Kotatsu heated table (Intermediate)

Kotatsu is a cozy way to stay warm at home in Japan during winter. It's a table with a heater underneath and a thick quilt on top. However, the traditional kotatsu is designed for old-fashioned interiors.

The typical kotatsu is a low, square-shaped table where you sit on the floor, like in a classical Japanese house, with space for one person on each side. This design contrasts with modern living rooms, which usually have sofas for family or friends to sit together, often with a TV on the opposite wall.

But now, there's a solution from Home Coordy, a furniture group in Japan. They make special kotatsu designed for use with sofas. These kotatsu tables come with adjustable legs to fit different sofa heights. The rectangular shape allows two or three people to sit comfortably. Some even have power and USB outlets, so you can charge your devices without leaving the warmth. Prices vary, but they are reasonably priced investments for winter. Aeon, the company making them, reports a spike in sales, especially among people in their 20s and 30s.

And if you want to enjoy kotatsu outside your home, Osaka has a unique way to do just that.