I hate to admit it, but I can be pretty high-maintenance when it comes to sleeping on air mattresses, pull-out beds or even sofas. I always seem to wake up with an achy back, stiff neck or worse — a hole in the air mattress.

When I first heard about Japanese futons, I was immediately intrigued. A comfy, foldable mattress I can take in and out of the closet with ease? It seemed like the perfect solution for hosting guests in my small apartment. But before I could offer it up to friends staying the night, I had to try it for myself. Read on for more about my experience sleeping on a Japanese futon, and whether or not it's worth buying.

In the U.S., the term "futon" typically refers to sofas that are specifically meant for sleeping. The mattress or padding usually sits on top of a wooden or metal frame. So when I learned that a Japanese futon is just the mattress or padding without the full-blown structure, I was surprised — but also excited. That meant I'd have the space for it in my apartment.

I decided to try out a popular $130 twin-sized Japanese futon from Amazon. Similar to the popular bed-in-a-box, my futon came compressed in an air-tight package. The brand recommends letting it expand for 48 hours before using it.