I recently bought another futon in a shop nearby. Futons are not really heavy, but quite bulky, even though they are usually transported folded into thirds. For some reason, the package did not have a handle, which makes carrying a futon, even over a short distance, a bit cumbersome.
However, the Japanese have a solution for this: plastic strap-on handles (for want of a better word). Essentially you wrap some string around your package and then hook in the handles. It’s harder to describe than it actually is, just have a look at the picture.
This makes carrying a large bundle like my futon comparatively easy. I have also seen those handles used with normal cartons, as long as they are not too heavy. Isn’t this a very neat, simple and practical solution – quite Japanese in fact!