TheManInJapan

Ok, so this kindof an awkward topic, but I realized that anyone who comes to Japan will have to deal with this sooner or later, and it’s probably better to find out sooner.

The Toilet

Toilets can be kindof weird around here.

I mean first there’s the perfectly normal variety:

Perfectly normal

The only difference is the flusher on the side can twist in two different ways, depending on whether you want a big flush or a small one.

Flusher thing

Then there are the robo-toilets

Robo-toilet! (sorta)

This is a fairly basic model. It comes with a heated seat, a power deoderizer, and an ajustable stream of water for…cleaning yourself.

The control panel

Let me point out that this isn’t some sort of hypermodern facility here. Here’s the door to the bathroom:

As you can see, it’s a fairly old building. But apparently they felt it necessary to buy robo-toilets.

I’ve heard that the really advanced toilets can play music, listen to the radio, and do all kinds of other things.

Here’s the control panel of a different robo-toilet someone found in a McDonald’s:

Fancy

On the other side of the techno-scale, we have the traditional squat toilet:

Ok….so, the idea behind this design is that it’s awkward and/or unhygienic to put your butt in a place where someone else’s butt has been previously. Unfortunately the only way to resolve this problem is to use a toilet where your butt touches nothing at all. You’re supposed to squat midair to do your business. (By the way, there’s some evidence that squat-style toilets are better for your health)

I’m pretty sure that even the Japanese prefer the western-style toilets, though. I’ve seen natives in line at a public restroom, waiting for the western-style toilets even though the squat toilets were freely available.

The Sink

Depending on where you are, you may notice a total lack of towels or air dryers.

How do I dry my hands?

The idea is that everyone already has a handkerchief or some tissues with them, so they can dry their own hands. (Companies will hand out free packets of tissues on the street sometimes, together with an ad for the company.)

Guy handing out free tissues

Pack of free tissues

You might also notice a TOTAL LACK OF SOAP.

No Soap!

Some places provide soap, some don’t. The other day I went to three public bathrooms in a row without soap of any kind, so this is apparently more than a fluke. I wondered if maybe people brought soap around with them the same way they bring handkerchiefs. But no, when I hung around to watch people, I saw them washing their hands with nothing but water.

I don’t get it. Japan is known for its cleanliness (and it is clean) and its hygiene-ism (on any random day you’ll spot at least a few people wearing surgical masks, even though there aren’t any plagues going around).

A country so hygienic, some people wear surgical masks just because they can

So why isn’t soap considered a bathroom necessity? I’m confused.