"Hallvard Tangeraas" <inva@lid.email> wrote in message

> > In Japan, you can expect a decent futon set to cost 100,000 to 200,000
yen.
>
> Phew!!!

You expected what ? The mattress part can be bought alone for 30 000 yen, in
seasonal
sales. If you pay much cheaper, expect to have to change it after only a few
months of use or to get back pains, stiff shoulders, etc. That depends if
you want something to sleep on daily several years, or just for occasions. I
have often prefered sleeping directly on the floor than on
5000 yen futons of the previous season.

> My Japanese friend in Japan told me that he guessed it would cost
> around Y 5000.
> Maybe that's just something really simple, for guests staying a
> night or two ?!

Yeah, something for the guests you don't like.

> What exactly are you referring to when you say a futon *set*?

They tend to sell the mattress + one or two layers of "covering"+ a pillow.

> And what kind of different futon mattrasses are there?

You ideally need one set for Summer + one for Winter (with 2 thicker
mattresses or something under the mattress otherwise you really freeze your
ass and warmer toppings).
I place cedar wood bathroom planks under my futon in cold months, so that
looks like an "Ikea futon". Years ago, Habitat used to sell great
futon-mattresses in natural material, a good quality, for a good price. I
guess my parents are still renting the one I had in my student years, or
cousins have taken it.

> > Also, the shipping costs from Japan are likely to be exhorbitant.
>
> How heavy are we talking?

You'll pay 5000 to 10000 yen to ship a 5000 yen futon....that will have the
quality of something you get in a catalogue in Europe for the equivalent of
2500 yen.

CC