By Wonsuh Song
After more than two decades in Japan, two things have stood out to me in daily life: the food, and the toilets. While food preferences are deeply personal, the experience of using a public restroom is nearly universal—and in Japan, it’s often unexpectedly impressive.
One of the most striking aspects of Japanese restrooms is how clean and functional they are—even in places like train stations, public buildings, or inside trains themselves. This isn’t something to be taken for granted globally.
I once took a commuter train in the United States and found that there was no restroom available for passengers. When I asked, a staff member pulled out a special key and guided me to a locked staff restroom. That moment made me realize how accustomed I had become to the open accessibility of public toilets in Japan.
Of course, there’s also the famous heated seats and bidet systems that have become almost standard in Japan. These conveniences might be taken for granted here, but once you experience a cold toilet seat in a public restroom abroad—especially in winter—you quickly appreciate the difference.
But what left the strongest impression on me was a specific feature in women’s restrooms: the sanitary disposal bin. This is not your average trash can. It opens automatically when you wave your hand, and once you place an item inside, it disappears into an inner chamber, completely concealed. Even the user doesn’t see other people’s waste. It’s a small detail—but it reflects a level of psychological and hygienic care that’s rare anywhere else in the world.
Other thoughtful features include footrests for changing stockings, small chairs for seating babies while using the restroom, sound machines for privacy, and hooks for bags.
Restrooms are not just about hygiene—they are a mirror of how a society treats daily life and public dignity. Japan’s restrooms offer a compelling case for how even the most mundane spaces can be deeply human-centered.
If you ever visit Japan, I encourage you to look beyond the tourist spots and pay attention to something as ordinary as the restroom. Sometimes, quiet amazement is waiting behind the most unexpected doors.
Wonsuh Song (Ph.D.)
Full-time Lecturer, Shumei University / NKNGO Forum Representative
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