropped here in Tokyo, I have brought the kotatsu out of storage to keep me warm.
For those who don't know, a kotatsu is (usually) a low table with a heater underneath. Basically, the top of the table comes off and you put a kotatsu futon over the frame of the table and then put the top back on. You also place a futon on the floor and put the table on top of that. Then, you sit on the small chairs you can see in the picture, put your legs under the table, switch it on and get warm! You would be amazed how pleasant it is to sit under a kotatsu in winter - and by how quickly you become drowsy. I particularly love eating kimchi-nabe while sitting under the kotatsu.
Older versions used small, coal-burning stoves, but new ones are electric, thankfully. You can buy a kotatsu and futon almost anywhere in Japan and I've seen small ones for as cheap as ¥1,000. I can't remember where I got the table itself, but I bought the chairs and the futons from Muji.
Just thought I'd share a little bit of life in Japan with you.
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