Sobakawa Buckwheat Pillow With Free Pillow Protective Cover, 19" x 29"

I have to start out by saying that It's taken me 5 years to finally be convinced that I needed one of these, and I completely regret having it take so long. My husband has been using one since he was a teenager and I always referred to it as his bag of rocks, because it just didn't sound or feel comfortable when I held it. Well, I had a car accident a couple of years ago and have been plagued by neck pain. I've tried a contour pillow and it was just way too stiff, and made the other side of my neck hurt. I tried a 100% down pillow and it was fine for sleeping on my stomach, but since my last pregnancy i've become a side sleeper and it was absolutely worthless. I'm 8 weeks pregnant now and for the past month I've been up AT LEAST 5 times every night, between bathroom breaks and just being plain uncomfortable. I always wake with neck pain. About 2 weeks ago, I started stealing my husband's buckwheat pillow every morning when he gets up and those next two hours are the best (and most uninterrupted) hours of sleep I have been getting all night. Luckily, he noticed this and ordered one of these babies for my Christmas gift. The verdict? Not only was it the best night of sleep I have had in the past month, It's the first time in a long time that I haven't woken up because I was uncomfortable, or to adjust anything. Like i said, I'm pregnant, so I still have bathroom breaks, but I woke up feeling SO well rested each time. I'm a believer. This thing is never leaving my side, I plan on taking it on every trip. This pillow keeps you very cool (nice for those of us with hot flashes), it doesn't push against your head, but conforms to it, and keeps it's shape, gently cradling your head all night. The size is smaller than a standard pillow, but If you have a normal human sized head, it shouldn't be an issue. you can lay on your back and move your head from left to right and be fully covered, so it's really not an issue. My husband's is even smaller than this one. The pillow case I guess could be an issue, but I don't move the pillow while i sleep , and just tucked the extra length of the case under it. I'll probably sew one later, but it's not a big deal to me. If you have neck issues, I highly recommend this. I'm still in awe about how great I feel. **UPDATE** I'm now 8.5 months pregnant and still have not had one night of neck pain, except for 3 nights that I slept in another bed, with another pillow. I was amazed that it returned so quickly. I also don't have the body and hip pain that I did with my first pregnancy. I'm actually heavier than I was the first time, and I don't want to say it's all because of the pillow, but that's all that is different this time around. Maybe it's because I'm more aligned? Who knows... But I am still so glad that my husband bought this for me. Still loving it!

Pros: First, and in my opinion most important: these pillows are comfy. They are perfectly supportive without being too firm or adjustable. I can't get over how wonderful my head, neck, and shoulders feel after sleeping on these. The pillow is very breathable and keeps cool. Cons: Let me begin the cons by saying that none of these are important to me, but I list them for others who may be more particular about things than I... - They're a bit heavy and noisy. Perfect if you want to win a pillow fight with a KO, maybe not so much if you have misophonia. - These are not standard size for a queen / king size bed. If you measure, based on the dimensions in the product name, you might have known that. But I didn't measure. :P I wish they were wider / fit the bed (or even a pillow case) a little better, but the description is NOT misleading. - The pillows have an earthy (buckwheat) smell if you're really trying to smell the pillow; however I do not notice the smell at all while using the pillow (then again, I don't sleep face-down). - The pillow does not have a removable cover Any of the cons above can be overcome by purchasing another company's buckwheat pillow, but then you won't get the best price. Overall, I highly recommend this product for its comfort, if not for its sustainability and great price.

In search for a "Secret Santa" unisex gift for Christmas with a limit of $20, I wanted to be creative and stray away from the typical candles, throws (blankets), and the like. That's how I stumbled upon this item (a Sobakawa buckwheat pillow). I've actually been in search for a good pillow for myself for some time now because, on top of being a very light sleeper, I am not an "active" sleeper (sometimes, I rarely change positions when sleeping and sometimes I toss and turn, but all in all, I do not move around very often during the night), so I often wake up with a sore neck or not very well rested. I would also like to note that I have a history of chronic migraines, and pillow support is critical to comfort during the times I experience a migraine. There have also been times when I've woken up with migraines because of an unrestful sleep. Sometimes I need a lot of neck support, but I don't like it when my pillows are too soft. Like "Goldilocks and the Three Bears", I was in search for something not too soft, not too hard... but something that was "just right". Typical memory foam type pillows rarely work very well for me because, although they can conform to your shape, I often find that it is uncomfortable when I move around and the pillow needs to re-conform to my new position. Softer and fluffier pillows are usually a for sure "no-go" for me because it is almost a guarantee that I will wake up with achy neck and shoulders. The Good News: Upon receiving this pillow, I tried it that very night. I woke up the next morning with no complaints in terms of the firmness. It has been about 3 weeks now, and I use this pillow every night. I will likely not be going back to any of my other pillows, though I do have many other types of pillows on the bed (at least 4 kinds). I like that this pillow is stiff enough to support my neck, but also capable of conforming quickly whenever I move. I used to sleep with a very stiff pillow because it supported my neck and head nicely and was the only one that wouldn't make me wake up with an achy body, however, it is so stiff that during the nights when I rarely move, I would wake up with a sore neck. This pillow seems to be able to provide that "just right" type of support that I have been lacking in other pillows that I have tried. My Gripes: Since one was meant for a gift, I was a little disappointed that when I received the package, it did not have the Sobakawa box pictured for the item and I feel like it made it look a bit cheap when wrapping it as a present - but that has little to do with the actual pillow itself so, moving on... The four stars, instead of five, is that the pillow is rather small. It is the smallest of all the other pillows I have, for sure, but, it is big enough to still have just enough pillow left when I move from my left side to my right side (I am a side sleeper) but I am on the very edges of the pillow on either side. I think it would make an excellent travel pillow, but otherwise, its size makes finding a pillow case to protect this pillow rather difficult. I actually tried using one of the larger pillowcases I have and changing the direction of the way is supposed to be inserted so that it perfectly covered the length of each side of the pillow and just tucking in the excess fabric in the bottom side of the opening, however, I found that sleeping with the pillow like that changed the way the pillow supported me because it was TOO perfect making the pillow too snug inside the pillowcase and the conform-ability it used to have was non-existent. So, I removed the pillowcase but I'm uncomfortable with the vulnerability it has to oils (from hair or skin) and other dirt. And frankly, I simply prefer a larger size for my pillows. In response to the smell other people have complained about in their comments, I did notice a slight smell when I opened the package for the first time, but it was not so strong that I was unable to sleep, and after several days I don't smell anything at all. Another thing to note: I also purchased a pillow for my sister and she likes the pillow, but does not sleep with it. She doesn't notice an unpleasant smell from her pillow, however, she sleeps with her baby in between her and her husband and she has noticed that when she uses the pillow and she moves around too much, the baby wakes up because it makes a rustling noise. All in all, if I were in the market to purchase an additional pillow, I would likely purchase another buckwheat pillow from Sobakawa. I would recommend this pillow.

I used a buckwheat pillow about a month ago at a relative's house while on vacation. It's the first time I've ever used one, and I couldn't fathom how something so hard could actually be good for my head/neck. Well, boy was I wrong! It was the best sleep I've had in a long time. I have a neck/head injury and have not been able to find a pillow that is comfortable since surgery 2 years ago. The buckwheat one fit the bill. So when we arrived back home, I began my search for one here. This is the one I ended up ordering based on its reputation and the fact that they've been in business for a long time. I slept on it for the first time last night, and I wasn't disappointed. Just as good as the one I'd used at my relative's house. The pillow isn't as large as my queen sized regular one, but it was more than adequate for my head. I'm a side sleeper, and it offered great support for my head and neck while I was on my side. Today was the first time I've woken up without a stiff neck. I highly recommend this pillow. It doesn't have a smell to it except for a slight smell from the box it was shipped in. But that faded after a few hours of airing out. It also doesn't make a lot of noise if you move around on it, and I know some folks had expressed concern over that possibility. I'm a very light sleeper, and moving around on this pillow did not create enough noise to wake me. If you have cervical issues, I highly suggest this pillow. For the price, you can't go wrong.

After reading a lot of reviews I decide to purchase this pillow. It came on time and as stated by others it was just in a plastic bag with a paper saying it was an original Sobakawa buckwheat pillow, However I don't know if that is entirely true. This pillow has no zipper and when i bought mine so long ago it was in an original Sobakawa box and did have a zipper as I used to take the hulls and place them in bowls to air out. It was always a trick to get them back in due to static. This feels like my old pillow and for that I am satisfied with this purchase. My neck hurts on other pillows but this one keeps me cool and ache free. I sleep on an adjustable bed due to my husband's issues and this pillow is just perfect for that. Since we have to sleep a little elevated both head and feet this pillow is not too thick or too thin. I have had other pillows but they always feel like my head is pushed too far forward and I wake up with my neck aching and usually have a headache. I love this pillow and plan to order another just to take with me as I go see my family in another state. If you are looking for the original pillow in a box I really don't know where to get it if you want buckwheat hulls but this feels like my old one and I truly think anyone would probably love it too. Some have said it is too thin but I think it is just the right fullness and I have had nothing but great nights sleeping on it. I truly love this pillow. As they say "Try it You'll like it!"

I first discovered buckwheat pillows on a recent business trip to Japan. At first I was taken aback by the weight and 'forgiveness' of the pillow, but after sleeping on it a night or two I loved it. That is why I purchased this one. I got the large size because the one in Japan was so small. Under a different buckwheat hull pillow description it said it was small because you don't need a large one. I think that is probably true. But, I wanted a larger pillow to fit on my large bed. Another reviewer complained that their pillow didn't have enough filling. Mine was just right. You don't want it to be too full. There is plenty of filling in mine. I love the pillow. It is all I expected it to be. I seem to feel more rested in the mornings, but I have had it less than a week so maybe that isn't due to the pillow. The do take some getting used to, but just a couple of days. I don't think I have ever changed pillows without an adjustment period. The only reason I am giving 3 stars is because I expected a pillow case. The description said there was a protective pillow cover. I didn't get anything other than the pillow body that holds the buckwheat hulls.

I've been using a Sobakawa for almost 20 years. It solved every problem I ever had with mushy feather pillows or spongy synthetic pillows. The Sobakawa supports and molds to your head and neck at a natural angle. Your head doesn't sink too much into the pillow so that you end up breathing your exhaled air. There is no pillow enveloping your face or bending your neck. You are supported and there is less pressure on your shoulders if you sleep on your side. The support is just PERFECT. Your head will stay cool as the hulls do not trap heat. Every friend to whom I have recommended the pillow LOVED the support and feel but two complained about the noise. Funny, I have never noticed it. You may hear some shuffling of hulls as you adjust it but while you're sleeping, it is very quiet and peaceful. Another thing I love about this Sobakawa in particular is that the size is PERFECT. Most traditional pillows feel like a mini mattress under your head, but this pillow's size is just right. Not too big, not to small. If you are someone who has always had sleep problems, especially problems falling asleep, then TRY THIS PILLOW. It worked wonders for me. I'm a normal sleeper now. The only problem is when I go away for the weekend and forget to bring my Sobakawa!

Tiny. Many will find it too small for everyday. Shorter and narrower than standard, folding a standard case inward won't make it fit snugly. You'll have to order one made for it or sew your own. Despite its diminutive size, it's a great pillow. It sleeps cool, remarkably so. I've used a heating pad on high, placed directly on top of it to soothe sore neck muscles. Left undisturbed, it returns to room temperature in minutes. With a gentle shake, it's cool almost instantly. Speaking of sore muscles, this pillow works better to align my spine and properly support my neck than any other pillow I've tried and I've tried at least a couple dozen. I use on top of another pillow for optimal side sleeping support. I fall asleep easier and wake up with less pain. It's easily customizable. For me, that means pressing with a closed fist to create a dip in the center that my head fits neatly into, creating a cradling effect. It stays in shape nicely with little or no adjusting through the night. The stitching is fine and I noticed no odors or quality issues. This is my unsolicited opinion. I paid full price for this pillow and I'd buy it again, even if I had to pay more. My only complaint is its dimensions. If it would fit into a standard case, even one adjusted for length, I'd give it 5 stars.