Tatami (Rice straw mat)

Tatami are traditional Japanese floor mats made from rice straw and covered with woven soft rush (igusa) grass. Often used in Japanese homes and tea rooms, they provide a natural, comfortable surface that helps regulate indoor humidity and temperature. Tatami are typically rectangular and vary in size, with a characteristic woven pattern on top. They have cultural significance and influence Japanese interior aesthetics, often arranged in specific patterns within rooms. Their natural materials, durability, and insulating qualities make them both functional and culturally meaningful elements of traditional Japanese architecture.