How to Find and Use Accessible Bathroom in Japan

Japanese toilets have many functions. However, instructions of toilets are mainly Japanese, so many tourists are confused in the washrooms; they do not have any ideas how to use the washrooms.  It is better for you to know what the functions of toilets are previously. It could help you a lot.

 

Multipurpose Bathroom/ Accessible Bathroom

Multipurpose bathroom/accessible bathroom, universal design bathroom, are installed in the big stations or the stores. Most of the time, the green door of the bathroom has a drawing of a wheelchair, and the bathroom can be seen between the female and male bathroom. That bathroom is big enough for wheelchair users to use.

door for the bathroom

 

The way of using bathroom: Enter

When you open the door of the multipurpose bathroom/ accessible bathroom, you need to push the button next to the entrance, yet instruction is mainly written in Japanese. Please REMEMBER Japanese instruction or note the below instruction anywhere to bring it to Japan

 

Open 

Close 

使用中=Occupied

button for bathroom

The way of using bathroom:  Flush water

Japanese bathroom has considerable functions.  Thus, I will tell you about the basic way of using bathroom in Japan.

 

Unfortunately, there are three kinds of way to flush a toilet.

1 Turn a lever

2 Push a button

3 Place a hand over a black window

 

1 Turn a lever

As you know, it is the original way of flushing a toilet. In Japan, allows are drawn on the lever. Turn the lever in the either direction.

As you can see, there are two directions on the lever: 大 (Dai) or 小 (Syo)

大(Dai) means stool. You can flush the stool.

小(Syo) means urine. You can flush the urine.

The amount of water flushed is deferent depending on 大 or 小. 大 is for flushing stool, therefore the amount of flushing water is larger than that of 小.

 

how to use lever in bathroom

2 Push a button

Push the button shown in the picture below in order to flush a toilet.

There are two buttons to flush the toilet: 大(Dai) and 小(Sho)

大(Dai) means stool. You can flush the stool.

小(Syo) means urine. You can flush the urine.

The amount of water flushed is deferent depending on 大 or 小. 大 is for flushing a stool, therefore the amount of flushing water is larger than that of 小.

※”流” means flushing and flowing.

button in bathroom

3 Place a hand over a black window.

If you find the mark of a palm and/or black window, place your hand over the black window for a few seconds. You can flush a toilet. You cannot flush a toilet by pushing the black window.

Black window to flow toilet

NOTE

In the bathroom, there is another similar button. We call the button Otohime (音姫;sound princes.) As you push the button, the sound of flushing a toilet will start playing, yet water will not flush in the toilet.

Japanese are embarrassed to make sounds while excreting, so we just play the sound of flushing a toilet so as to hide the sounds when we make while are excreting.

Be careful not make a mistake to push the button.

Surprisingly, the main button to flush a toilet is smaller than the button to play sounds.

button and otohime

Otihime type 1

 

Otohime with black window

 

 

Otohime type 2

Otohime with button

 

Other functions

These are the other functions below.

※If you use bidet, remember the button “止.” “止”means stop. Unless you remember “止”, the water would run forever.

Type 1

details of button in bathroom

Type 2

details of button in bathroom 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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One response to “How to Find and Use Accessible Bathroom in Japan”

  1. […] As for the way of using the bathroom, please refer to Bathrooms in Japan. […]

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