This Is Japan
Explore everyday life in Japan
Yes, it is true, many toilets in Japan have heated seats.
They are wonderful, especially in the winter. And yes, many toilets in Japan have a control panel next to the toilet seat which gives users a variety of options, from washing with a bidet to turning on background noise so that other people in the bathroom can’t hear you as you do your business.
While these toilets are great, the really nice thing about Japanese restrooms is that they are designed for both privacy and for people who are carrying things—bags, purses, umbrellas, children, etc.
Since living in Japan, the image I have of public restrooms in the United States—fallen pants gathered around the ankles of strangers sitting in a line with their shins partially exposed to anyone else using the restroom—has become really disgusting to me. Perhaps the restroom situation in schools, restaurants, stadiums, and other places has changed somewhat in the eight years I’ve been away, but I think partial doors are still the norm in U.S. restrooms.
In contrast, the toilet stall in Japan is sealed off from the rest of the bathroom by tall doors that extend all the way down to the floor. They offer complete privacy to the user, and provide a slight degree of protection from unruly sights, sounds, and smells to the other people using the restroom.
In other words, it seems to me that many of the restrooms in Japan have been designed with care.
They take one’s privacy into account and they also anticipate a variety of everyday life situations. For example, for shoppers or travelers, there are hooks on the back of doors where belongings can be hung. Shoppers or travelers in Japan, for the most part, don't have to worry about balancing their possessions on their laps while they go to the bathroom, and they don't have to think about whether it's sanitary or not to place their things on the floor.
For mothers and fathers of young children, there is often one stall in a restroom that has a small child seat mounted to its wall where a child can safely be strapped in while one alleviates oneself. There are also tend to be narrow shelves above urinals in men’s rooms where smaller items such as water bottles, etc. can be placed without having to worry about what they are coming into contact with.
All in all, the public restroom experience in Japan is very comfortable and non-threatening.
That said, there are still a number of older toilets left around the country.
These toilets, like toilets I have seen in a few other countries around the world, are essentially holes in the ground that you squat over. For people not accustomed to this kind of toilet, using one can be a little challenging. Just know that you aren’t supposed to face the door when using this kind of toilet, and remember that the piping in front of you can be used to help you keep your balance.
If you are planning to do any traveling this time of year, may you have safe and happy travels. May you also find restrooms as clean and pleasant as many of the ones you would find if you were coming to Japan.
This is an ongoing series that will explore various aspects of daily life in Japan. My hope is that this series will not only reveal to its followers, image by image, what Japan looks like, but that it will also inform its followers about unique Japanese items and various cultural and societal practices. If you are interested in getting regular updates about life in Japan, please consider following me at @boxcarblue. If you have any questions about life in Japan, please don’t hesitate to ask. I will do my best to answer all of your questions.
Great post, featuring this in "Today in the Spotlight"! I'll always remember the first time I used one of them old style toilets for the first time!
Thanks for putting me in the spotlight!
Those toilets are definitely a little intimidating the first time around. The port-o-potties are too:)
How elaborate! Awesome
Thanks:)
The US is a place of capitalism, and that imho includes the toilets.
There is only what is strictly necessary so to not waste money and of course nothing that would make people be there longer then as fast as possible.
After all, McD made seats that get uncomfortable after a certain time to "nudge" people to make place for new ones.
I would think that capitalism would also provide incentive for creating a better toilet experience. Better products often lead to increased demand, but the bottom line and customer turnover to play a big role in business decisions.
I'm only guessing here, but I think the full-length doors on the stalls in Japan, which I think is their best part, were developed to close off the hole-in-the-floor toilets. If those toilets had half-doors, everybody would see you doing your business. If I'm right, using the full-length doors on the newer toilets is just a practice that has been carried over out of habit and custom.
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