Where to Find Public Bathrooms in Japan?

Today we’re talking about where to find public bathrooms in Japan. This is just one more reason to love Japan, because there are public bathrooms almost everywhere. They’re easy to find and usually pretty clean. So, let’s dive into everything that you need to know about public toilets in Japan.

Styles of Toilets

Japan is renowned for its advanced toilet technology. Toilets often cater to comfort, hygiene, and convenience. There are two main types of toilets in Japan: the Western style and Japanese style.

Western Style

The western style is just your normal sit-down toilet like we have in the US.

Western-Style Toilet in Japan

Japanese Style

The Japanese style is a squat toilet and is considered more hygienic because you don’t actually touch anything.

Japanese-Style Toilet

Nowadays, many Japanese-style toilets have been converted to Western-style toilets. This change happened largely due to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Now, most public restrooms feature Western-style stalls, with just a few Japanese-style toilets remaining.

Where to Find Toilets

Stations

Train and subway stations are great places to find restrooms. Bigger stations can often be surprising with their cleanliness. Older ones? It’s a gamble, and you might run into those traditional Japanese-style toilets.

Many Tokyo train stations have upgraded their restrooms since 2020. They’re generally quite nice now. It’s important to point out that sometimes the public bathrooms are past the ticket gate, so you’ll need to enter the station in order to use them.

Trains

Long-distance trains regularly have bathrooms. Express trains and the Shinkansen, especially the newer ones, have top-notch facilities. To find them, check the back of your tray table for a map showing bathroom locations in each car. If you can’t find it, just ask a train employee for directions.

Shinkansen Bathroom

Express train bathrooms might show their age, and as the day progresses, they can get a bit smelly. But even then, these older train bathrooms are often more pleasant than a tailgate porta-potty.

Train Map on Back of Shinkansen Tray Table

Keep in mind that not all trains have bathrooms. Local trains and subways usually don’t, and some semi-express trains might not either. It’s not a sure thing. But the Shinkansen and many newer express trains do have bathrooms.

Parks

Japan’s parks are everywhere, and most have public bathrooms. Some are quite nice, while others might not be as pleasant. Still, they’re handy when you need them.

In Tokyo’s Shibuya district, the Tokyo Toilet Project has introduced 17 new public toilets. These aren’t ordinary restrooms, though. They were designed by world-famous architects. The film Perfect Days even features some of these unique bathrooms. They’re so notable that there are actual guided tours that will take you to see them.

Convenience Stores

Convenience stores are also a great place to find a bathroom.

These aren’t public bathrooms, because they’re for customers. You’ll usually find them at the back of the convenience store. Look for a small hallway with a sink, and the bathroom will be next to it.

Family Mart Sign Advertising That They Have a Bathroom

These bathrooms are surprisingly clean most of the time. In busy areas, though, access might be restricted.

Fast Food Restaurants

Fast food restaurants are also a great option. Again, not public, but they are available to customers. All you really need to do is buy something simple, like a Coke or a small snack. This will grant you access to the bathroom.

These bathrooms are often surprisingly clean.

Department Stores

Department store bathrooms are almost always very clean, unless it’s the first floor of a busy shopping area.

Keep in mind that sometimes the men’s and the women’s restrooms are on different floors, so they might be staggered.

Hotels

Hotels, especially the big international chains, are spotless. Their large lobbies usually have an area for restrooms.

Marriot Lobby in Nagoya, Japan

Smaller hotels might have a smaller lobby, and the restrooms might be reserved only for the staying guests.

Amenities at Public Toilets

Automatic Bidet Systems

You’ll find bidet systems in nearly every public bathroom in Japan. I recommend giving it a try!

Many bidet seats are heated. They include a shower function and sometimes even a dryer. Some even have automatic lids that open as you approach, so there’s no need to touch anything.

Noise Machines

Public bathrooms often come with noise machines. They’re used to cover up sounds from your stall. This saves water because people used to flush non-stop just to make noise.

Noise Button in Public Bathrooms in Japan

Dual Flush

Toilets in Japan frequently have two flush options, big and small. They use symbols for big (大) and small (小). This is done for eco-friendly reasons to save water with the small flush option.

The Two Flush Options on Toilets in Japan

Toilet Paper

Toilet paper’s everywhere now, which is a relief. I haven’t seen a restroom without it in years. Be sure to flush it, and don’t toss it in the wastebasket by the toilet.

Soap

Soap in bathrooms is more common now, but still, only about half have it. You’ll often find yourself washing your hands only to discover there’s no soap available.

Hand Dryers

Finding paper towels is rare. They’re uncommon, which is good for the environment but bad for drying your hands. Hand dryers are more common now but still hit-or-miss. Sometimes they’re there, and sometimes they’re not.

Hand Dryers in Japanese Public Bathrooms in Japan

What to Bring

Hand Towel

Since there aren’t many paper towels or hand dryers in bathrooms, most people carry a personal hand towel. It’s especially handy on bullet trains and express trains, where you’ll find nothing to dry your hands with.

Example of a Personal Hand Towel in Japan

You can easily pick one up when you get to Japan. You can buy them at pretty much any convenience store or drugstore.

Hand Sanitizer

Alcohol or hand sanitizer is essential, since many bathrooms lack soap to wash your hands.

Final Thoughts

That’s everything you need to know about bathrooms in Japan.

Just remember to keep the public bathrooms in Japan clean as a courtesy to the next user. And remember that Japan is all about consideration for others, and this extends to bathroom behavior.