Japan's public restrooms are clean enough to eat from and more technologically sophisticated than some people's home appliances. The famous TOTO Washlet — a heated toilet seat with integrated bidet, dryer, deodorizer, and sometimes ambient music — has been standard in Japanese homes and hotels since the 1980s and may be the single piece of technology that most surprises foreign visitors.
The Washlet Controls
The control panel varies by model and manufacturer, but common buttons include: おしり (oshiri) — rear wash (bidet spray, back); ビデ (bide) — front wash (gentler spray, forward); 乾燥 (kansou) — drying function (warm air); 流す (nagasu) — flush; 音楽 (ongaku) or 音 (oto) — toilet sound/music (plays ambient sounds to mask toilet sounds, activated by pressing the button before use). Water pressure and temperature are adjustable with + and - buttons. The stop button (止 — tome) stops the spray.
Squat Toilets
Older buildings, some rural areas, and many train station restrooms still have squat toilets (和式 — washiki). Face the hood (the elevated front end), squat low with feet flat on the footpads, and lean slightly forward. They're hygienic (no body contact with surfaces) and easier on the knees than low Western toilets for many people. JR train stations now have mostly Western-style toilets in accessible locations.
Public Restroom Culture
Japan's public restrooms are extraordinary — department stores, convenience stores, train stations, and most tourist sites maintain clean, well-stocked facilities. Free toilet paper is universal; carrying your own is rarely necessary. Handwashing facilities are excellent. Convenience store restrooms are reliable, open 24 hours, and immaculately maintained — locals use them freely and visitors should feel entirely comfortable doing the same.
Restroom Etiquette
Remove shoes when entering a traditional Japanese home — the toilet room has separate slippers in many older houses. Don't flush wet wipes or anything other than toilet paper — Japanese plumbing is sophisticated but not designed for foreign objects. Most Japanese toilets have very effective water-efficient flushing (dual-flush is common) — the larger button is for solid waste, the smaller for liquids. Some older systems still have separate controls marked 大 (dai — large flush) and 小 (shou — small flush).
