As an expat in Japan, you get to enjoy one of its major assets: you guessed it, the toilets! Japan’s toilets are renowned for their cleanliness, comfort, and smart design. If you have just arrived in the country, however, a couple of things may come as a surprise. Read on for an introduction to Japanese toilets, including how to maintain your very own “washlet” toilet.
Public washrooms in Japan may have two types of toilets: Western-style and Japanese-style.
Western-style toilets in Japan can come with some incredible functions, including lids that open automatically, recordings of music or the sound of rushing water that can be played for added privacy, bidet shower directed to the front or back, deodorizing filters, automatic flushing, and more!
Toilets in modern buildings usually include bilingual guidance, but plenty still have only Japanese instructions, which often catches non-Japanese speakers off guard. Mistakenly activating the bidet shower for the front when you intended the one for the back, mistaking the bidet button for the flush button and sending jets of water skyward . . . well, these are all part of the rite of passage in the world of Japanese toilets.
Still, to prevent such blunders, English descriptions are being added to more and more toilets, so you can hope to avoid an incident of your own.
Japanese-style toilets are gradually becoming obsolete; however, they can still be found in public facilities in parks or old buildings. These old-school toilets are similar to squat toilets in Europe, the Middle East, or South America and are in stark contrast to their technologically advanced Western cousins.
Japanese people, especially the young, voice a strong preference for the Western-style toilet, and although the squat toilet has some acknowledged health benefits, it will likely soon become a relic of the past. Most traditional Japanese inns, buildings, and even temples have long abandoned squat toilets, so you might find them only in older Japanese homes and public restrooms.
Twenty years ago you might have dreaded encountering a Japanese-style toilet, but now you can calmly view it as a novelty!
The amazing variety of functions on public Western-style toilets sets a high bar for toilets in the Japanese home. Some homes have simple toilets like those in the West, with no buttons or fancy gizmos. However, the majority of houses and apartments come with washlet toilets, which include heated seats and bidet functions.
At home, you can tweak the temperature of the seat and water to your preference, and turn on the eco-function to save energy.
At home, Japanese people place designated “toilet slippers” just inside the door of the toilet room. It is considered good manners to remove your room slippers outside the door and wear the toilet slippers while using the toilet. This practice may at first feel strange, but you might want to get used to it at home since many Japanese restaurants and hotels observe this custom. Also, Japanese guests in your home will appreciate this small hospitable gesture.
Some washlet toilets have deodorizing filters that need to be cleaned or changed regularly to prevent odors and the buildup of germs. The bidet shower wand should also be sanitized frequently to keep your toilet in tip-top shape.
Cleanliness is extremely important in Japan, and not just for the sake of appearance. The hot and humid climate can cause mold to grow and insects to enter living spaces, so maintaining hygiene in spaces like the toilet room is a top priority.
Kurashinity housekeepers can help keep your toilet sparkling clean and germ-free. Our English-speaking housekeeping staff are trained in Japanese hospitality, meaning they are versed in Japanese washlet toilets and know how to clean them, and the rest of your home too!
Originally from the United Kingdom, Jessica is a writer and translator now living happily by the sea just south of Tokyo in Kamakura, Japan.
