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I moved to Japan from North Carolina with my husband and our young daughter in the spring of 2022. My husband is in the US military and this has been his first overseas assignment.
Upon our arrival, we were amazed by how Japan did many things differently here compared with the US, but to my surprise, one of the biggest culture shocks I had was the impressive public restrooms.
One of the most immediately noticeable aspects of Japanese public restrooms is their incredible cleanliness. Facilities are checked and cleaned throughout the day, ensuring that they remain in pristine condition.
However, cleanliness isn't just attributed to custodial or janitorial efforts. In Japan, the cultural significance of cleanliness is deeply rooted in social norms, where taking care of communal spaces is viewed as a responsibility that everyone shares.
In fact, children in school are responsible for cleaning rooms and buildings, mopping floors, and scrubbing toilets. Being clean and considerate of public spaces is instilled at a very young age, and it shows in every aspect of life in Japan, not just public restrooms. In Japan, you also won't find paper seat covers; instead, in each stall, there is a sanitizer dispenser intended to clean surfaces before use.
Japanese public restrooms are known for their high-tech toilets, often outfitted with features that enhance both comfort and hygiene. I'm not sure how they do it, but the technology to mask any restroom smell is beyond. Aside from deodorizers, these toilet functions include heated seats, adjustable bidet functions, and air dryers. Some restrooms offer buttons that activate soothing sounds or music to maintain privacy.
These tech-savvy features can be confusing for first-time users, as I once was. Luckily, multilingual instructions are increasingly common, catering to the needs of tourists and non-Japanese speakers. And if all else fails, I've pulled out my trusty Google Translator app to figure out how to flush a toilet or two.
As a parent, one of my favorite things about living in Japan is the accommodations for children, which also extend to public restrooms. It's not uncommon to find entire designated restrooms for children equipped with child-sized toilets, sinks, and hand dryers.
If you can't find these designated restrooms, you're more than likely to find sinks or urinals for children inside regular public restrooms.
For adults needing to use the restrooms accompanied by small children, inside the stalls are small chairs that fold down to assist with a safer and cleaner spot for them. Some family-oriented establishments will also provide a children's toilet topper seat, which comes in handy when smaller children don't quite fit on a regular-sized toilet seat safely.
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the need for inclusive facilities in public restrooms across Japan. Many locations now offer gender-neutral restrooms or family restrooms that provide more space and privacy for parents with children or caregivers. These family-friendly options are often equipped with baby-changing stations, grab bars, and other accessories for those with varying needs.
Baby rooms are also typically found next to the restrooms, in these gender-neutral rooms are comfortable padded changing tables, special garbage cans for soiled diapers, a sink, hot water dispenser for baby formula or for heating up bottles, and private rooms for nursing mothers.
Efforts to enhance accessibility have also led to the installation of restrooms designed to accommodate individuals with disabilities. These private restrooms typically feature wider stalls, handrails, and low sinks to ensure that everyone can use the services available comfortably.
It wasn't until moving to Japan that I saw my first adult-sized changing table, a feature I'm sure many caregivers appreciate.
