The Toilet Post

I can't possibly write about Japan without writing about their toilets.

I am almost always amused, befuddled, or horrified at the state of the toilet situation in other countries. In much of Europe you have to provide your own toilet paper and pay (the highest rate I have seen was at the Zoo u-bahn station in Berlin: 1.50 Euro). In Eastern Europe and Turkey, you often have to pay to use a hole-in-the-ground style of toilet. In the UK, you can find free toilets, but they aren't easy to find. In Central America, you can't find toilets.

In Japan, however, toilets are plentiful, equipped with toilet paper, and free. Many have the added bonus of having bidet, sound, and warming features. I have never encountered such a pleasurable toilet situation while traveling. If anything, the Japanese go overboard! More than once, I walked into a public restroom to discover a toilet with some of those bonus features.

Public toilet in Kyoto complete with bonus features.

However, just as often, I found Japanese style toilets (hole in the ground). I never did understand why the toilet dichotomy existed: the hole in the ground on one side and the ultra fancy gadget toilet on the other.

Indeed, there were directions in this public restroom in Osaka.  But if you are 

used to Eastern toilets, it makes sense that you would need directions. 

Additionally, I think planning of bathrooms for family use is a great idea. Most women's bathrooms had a low urinal and a couple, as in the photo below, featured a second toilet (or a cover for the regular toilet to create one sized for a child).

I couldn't not take a photo of the mini toilet! It was just too funny.

Thus ends the toilet commentary.