Enjoying a kotatsu outdoors during the cold winter months! Just thinking about it sounds fun, doesn't it? Kotatsus are an essential part of Japanese winters, and they've recently become popular overseas as well. Enjoy a cozy kotatsu under a starry night sky. How about enjoying hot sake while eating hot pot? Or even oranges and ice cream? We recommend this warm and cozy outdoor experience during the mild winter months. Use it in an indoor space or inside an outdoor tent.
Kotatsus are ancient Japanese heating devices, originating from the irori hearth of the Muromachi period. Originally, a wooden platform (yagura) was placed on top of the hearth, and a futon was placed over it to warm the feet. They have evolved over time, with the "oki kotatsu" (placed kotatsu) using a brazier as a heat source appearing in the Edo period and the "hibachi kotatsu" (sunken kotatsu) appearing in the Meiji period. Electric kotatsu became popular in the late Showa period, and the modern table-type kotatsu became widespread from the 1950s onwards. |