Huge cultural differences！These things about Taiwan's public restrooms left a Japanese mom stunned

Toilet habits vary from country to country. What exactly are the differences between Taiwan’s public restroom customs and those of other countries? What aspects are most uncomfortable for foreigners? A Japanese artist who has lived in Taiwan for 20 years, Komako Otsuka, revealed that there are four things about Taiwan’s public restrooms that surprised her the most: not flushing toilet paper, lack of provided toilet paper, rarely having disinfectant liquid available, and issues related to toilet cleaning education.

Speaking about the differences in toilet culture and environment between Taiwan and Japan, Komako Otsuka told the United Daily News that the thing that initially surprised her the most was that toilet paper in Taiwan is not flushed down the toilet. This not only creates unpleasant odors but also attracts many mosquitoes and flies. Another surprise was the lack of provided toilet paper — in Japan, public restrooms always have toilet paper available for use, and there’s no worry about it being stolen.

In addition, what Komako Otsuka found hard to adapt to were the scarcity of disinfectant liquid and the lack of education on toilet cleaning. She said that some Taiwanese people strongly resist sitting on toilet seats used by others, but in Japan, public restrooms often have disinfectant liquid available so users can wipe the seat before sitting, eliminating such concerns.

Furthermore, regarding toilet culture education, in Japan children are taught from a young age to scrub toilets and floors to cultivate a sense of civic responsibility. However, many parents in Taiwan are concerned that cleaning agents may harm their children’s hands, and thus do not let them learn how to clean restrooms.