14 Reasons Why Foreigners Fall in Love with “Japanese Toilets” Like Bidet Toilets and Sound Princesses

Travel Center / General Report

Bidet toilets that are warm to the touch, sound princesses that play delightful melodies — Japan’s “toilet culture” has not only been widely emulated by other Asian countries but also deeply moved most European and American tourists. MADAMERIRI, a Japanese website《MADAMERIRI》, has compiled 14 reasons why foreign visitors fall in love with Japanese toilets. Let’s take a look at what they are.

1. Free

What is taken for granted in most Asian countries is surprisingly touching to European and American travelers. In many parts of Europe and America, using the toilet often comes at a cost — especially in tourist-heavy spots like Venice, where it can cost around 1 euro (approximately 40 New Taiwan Dollars) per use. So being able to use a free toilet is a fantastic experience for them.

▲ Nowadays, many large department stores in Japan have children’s toilets designed to match kids’ heights. (Image / from theNAMBA PARKS official website)

2. Children’s Toilets

The thoughtfulness of the Japanese is evident everywhere, and this is also reflected in their toilet culture. In many large department stores and shopping centers across Japan, there are specially designed children’s toilets that match the height of young kids — something even rare in other Asian countries.

3. Sound Princess

Many women may have had this experience: whether it’s their own or someone else’s, the sound of using the toilet echoing through not-so-soundproof stalls can be quite embarrassing. Using the sound effects provided by the sound princess helps avoid such awkwardness and also saves water — making it a favorite among women. A Russian female tourist in her mid-twenties said, “The existence of the sound princess is both surprising and touching!”

4. Huh? It talked?

“This is an auto-flush toilet.” Upon entering the restroom, you might be startled by such a voice prompt — looking around wondering who’s talking to you. Interestingly, the same message is also available in English. Isn’t that fun?

▲ Toilet paper in Japan is soft and can be directly flushed down the toilet. (Illustration / from Wikipedia)

5. Toilet Paper

Toilet paper that surprises foreign visitors? It turns out it’s because the toilet paper in Japanese restrooms is so soft and comfortable to use that many tourists never want to use any other kind after trying it.

6. Flushing Toilet Paper Is Okay

Many frequent travelers to Japan know that the toilet paper there is made of materials that dissolve easily in water, so it’s perfectly safe to flush it down the toilet without worrying about clogging the pipes. Trash bins in restrooms are reserved for items that can’t be flushed, such as sanitary pads.

7. Offering “Sit-down Toilets”

Japanese toilets generally offer sit-down toilets, which many European and American travelers really appreciate. In early European women’s restrooms, for instance, sit-down toilets were often unavailable — some say it was because they were afraid the toilets would be stolen, so they weren’t installed.

8. Bidet Toilets

Bidet toilets, which have become an integral part of life for the Japanese, are so thoughtfully designed that many tourists visiting Japan wish they could take one home.

▲ Many toilets in Japan are equipped with baby chairs and diaper-changing stations, making life much easier for moms. (Illustration / from Wikipedia)

9. Baby Chairs

Another example of Japanese thoughtfulness is the presence of baby chairs in restrooms. Moms can place their little ones on these chairs before using the toilet with peace of mind, without having to worry about their child’s safety — a thoughtful design not commonly seen elsewhere.

10. Toilet Decorations

Though not commonly found in public restrooms, these are quite popular in Japanese homes. Cute toilet seat covers, rugs, and special toilet slippers are used to decorate bathrooms. Doesn’t adding these little touches make using the toilet a bit more fun?

11. Emergency Button

In public restrooms in Japan, every stall is equipped with an emergency button. While it's not a particularly rare device, having one in every single stall is quite uncommon, isn't it? The reason behind this is Japan’s gradual shift towards an aging society and increasing emphasis on barrier-free spaces. In case of any emergency, you can simply press the nearby emergency button for help. Isn’t that a thoughtful feature?

12. So~ Warm !

Especially in winter, the warm toilet seat instantly warms you up from below, driving away the chill and touching the hearts of travelers from abroad.

13. Changing Table

A design that has become increasingly common in Japanese restrooms lately. By simply pulling down the board leaning against the wall, it’s ready to use. It’s not only convenient for moms changing their children’s clothes but adults can easily use it as well.

14. Just Super Clean Overall

Japanese restrooms that are always kept clean allow many people to use them without any worry about unhygienic conditions.