WAZA Japan · Custom
Japanese Tatami
Traditional tatami flooring, made to order in Japan for South African spaces.
Tatami is a Japanese flooring woven from igusa, a soft rush. It gives a room an unmistakably Japanese calm, and is naturally insulating, moisture-regulating, soft underfoot and faintly grassy in scent. In contemporary homes, tatami works beautifully as a single considered space – a corner or a room set aside for slowing down.
For the full background on what tatami is, see our article, Japanese tatami as a flooring option. If you want to receive more information, scroll down and complete the form.
What we offer: traditional or modular tatami
Our customers request tatami for different reasons. Some want a reading corner or a meditation space, and others a guest room that doubles as a futon space, or a quiet work-from-home area. We work with different tatami suppliers in Kyoto and Saga Prefecture, to offer traditional mats made to Japanese specifications, or more modular, customisable options.
Grown and made in Japan
Tatami has roughly 1,300 years of history in Japan and developed as its own craft. Our traditional mats are made in Kyoto by Mitsuru Yokoyama - a single master craftsman and a first-class certified tatami artisan, and our modular mats are made by Ikehiko Corporation - an igusa specialist company with a history dating back to 1886.
Traditional tatami choices
A traditional tatami mat is built up from a few elements, and each is a choice, which determines its price and best approach to installation:
- The size. The Kyoto standard is a full mat of 0.955 x 1.91 m, or a half mat; custom sizes are possible for an exact fit.
- The omote (woven surface). Different weaves give different looks and grades, from finely tight to more rustic, in natural or dyed finishes.
- The heri (edge). Choose between a cloth border in natural, black or indigo-dyed hemp, a custom edge, or an edgeless finish for a more contemporary look.
- The base. Made from traditional rice straw, a firmer board base, or a board-and-foam core – each feels different underfoot and suits different floors. Thickness ranges from 15 - 55mm. This is the big price differential.
We have samples of Kyoto-size tatami at WAZA Japan Store, 201 Bree Street, Cape Town. Visit us to see the weaves, edges and bases before you decide.
What it costs. Traditional tatami starts at around R16,000 per Kyoto-size mat, delivered to Cape Town with all import duties and VAT included. Deliveries within the rest of South Africa incur an additional charge. The final figure depends on the weave, edge, base and size you choose, and on whether we ship from Japan by sea or air. We will give you a precise quote once we have received all the information. Modular tatami squares start at about R5,000 per square metre.
From order to delivery depends on the shipping method: the mats take about three weeks to make, with sea freight adding roughly six to nine weeks, or air freight a maximum of four weeks. Because each traditional tatami order is custom made in Japan, the full amount is payable upfront, and we carry the insurance and transport risk all the way to final delivery in South Africa.
Installing it
Tatami can be laid in a few ways: as a raised timber platform that defines a section within a room, recessed flush into the floor for a seamless finish, or simply laid in place where a lighter, movable solution suits. For a recessed installation the mat thickness has to be confirmed in advance, so it is worth talking to us early if you are building or renovating. We supply the mats, and recommend that timber surrounds and frames are made locally with your carpenter of choice.
Prefer something more flexible? If something easier to place is required, we recommend modular tatami, as it is made of smaller, movable igusa mats in natural and coloured finishes - typically squares of 82cm x 82cm. Tatami is not suited for shoes, but there are options with easy-to-clean surfaces in case a house has children and pets. If that sounds closer to what you need, let us know in the form below.