Best Japanese Tables in 2023

The Japanese tables symbolize the culture of Japan. They all come low and in trendy simple designs. Since time immemorial, the Japanese have been doing their things on the floor. Eating, sleeping, or doing other tasks were done while seated on the ground. The floor culture has been a way of life for the Japanese for an extended period.

The Japanese floor culture made them develop the kind of tables they use. What concerned the ancient Japanese about their tables is their purpose and not look or presence. That’s why tables in Japan are small, simply designed, and short-legged. They are only there for a specific reason, explaining the Japanese minimalist way of life.

The tables are of two types; those used during summer and those utilized in cold seasons. They also come in different designs and sizes. In this guide, you shall learn everything you need to know about the Japanese tables. You will also get a review of the top Japanese tables on the market today.

Best Japanese Tables

AZUMAYA Folding Legs Wooden Kotatsu

Have you ever heard of a Kotatsu table used in all seasons? This AZUMAYA Kotatsu table does. You can use it as a coffee table and warm yourself. It comes with a simple, attractive design. The natural rubberwood used in its making, with a finish done using the urethane stain coating, makes it look elegant. Its natural wood color makes it blend well with the interior décor of any room.

The table’s top looks shiny and beautiful, thanks to the walnut veneer used on its surface. With its small size, the AZUMAYA will occupy minimal space in your room. The legs are foldable to collapse the table for storage when not in use, making it ideal for creating space.

It comes with an electric Kotatsu heater that uses very little power. As a result, you can save on your power bill. The heater comes with an On and Off button and a temperature control knob. The futon or comforter gets sold separately.

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AZUMAYA ELFI-9010AK Legs Kotatsu Heater Table

It comes with a removable tabletop to help convert it into a Chabudai with ease. If you are looking for an ideal Japanese table to use at all times, the AZUMAYA ELFI-9010AK might interest you. When it’s cold and you need to warm up, you only need to remove the tabletop and cover it with a comforter. Then put on the heater and enjoy.

The table gets made with oak and finished with rubberwood. It is the reason the AZUMAYA ELFI-9010AK is sturdy, long-lasting, and attractive. Because of its small size, it will occupy just a tiny portion of your room’s space. If you require more space, you only need to fold this table and keep it away. Thanks to its collapsing nature.

It comes with a heating system that consumes less energy and is easy to operate. But you will need to buy the futon separately.

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Laptop Desk Nnewvante Table Adjustable 100% Bamboo Foldable Breakfast Serving Bed

Are you looking for a multi-use Japanese table? Then your search ends here. This adjustable Nnewvante table comes with many uses. You can convert it into a bed or serving desk for kids or sick people. You can also use it for serving dinner, holding your TV, tablet, laptop, or books. If you have children, they can use it to write on, read, or paint.

The craftsmanship used is exquisite and gets made by hand. It gets made with original bamboo, attributing to its beautiful look and smooth surface. You can adjust it to various heights and widths for better usability and comfort. If using a laptop, tablet, or another sensitive thing that can slide and fall from the table, you need not worry about their security. Thanks to the removable baffle that comes with this desk. It holds them, barring them from falling.

The drawer at its side is an excellent place to keep your small valuables like pens, USB cables, paper clips, note pad, flash disk, etc. Its small size and lightweight make it easy to move this table. It will also occupy less of your space.

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YAMAZEN ESK-751 (B) Casual Kotatsu Japanese Heated Table

Unlike most Japanese tables, the legs of the YAMAZEN ESK-751 are not foldable. But this shouldn’t be a problem because it comes in a size ideal for one person only. If you leave alone, this is a suitable table to buy. With its simple and plain design, the table looks elegant.

It comes with an electric heating unit attached to a chord containing the On and Off button. You can quickly move this table from one point to another due to its small and weightless structure. You get to say goodbye to hefty power bills with this table. Thanks to its heating system that consumes less energy.

The table doesn’t come with a comforter, meaning you’ll have to source for one elsewhere or buy it separately. Also, the price might scare some users away.

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Excelife 86150 Multi Folding Wooden Korean Tea Table

It is a rectangular table that comes in an Asian style. This Japanese table is no different from ordinary tables found around the world. You can do anything on it. For example, eating, studying, playing games, working on your laptop, etc. After working on it, you can quickly remove it or create space by collapsing it, thanks to its collapsing feature.

The Excelife 86150 comes with an attractive natural look attributed to the kalopanax wood used in its making. The wood material also makes it long-lasting and robust. The edges come designed safely to use. You can change the locations of this table in your room with ease as it is portable. Though its height is slightly higher than regular Japanese tables, it doesn’t take much of your space.

Despite its unique features, the Excelife 86150 comes with a pocket-friendly price tag.

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Floor Table Foldable Laptop Bed Table

Do you use a laptop quite often and love working by your bedside? You may need to consider having this adorable Japanese table. Its design is elegant and straightforward, and is ideal for multiple tasks. Besides being your laptop and bedside table, you can also use it to eat breakfast or hold your TV.

The legs are made of aluminum alloy and are foldable. Therefore, it is ideal to use this table in a small space because you can collapse it to create more space. With its folding feature, storing this table is also easy. The tabletop gets constructed from oak. The combination of the aluminum legs and the wooden top gives it an attractive appearance. It is an excellent piece of furniture to improve the look of your room.

The materials used in its making are light, making it easy to move this table. It is safe to use for the kids due to the table’s polished corners. Like some other tables, you don’t need to install it as it comes ready to use.

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MustMat Warm Kotatsu Table

Is the cold season getting into your nerves, and is looking for an ideal method to keep you and your partner warm without paying hefty power bills? The MustMat Warm Kotatsu Table could be what you are looking for. It is a rectangular table made for two people. It comes with a heating unit attached underneath to keep you warm throughout the entire cold season.

Because of the solid rubberwood used entirely in its making, the table looks charming and comes with an aesthetic appeal. Adding it as part of your interior décor will enhance your room’s look. It will also blend well with everything inside.

The table is sturdy and durable. Operating the heater is a piece of cake. It comes with an On and Off button and a cable to plug it into your power source. What might blow your mind about this table is its usability. You can perform various functions on the MustMat Warm Kotatsu Table. For example, eating, playing games, reading, watching TV, staying warm, sleeping, and relaxing.

You will need to assemble the table when it arrives. But you need not worry because it’s easy. The heater unit comes attached, so no need to install it.

About the Japanese Tables

Because the ancient Japanese loved doing their things while seated, they developed the low tables for better usability. They would spread a mat known as tatami to act as their chair while sitting around the table. But as time went on, the tatami got replaced by pillows, cushions, and floor sofas.

The tables also have suffered a touch of modernization and civilization. They come in different shapes, sizes, and styles. The materials used in their making have changed throughout the years. But despite all these changes, the Japanese tables are of two types, as explained below;

The Japanese Table Types

I. The Chabudai

They are popular Japanese tables made close to the ground. The artisans make them small in size, explaining why they occupy less space. In the olden days, they used the tatami mats to sit around the Chabudai. Because of their small size, you cannot use a standard chair with a Chabudai.

As years went on, the Japanese evolved from mats to more comfortable floor seating platforms like pads, cushions, and pillows. Today, manufacturers have developed cozy floor sofas.

II. The Kotatsu

Though both the Chadudai and Kotatsu tables come short-legged, they differ in purpose. The Kotatsu comes with a heating unit attached to its underside. It also has a comforter like a futon or blanket placed over it to cover the table entirely. The primary purpose of a Kotatsu is to keep you warm during the cold season.

It explains why the Japanese use it during winter. A rigid tabletop usually gets placed on top of the comforter to make the Kotatsu usable. The traditional Kotatsu used a lamp or charcoal fire as their heat source. But due to the influence from the outside world, the Kotatsu have been modified.

Currently, most Kotatsu tables use electric heating units. The futons used in the olden days have also gotten replaced by attractive and durable comforters like duvets. Like the Chabudai, people used to sit on a mat around a Kotatsu. They would then place their legs under the table to enjoy the warmth from the heat source.

The futon covering the entire table prevented the heat from escaping. The westerners have embraced the Kotatsu because it uses less energy to keep them warm. Also, their low nature and small size make them save space. But how low are the Japanese tables?

The Height of the Japanese Tables

The Chabudai’s height can range from 15cm to 30 cm. The Kotatsu is no different. Its height is approximately 14 – inches from the floor. The only chairs suitable for seating around these tables are those made for the floor like the Kotatsu sofas.

Though the modern Japanese tables are becoming innovative, there are specific woods used for making them.

Wood Used in Making Japanese Tables

The makers used stain, pine, and oak wood to make the Chabudai or Kotatsu. Some manufacturers still use them today. But due to deforestation, these trees are disappearing. As a result, the makers are using other sources like steel metal.

In the olden days, the artisans could choose the wood carefully. They eliminated any wood with a small defect. The tables made were circular or round. What motivated the Japanese to create round tables was the need to bond as a family.

When people sat around the circular tables, they would sit close to each other due to the tables’ small size. Unlike the other table shapes, a round table can easily accommodate an extra person. While they chatted or did activities like eating, playing games, or talking, it would bring them together. In the end, they got to bond.

The Japanese tables come with various uses. No wonder the outside world is embracing them. You can use your Chabudai or Kotatsu to do the following;

Uses of the Japanese Tables

There is no much difference in the use of the Japanese tables with the typical tables found worldwide. People use them for;

i. Eating and Drinking

You can dine or drink on a Japanese table alone or with your loved ones. If it’s during the cold season, enjoying a tasty meal on a Kotatsu while you warm up feels great. You can also quencher your thirst while seated around a Japanese table.

ii. Relaxing

If you own a Kotatsu sofa, you can use it to relax around a Kotatsu table. You can keep it in your lounge and enjoy watching your favorite movie on the TV. You can also listen to your kind of music or just sleep or rest to relax as you warm up after a long day’s work.

iii. Chatting

The Japanese tables are an excellent platform for catching up with your friends, family, workmates, or loved ones. When seated around the table, you can engage each other and talk about anything. It is through communication that you know a person’s character, abilities, or problems.

iv. Creating Space

The small size of the traditional Japanese tables used less space. Today, the sizes vary, but their design helps in creating space. Like in the olden days, the Japanese tables come with a foldable feature. After using, you can collapse the table and store it away to create space for other things.

v. Entertainment

If you are a fun kind of person, the Japanese tables might excite you. There exist various games you can play on a Japanese table. Excellent examples are chess, cards, and video games.

vi. Other Tasks

You can do almost anything a standard table is used for, such as reading, working, preparing food, etc. Any small task would do. Because Kotatsu comes with a heating system, you need to be careful about using it not to interfere with the heating system. Otherwise, a damaged heating unit can burn you or start a fire.

With the above information, you may get interested in owning a Japanese table but don’t know where to start. You need not worry; here is a review of the best Japanese tables on the market today.

Conclusion

As illustrated above, the Japanese tables come a long way. They symbolize the Japanese floor culture. Also, all the Japanese tables feature simplicity and a low height. You can use them for various tasks. The tables are of two types, as explained above, but come in different shapes, designs, and sizes.

The Chabudai is usable during the hot season, but the Kotatsu comes with a heating system to keep you warm during the cold season. Other cultures have embraced the use of Japanese tables because of their various benefits, as shown above. If you want one in your house, the above reviews of the best Japanese tables on the market today will help.