DIY | How to build a kotatsu / Japanese heating table using an infrared heating panel!

[@brinagoesjapan]

By the way, if you’re into DIY and Japan - please check out my friend Tsukumi’s channel: www.youtube.com/@CountrylifeJP/ She and her husband bought an old house in the Japanese countryside and she renovates it all by herself, it’s very impressive and her videos are very calming 😍🍃

[@CountrylifeJP]

Oh❤you are so kind🥹🫶💕 Thank you so much!

[@theobsessor11294]

Every Western furniture outlet is sleeping on this untouched corner of the furniture market

[@brinagoesjapan]

100% agreed - no idea how nobody has done something about it so far :D

[@fatetwister]

I feel like Americans don't like sitting on the floor

[@lizlanman47]

Some do. Growing up the whole family went back and forth between floor and furniture. Of course, that's why we think it's disgusting to wear shoes in the house

[@Gingerseatsouls]

@@fatetwisterthey cant stand back up thats probably why

[@nienkesmit9260]

Thank you for this video! I'm a fellow Japan-enthusiast and frequent traveler. Last week, I built my own kotatsu using your video, and it's sitting proudly in the middle of my living room. 🥰

[@brinagoesjapan]

That makes me incredibly happy to read, thank you for letting me know! 🥰💕✨🎉 And CONGRATULATIONS to your own kotatsu!! 👏🎉🔥 Enjoy it 😄 Looking forward to setting mine up again next week 💜

[@moodyneedle]

Amazing work on not only constructing your own kotatsu, but also on this video editing and quality! 🤯 I'll have to make my own kotatsu soon thanks to you. 🥰 Can't wait to see more content from you Brina! 💕🤗

[@brinagoesjapan]

Ooooh thank you for your sweet comment, dear 💕🤗 I'm so very happy you like the whole thing including my editing. I did my best, so it took ages xD but I enjoyed the work too so I'm super glad you're into it

[@Iris.Moon.1958]

Brina! This video has helped me so much in making my own! Thank you for taking the time to make this video

[@brinagoesjapan]

Yaaay! So glad it has helped you and thank you for leaving this sweet comment 😄💜

[@zachhanma558]

Thinking about building one of these since It's starting to get cold out. Thanks for the good video

[@brinagoesjapan]

Oh you’re super welcome 💜😊 Kotatsu are SO good for the winter months - happy DIYing and please enjoy your own Kotatsu once it’s finished 😁🎉👌

[@mireillelesak2216]

Thank you to share your experience. It's very helpfull to create my own kotatsu table.

[@brinagoesjapan]

Thank you, very glad it helps - enjoy your DIY kotatsu~ 😍👏💜

[@annuttin]

Omg Brina yes!!! I was thinking this week to make one when I move to my new home. Importing would be super expensive so thank you so much for making this video!

[@brinagoesjapan]

Thank you so muuuch, I'm very happy you like the video and I'm sure your kotatsu will make a wonderful addition to your new home

[@Algorithm75]

I was looking to build a DIY kotatsu and noticed that your build is almost identical to Tabimonogatari: Marius' travel and Japan blog - published in 2019; even using the same IR heater and table!✌️

[@brinagoesjapan]

Oh nice! That makes sense - there’s not many other options for heaters out there yet sadly 😄 All the best for your kotatsu! 🎉

[@lazyreaderalex5069]

what a nice video! i would really love to have kotatsu table as the winter here is very cold, these just seem so comfy!

[@brinagoesjapan]

Thank yooou! They really are comfy in winter - highly recommended 👍 Can’t wait to put mine up again soon 😌💜

[@DarkFoxV]

This was so enjoyable to watch!!!

[@Boomdizzle99]

Nice work Brina!! Wow! Looks really good and sturdy and wow awesome Kotatsu!!! I made my own years ago but I actually did purchase a legit japanese heating element with a seperate power converter since the voltage is different than here in the US. Its held up for over 5 years now! I use it only in the winter and my cats love it!! They spend more time under the Kotatsu than I do 😼

[@brinagoesjapan]

Eeeh, thank you so much for your comment 🥰 I'm really impressed that you got a proper Japanese heating element!! Especially since you need a converter in the US - did you order everything online? 5 years is amazing and I bet it will last for many more to come, sounds like it's a great quality product :D So cute your cats are in love with it as well, if I was a cat, I'd spend as much time underneath the kotatsu as possible too ;D

[@ramsessilent]

great job the panel was a kewl idea! thanks for the share. stay awesome!

[@brinagoesjapan]

Happy you liked it! Thank you for commenting! :D

[@OshareJapan]

Omg you are the perfect instructor 😍 such a professional job on the kotatsu and on the video!! 🙌 I’m tempted to make one for the van for next winter now!

[@brinagoesjapan]

Kiwi & Bear! Aaaaw thank you so much for the compliment 😍 So happy you watched and liked it!! I'd love to see you make a van kotatsu! You could probably use a heating panel underneath your table as well to save some space :D 💜

[@DarkNightshroud]

Great video. I really like the idea, but i don't have the space in my current appartment. Maybe in the next one

[@brinagoesjapan]

Hey there :) Thank yooou! Aw I see, that makes sense. If you already have another table in your apartment you might be able to modify and turn it into a kotatsu - in case that's something you'd like to do. But I'm sure you'll find a lovely apartment with space for a kotatsu in the future

[@paramanandanaik7104]

Me after putting a kambal to a table .....jugaadu kotatsu Btw nice work Sister❤

[@brinagoesjapan]

Thank yoou! 😄

[@Meta_Sheep]

I've built one of these, also using a LACK table. For those interested, I was able to just screw on the Metro Kotatsu heater you can get on Amazon in the US with angle brackets. After about a year of use, I noticed one of the legs of the table seemed to be breaking off. I believe this is caused by removing the lower shelf (which we need as a kotatsu topper) which helped give the legs strength. I've added angle brackets to the two interior sides of each leg which seems to be helping. I'm curious to know if you had a similar issue and if you were able to fix it. If it eventually breaks and I'm forced to buy another LACK, I will use the topper of the old one and attach it as the intended shelf but much higher up (maybe 3 inches below the table). Hopefully this will help give it more strength.

[@brinagoesjapan]

Hello, happy to hear you also built yourself a kotatsu 😄💜 Nope, never had issues with the legs of my kotatsu, it’s still working perfectly fine. I’d be careful about attaching the lower shelf. I don’t know your heater but I don’t think it would be safe to attach anything underneath it - please be careful!

[@Meta_Sheep]

@@brinagoesjapan I would just reattach the heater to the bottom of the shelf, not putting the shelf beneath the heater. I suspect if you're putting your table on tatami or something, when you push it it slides. We have ours at full height on a carpet, so when pressure is applied to the table the top moves, but the legs don't which is putting horizontal stress on the attach points.

[@Karpata1]

I think a good way to somewhat secure the topplate would be strong magnets. If you experiment with the strength and amount of magnets I'm sure you'll find a nice fit between holding it secure and barely being able to ever get it off again.

[@brinagoesjapan]

Haha yeah maybe. Though I honestly haven’t had lots of issues with it. I’m just generally a bit careful standing up from the table but I think that would always be the case as it’s low and I don’t want to tip it over. Magnets would stand out on the top and if they’re strong ones they might pull magnetic things towards them 😄 but in the end it really is personal preference. Magnets are always fun to use in DIY 💜🎉

[@marcusrejino6902]

Great job fried!!!

[@brinagoesjapan]

Thank you so much Marcus, glad you like the video :D

[@mactan_sc]

wish we had 240volt electrical outlets in the US that looks like an a very nice device

[@brinagoesjapan]

I assume you can get an infrared heating panel in the US pretty easily - it would likely match with your requirements then 😊👍

[@CountrylifeJP]

Amazing your video🎉 good job kotatsu😊❤

[@brinagoesjapan]

Thank you so muuuch for watching :D I'm so happy you like it 💜

[@DanialKhashabi]

Would appreciate if you can share the link to the heating panel.

[@Manic44]

Thermo 3148044 Infrared Foot Warmer Panel, 300 x 600 mm, 230 V, 40 - 150 W, 80 °C Safety Thermostat I believe

[@cinnamonsparrowdesigns]

Wow, it's crazy how cheap these are here! I'm def gonna buy one to bring home to the states with me when we move back soon lol I'll get a converter if I have to, but I'm not that worried about it. I can get a decent one for less than $100 at Nitori.

[@brinagoesjapan]

Aw man, yeah that sounds great! If you can get it to work safely with a converter, that would be a dream imo :D All the best for your DIY adventure then, let me know how it goes if you'd like!

[@DriveCarToBar]

Japanese electricity is generally 100V AC running at either 50hz or 60hz depending on where you are in the country. North America is 120V @ 60hz. A heating element doesn't care about the frequency though because we're running a resistive heating element. What you do need to be cautious of, however is the difference in voltage. The current draw should be listed on the heater somewhere. We have to remember our physics and Watt's law. P=IV or Watts = Volts x Amps. Take the amperage listed on the heater and multiply it by the mains voltage. If a heater in Japan is listed at 500w, that likely assumes 100v. so 500w = 100v times X Amps. The heater has a draw of 5 Amps and the amperage is constant no matter where it is. What changes is the wattage along with the voltage. In N. America, it would be 600 Watts = 120v x 5amps.The heater will be more powerful in the USA because of the higher voltage. This could lead to problems if the heater isn't intended for what is a 20% increase in output. If you were to run that same heater in Europe, it would be between 1000 and 1200 watts!! So be careful and read the documentation.

[@RT-qd8yl]

Kotatsu is a must-have if you have a shiba. 😄

[@brinagoesjapan]

Haha, I absolutely agree 🤣👌

[@lilfroggert]

Make sure you use a fireproof blanket y'all!

[@brinagoesjapan]

Nice, thank you!

[@a.d.malicia4543]

Could you please link to the Amazon item that you purchased? Also, if if you could. Could you start an Amazon storefront with all of your favorite items in it?

[@brinagoesjapan]

I don’t want to advertise, so I’ll leave out any specific links for now but the infrared heating panels are easy to find on Amazon, just search for them :) mine is from a Amazon Germany, so depending on where your life it might be difficult to get the exact same one. Feel free to DM me on IG though. Thank you for commenting 💜 Great idea about the store front, I’ll look into that 💕

[@kayg.1224]

Where did you get such a fluffy looking blanket?? ☺️🤩

[@brinagoesjapan]

Haha, the material is called flannel - you'll find them anywhere online or in stores of course! Happy you like it as well, I love flannel for blankies in winter, it's so soft and cosy

[@FinolaAddams]

I've been looking into making a kotatsu for a while and this has really helped! Definitely encouraged me to do it ☺️ do you have a link for the heating panel? I'm struggling to find one similar 🥰

[@brinagoesjapan]

Heeey, super happy to hear the video is helpful to you - thanks for letting me know 🥰 I don't want to link to any specific products here, but I got it on Amazon Germany - in case you're from the US. Just look for keywords like infrared heating panel, there's a ton of products out there :) You can also direct message me on Instagram or send me an email (link is in my channel info). Crossing fingers for your kotatsu to turn out just the way you want it to!

[@michaelso5593]

Love your accent!

[@brinagoesjapan]

Hahaha thaaanks glad to hear that!

[@AkibaLine]

Tolles Video 🌸 so ähnlich haben wir unseren auch gebaut. Uns fehlt noch die Platte oben drauf, mal schauen wie wir das noch lösen 🙃

[@brinagoesjapan]

Hellooo, vielen Dank, das freut mich :D Ach wie cool, auch mit einem Ikea Tisch? Im Baumarkt kann man sich die Platten super easy zuschneiden lassen :)

[@AkibaLine]

@@brinagoesjapan ja genau auch mit einem Lack, aber in quadratisch. Das Problem war dann, dass wir eine quadratische Decke finden wollten, da war gar nicht so viel Auswahl dann 😄

[@brinagoesjapan]

Hnaaw! Jaaa das kann ich mir vorstellen, hihi. Hab auch länger mit der Größe gezögert. Am liebsten hätte ich selbst eine genäht, aber Stoffe und Füllmaterial sind ja auch recht teuer und da war der Griff ins Regal dann irgendwie doch safer. Aber ihr seid dann noch fündig geworden im Quadrat-Format? :D

[@leafedshade]

what about a heated blanket alternative?

[@brinagoesjapan]

Briefly talked about it in the video :)

[@NavigatedChaos]

Where did you get the panel? Do you have a link?

[@brinagoesjapan]

At the moment I wan't to avoid advertising specific products, but it's easy to find good panels on Amazon, just look for "infrared heating panel" and make sure it suits your needs :) I got mine from German Amazon though.

[@NavigatedChaos]

@@brinagoesjapan I'd love to find something that works like my heating pad, with a auto shut-off at a certain temp.

[@brinagoesjapan]

Gotcha, that makes sense and it's a really good idea - much safer. I just added "auto shut-off" into my amazon search, you'll need to compare some of them but there's so many to choose from :D

[@SpaceNavy90]

@@brinagoesjapan I understand not wanting to advertise a specific product, but searching for that on US Amazon doesn't seem to show the same products you have here. I wonder if this might be a European-only design for 240V. Can you please give a link or a full product name so I can investigate further?

[@brinagoesjapan]

Hellooo, if it doesn’t show up on the US amazon you could try visiting the amazon.de site and check the selection there. Some might ship to the US but sadly I have no idea how the conversion would work in that case 🙈 crossing fingers for you though!💜

[@Vigilante-k4q]

What about a heating blanket