This is because there was relatively little furniture to sit on or sleep on in traditional Japanese dwellings from ancient times to the present. In the absence of chairs or beds, the Japanese sat and slept on the floor. Even today, many people in Japan will still be sleeping on the floor when they go to bed. The typical Japanese table is called a tatami matsukake meaning "floored while eating". These are large flat surfaces of woven rice straw that cover the entire floor of a room. At one time, these were also used as blankets at night but now most often serve as a dining surface. The tatami mat is kept in each room for this purpose and is changed whenever it becomes worn out or stains come out when washed. There are two main types of Japanese tables: one with legs to raise them off the ground and another without legs which can be laid on its side. Only the latter type can be laid across both tatami mats. These tables are very low to avoid getting your shoes dirty or leaving footprints on the floor. This is particularly important for guests to leave a good impression on their visitors! In modern homes, restaurants, and hotels, wooden tables are usually hung on stands to save space.