My favourite things

It is that time of year again in Iwaki when the sun goes down around 4:30 and our old, heatless apartments become cold air traps. But..It is because of the lack of central heating that Japan has come up with some great 'heat supplying' appliances.

So along with "bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens" these are a few of my favourite things.


The heated toilet seat: Whoever invented this was a genius who obviously lived an apartment as cold as our dear old Yamazaki Mansion. I turned it on this past weekend and I'm already hooked! If you don't see me for a few days...check my bathroom!

The kotatsu A kotatsu is a table that stands under two feet off the floor. Underneath this short unassuming table is a heater. So in the winter, you put a blanket between the heater and the table top to trap in the heat and sit on the floor with your legs under the table and the blanket over your lap. Last year I started using my kotatsu in December and each day from the moment I got home from work until I went to bed that's where I stayed.

The electric blanket I must admit I get awfully hot and sweaty when I use a full electric blanket so that's not my fav. But, I have this one blanket that is a third of the size of a regular blanket that is perfect for warming up the bottom end of my futon before I go to bed at night. I just have to plug it in about 30 min before bed time and when I jump into my futon my feet stay all nice and toasty. It eases the transition between my kotatsu and my bed.

Well that about covers my favourite winter things. I know us Canadians are supposed to be used to freezing temperatures and snow but I'd rather not get used to it and continue to use my 'heat providing' pieces of joy! Seriously...I don't know what I'd do without them.