Sleep Exquisite

Really enjoy just being the store. All the furniture is very beautiful. I bought a mattress, and it provides the great spine support. Thanks for all the help Mike!

I guess you’ve got to love this place. I walked in with the intention to buy but I was talked out of it by the gentleman who helped me. Part of me felt a little awkward but I realized I really didn’t need anything. As a japanophile I would definitely keep this place on my radar but I may have to waste my money on other things after all.

I purchased my first futon sleep system at this store back in the early 80’s. I owned it for many years. It provided much needed sleep and comfort when I was a student and beyond. It moved with me from SoCal to NorCal and back to SoCal over a 10+ yr period.
The owners are very kind and professional.
Consider Sleep Exquisite if you’re seriously thinking of buying an authentic Japanese sleep system.
Arigato Sleep Exquisite :)
PS…4/5 because they don’t deliver to the IE

I ordered the twin sized cotton futon along with the foam mat that goes with it.
Great service. Quality product. Reasonably priced considering the futon is hand made to order.
Highly recommended !

I love this store. Excellent tatami beds, and they deliver and assemble them, they can make futons and covers and mattresses and they have plenty of choices as far as materials go and they can replace the inside of the mattress (new cotton), and the owner is a nice gentleman and his wife is a Japanese and seems like she designs some of the things herself. Also nice kimonos and cute water fountains. I am really going to return to that store. Anyway, I bought a tatami bed there with a mattress and a cover sheet (had it custom made /​simple black and dark blue beautiful pattern.
It was not super expensive. And I sleep great on this tatami bed! Great little store.

Exquisite handcrafted linens and tatamis
Lanterns shades sachets for home design and décor

You get what you pay for
Beautiful furniture
The owners are super helpful and so kind!

I bought 2 simple cotton futons here, about 3 or 4 years ago, for my brother’s house, to use as guest beds. The store is lovely and their products are all high quality, handmade. The futons I happened to purchase are not the heavy American kind, but are lighter and easy to lift and store in a closet. They are well made and have held up over the years. I like shopping in this futon store, no high pressure salesmen and good quality products.

Got a futon here, they were really nice and helpful. The store itself is beautiful. Hoping to save up for some more items.
I love how easy to transport the bed is. I’ll update the review after more time passes.

It’s comforting knowing my money is going towards a family owned business instead of Ikea. I purchased a full sized comforter, 3 layer futon, and futon cover slip here and I can’t wait to pick it up in about 3 more weeks. Everything is made to order so it does take time for the shop owner to make your items by hand, my wait time was 4 wks.
When you purchase something you’ll need to put down maybe half the amount for deposit, or however much you can afford to put down at the time, then pay the rest when you pick up your items. My total came out to about $ 1200, $ 305 for my 3 layer futon (vs the 2 layer, it’s a little more expensive but I wanted a softer, thicker bedding), $ 445 for my comforter + extra $ 250 to get a silk border on it (I like a little luxury every once in a while), and $ 115 for my futon cover slip, which acts somewhat like sheets, it’s washable. If it’s true that we spend about ¹⁄₃ of our lives asleep then I think it’s worth investing in, and I couldn’t be happier with my purchases.
I already have some padding to put under my futon so I skipped getting the tri-​fold cushion, but if you choose to buy it you have 2 options, one is more firmer than the other. It’s also not absolutely necessary, as the futon is soft enough to put on the bare ground and sleep on. I also chose to skip the matching pillow/​s simply because I was told they were more meant for décor than for actually sleeping on. Had I a big fancy bedroom and house maybe I’d get them, they match your comforter so whatever pattern you have is extended up to the wall, and does look better than just a white pillow. I spoke with the husband and wife that work here and they’re both wonderful, I would definitely come back again to buy some of their beautiful furniture and décor.

This place does have a beautiful selection and the owners are very nice. I purchased a tatami bed frame, foam and cotton top which I love more and more the longer I have it. This is such a lovely alternative to the western style clunky bed frame, box spring mattress combo which are kind of an eyesore AND a pain to move. I unloaded and assembled this set single-​handedly. Go for the thicker cotton top– its worth the minimal amount of extra cash and much comfier. I ordered the thinner one and wasn’t happy and they upgraded me no charge. Mike and Piko really bent over backwards to make sure I was happy with my purchases, something people just rarely do anymore. After that I was so confident that everything I ordered would be excellent quality, exactly what I wanted and worth the investment. I went back, ordered a beautiful duvet cover and a gorgeous japanese curtain hanger for my noren. I took my dad in when he was in town to order some beautiful fabric from their extensive collection for his noren too. This is the kind of place you go to invest in that perfect thing you will have forever. I’ll definitely be returning!

Got my Shoji from them. They are good, high quality. I also buy zabaton, futon and any other Japanese household items I need. I haven’t bought any furniture yet cause I thought it was too expensive, and now that I have
been looking around at places I’m realizing it’s not too far off.

After reading the reviews on Unilocal,I went there looking for a real futon for my daughter who is just moving to the area.
We were treated so nicely, and they have amazingly beautiful stuff.
We left with a futon that my daughter was very happy with, and at a reasonable price. They make the futons themselves, and will refurbish them later as needed.
Great place!

I fell down a rabbit hole and entered a hidden Japanese furnishings gem!
When you enter, it’s really like you’ve fallen down a rabbit hole. Unexpected from the non-​descript exterior, the place keeps on expanding as you enter with room upon room of great things like futons, tatami mats, beds, lighting, fabric, and fountains… all wonderfully displayed. The owners are super cool,
If I had a gazillion dollars, I would spend part of them here and my house would be like that Oracle dudes, what his name? Oh yeah, Larry Ellison. My house would be all Japanese in architecture with a huge garden, koi pond and bath house. I’d have handsome, muscular men feeding me sushi. Instead, I’ve got a post-​WWII LA blah with a fluffy little dog who bosses me around. Not complaining, just is.
Anyway, please, don’t touch the kitchen tansu located on the right in the tansu section of the store cause I’ve got dibs on it.
Check out the posted Unilocal photos on this place and you’ll see what makes it special.
My Unilocal friend Ken N. wrote such a good review of the place back in 2006. Shoot, who could top his game? Not me.
Time to sleep exquisitely. Oyasumi nasai!

The term futon has entered into American parlance in reference to a low, convertible sofa /​bed frame cushioned by a single mattress pad – usually inexpensive and the favored location for many a late-​night college hangout or hookup. This Western conception of futon has proved so popular, in fact, that it has been the subject of much consternation on my part, since the identically-​named item that I have been searching for is sadly much less popular in this country. I’ve been getting in touch with my inner fob lately, so I can elaborate: In Japan, futon (or more specifically, shikibuton) refers to a sleeping pad, often stuffed with cotton, with a removable covering – not unlike a comforter and duvet cover, except the stuffing material is rather denser, slightly less pliable, and heavier. Such pads are used directly on the floor, often on tatami mats, and are rolled or folded up and stored during the day. They provide a firm but incongruously cushy sleep experience, and after becoming acquainted with them during my stays in japanese ryokan (traditional-​style inns), I became hooked. In any case, the situation of general semantic confusion has made it very difficult to find a vendor of japanese futon, let alone a top-​quality purveyor.
This was until my friend Tom spent a long time searching on Unilocal,and managed to stumble on this relatively unreviewed, externally nondescript LA gem (as so many of them are). The show itself is a spacious showroom filled with all the appointments one might need to create an authentic wa-​shitsu – a traditional japanese room commonly found in many japanese houses, much as a living room would be found in American homes – including handmade tatami mats, lanterns, antique imported furnishings, and artwork.
However, on this trip, we were there for the bedding. When buying futon, you have a number of options. First, one has to decide what kind of sleeping experience one would like – for a softer experience, one can purchase a foam mat and a single shikibuton to place on top. The foam mats come in two grades of softness – firm and extra firm. Another, more expensive option is to purchase two shikibuton and to stack them on top of another, and to place them on the floor (perhaps over a sheet or unrolled bamboo mat, for protection). One might instead opt for the even more authentic experience of placing the futon upon Sleep Exquisite’s custom-​made tatami mat platforms. This, naturally, is quite pricey.
One then has the option of choosing for the futon slip covers a number of fabrics, which come in a variety of japanese-​style prints. There is a selection of over a hundred fabrics at various price points, which depend on the material (silk, polyester, or cotton) and whether the fabric was imported or domestic). Some are machine-​washable, and some are dry-​clean only. I took more than an hour and a half to decide on the two fabrics I used for my two shikibuton, and the proprietor was VERY patient and helpful. The covers are all handmade to order, and the turnaround was just a week for us.
Finally, one can then opt for a number of extras – one can purchase a kakebuton (which basically refers to a comforter and duvet cover), with its own customized pair of fabrics for the border and the body. Also, matching pillows are often bought.
For my two shikibuton, I opted for a beautiful gray-​blue thatch and an inky blue fabric with an intricate gray pattern, with a matching cylindrical pillow. They are gorgeous, comfortable, and I couldn’t be happier. Since I couldn’t stay away from the incredibly attractive imported fabrics, the combination set me back a tad over eight hundred dollars for a single-​sized sleeping arrangement. It’s easier to sleep with a much slimmer wallet in my back pocket, anyway. I’ve never slept better, and my back has thanked me for it.

I purchased my first Futon from Sleep Exquisite (owner: Piko Han) in 1984.
Since then I have bought several more, along with custom cotton sheets, comforters, and buckwheat pillows.
Over the last 25 years I’ve watched the shop on Gateway Blvd expand, adding more unique rooms full of beautiful art and products.
Sleep Exquisite is a true gem of a store. This is one of the unique, authentic, one of a kind family style business which are becoming so rare in today’s world of homogenization and big box shopping. Just walking through the shop taking in all the beauty is a joy. Many of Piko’s products are custom, hand crafted, made to order. The quality and style is impeccable. The futon and bedding is more authentic and higher quality than many other futon shops. Piko knows her art and craft well. She is wonderful to work with, and can advise on a great variety of options and choices. I always look forward to a visit at Sleep Exquisite. I am still using the cotton sheets made 13 years ago, and they are in good shape.

Sleep Exquisite truly opened my formerly Ikea-​blinded eyes to the wonders of quality furniture & bedding. I drove by the store often, but the façade is so unassuming I had never stopped in. After moving cross-​country and leaving my old furniture behind, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to finally check out the store.
You might never know about this hidden treasure unless you’re an avid Unilocaler or someone else lets you in on the secret, but trust me if you’re looking for quality and authentic Japanese bedding you have to check it out.
The showroom is beautiful and really big. The store owner Piko was fantastic and helped me pick out the best furniture for my price range and space. I didn’t know much about Japanese culture, and my room doesn’t even have a Japenese theme, but the coffee table, futon, and tatamis I got fit in perfectly and are way more comfortable than anything I could have gotten at Ikea. I also left feeling at least somewhat educated about my purchases. Well worth the small investment I made, as I know they’ll last me a long time.
She also had the cutest poodles and a Koi pond in the store which made the whole experience that much more charming!

I’m sad to write this review because I really liked the store and just spent a lot of money here. The $ 600 low table I got delivered is of horrible quality. I mean worse than Ikea. The birch laminate is falling off and it’s only been a week. After the woman and her husband left I noticed a cm squar gash and a 3 inch long scratch in the table. I have been calling them for a week to negotiate a return but there has been no answer on the line. INSPECT THEIR FURNITURE CAREFULLY before you buy.

I was looking all over L.A. for a place to buy an authentic Japanese futon and had given up until I found this place.
It is a great shop. It has a very open, clean, and very Japanese feel to it. It s a beautiful place to walk into. They sell authentic Japanese futons in a wide range of sizes (I was looking for a single), options for bases (frames, tatami mats, and 3 fold firm and extra firm mats), authentic pillows, covers, etc. I think I remembered that they said the make most of it themselves. They also have a large selection of very nice fabrics to choose from so that you may customize your tatami mat borders, and I think futon covers, etc. It seemed like they could do much customizing for you if you would like. They also sell various pieces of Japanese style furniture, new and antique (including a unique fold up three fold base that folded up easily into a little couch– apparently it is their design).
The staff was very helpful and friendly. Apparently they have been in business for well over twenty years so they really know what they are doing. Everything I wanted to know was explained to me about the bedding, style, etc. and they even had helpful (but not pushy) suggestions. Also, there were helpful little tags with the prices that explained much about the pieces.
I highly recommend that you check this place out. It has authentic Japanese style futons and furniture (much of it customizable), is an experience to walk into, has helpful and informative staff and offered reasonable to better prices for quality compared to what I had seen shopping around down here and online.
I ended up buying a single futon mattress (thinner one– it is lighter and easier to fold and store), a futon cover, and a 3 fold, firm base. I think I will go back eventually for a tatami mat. It is perfect for my small space.

In the middle of the netherworld that is Gateway, that odd stretch of road that Ocean Park Boulevard becomes before it smacks into Pico and disappears, there are some nice restaurants hidden in some deceptively crummy looking strip malls, and speaking of deceptive, hidden on the north — or is it west? — side of this curvy, diagonal stretch is a hidden wonder called Sleep Exquisite. So unprepossessing, you might drive by it a thousand times without noticing it. I think I did. It’s like a stealth store, using the latest technology to make it invisible. But inside is a little bit of Japan! Authentic Japanese-​style futon beds, gorgeous futon covers, really simple and elegant tatami mats and platforms, tansu cabinetry (they’ll make them to custom specifications, too), buckwheat pillows (they look like colorful Japanese tootsie rolls, and they’re cool to the touch and cool on your head), all arranged in a series of Japanese-​style bedrooms, except with platform beds for Western backs.
There are also antique kimonos and obi on the walls — I think they’re also for sale, but in the store, they serve as the artwork — and they have water gardens. The whole place is so big and so quiet, you feel like you’ve stepped into another world. It’s not plush — there’s kind of a late fifties/​early sixties vibe to the place — but the design work is… well, exquisite.