This is seen in a lot of films and cartoons but not so much Japan, as western culture groans in Japan you will see less and less of traditional Japan. Anyone who wants to experience the more traditional Japanese room is better of staying at a small family run b&b or ryokan (traditional Japanese inn)
The tatami is a woven rectangular mat and is amazing to walk on, it's warm and more bouncy then you would expect, it's quite the feeling you wont forget. It's not quite like walking on a carpet but not like hardwood floor either. I had the chance to walk on one during a tea ceremony.
Although they are not seen much anymore they are still quite popular for smaller houses where sone people still sleep on futons which are folded and put away each day to save space. Again you are not likely to see this is most Japanese households as the western style bed is most popular. If you want to sleep on a futon, go to a ryokan.
Ryokans are usually small family run guest houses, there will be paper Walls and sliding doors wooden floors and tatami mats, low down tables and futons. Most food will be homecooked and traditional too. If you are really interested in this for a holiday I reccomend emerald tours www.etoursjapan.co.uk (no I don't work for them but I'm pretty sure they can set you up in a ryokan and give you some amazing tours of Japan)
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