{"id":183,"date":"2011-07-14T21:56:00","date_gmt":"2011-07-14T21:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypoppet.com.au\/?p=183"},"modified":"2013-10-13T21:15:38","modified_gmt":"2013-10-13T10:15:38","slug":"otearai-wa-doko-desu-ka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mypoppet.com.au\/makes\/otearai-wa-doko-desu-ka\/","title":{"rendered":"Otearai wa doko desu ka? A guide to Japanese Toilets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whilst Pilgrim with her designer’s eyes was absorbing all the <\/span>colours and patterns in Japan<\/a>, I was a little bit fascinated by Japanese bathrooms. You see the combination of heat, lots of fluid and the fact that I have the bladder which is the size of a pea, meant that I spent quite a lot of my trip visiting the lavatory. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here are the things that impressed me\/amused me most about toilets in Japan <\/span>(some handy hints in here too)<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

-Most public toilets are very clean but don’t always have toilet paper. They are nice enough to tell you that on a sign when you walk in, except I usually read it on the way out. <\/span>Hint: Keep a small pack of tissues in your handbag, there are often people handing out promotional packs at train stations.<\/span>\"\"<\/a>-Most Western style toilets (even in public places) are super fancy with seat warming functions and warm water jets. Why you would use the bidet function at a cafe or department store baffles me, but each to their own. Warm seats feel a bit weird, like you have followed someone that has been sitting there for a while, eew! <\/span>Hint: Best not to fiddle with the knobs unless you want to be surprised.<\/span><\/p>\n

-Parents are catered for quite well, I saw a few family toilets, but most cubicles had these toddler seats in them, and a lot of ladies toilets have mini urinals for boys to use. It took me a while to work out what the urinals were for until I saw a little boy using it.<\/span><\/p>\n

-Most toilets are self flushing or have a swipe sensor rather than a button. You get so used to the automatic flush that it’s almost annoying when you actually have to find a button to press.<\/span><\/p>\n

-Many toilets have a fake flushing sound button to mask your tinkle. Some will run water as soon as you sit down to mask your tinkle, it sounds like you’re having a giant tinkle – it’s a bit odd, I was bemused and amused.<\/span>
\n\"\"<\/a>-About half of the toilets in a block are usually Japanese style (squatting), they are easier to use than you may think. Most bathrooms have a map when you walk in to identify which cubical is which, handy! <\/span>Hint: Japanese squat toilets are more likely to be vacant, which means less waiting.<\/span><\/p>\n

-Most public toilets do not provide soap hand towels or hand dryers. Those that did have hand dryers had them switched off to conserve power. It’s customary to carry a small hand towel (like a face washer) in one’s bag for drying your hands. <\/span>Hint: Buy some pretty hand towels as souvenirs, they are sold everywhere, the designs are super cute and they are quite inexpensive. <\/span>\"\"<\/a>I bought this bunny hand towel. It can also be used to mop up perspiration but whatever you do, NEVER blow your nose with it. Hint: Best to blow your nose somewhere private, in the toilet is best with fake flush running so no one can hear.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

-If you are in someones home or in a ryokan there are often little toilet slippers you are supposed to wear whilst in the toilet. <\/span>Hint: Best not to wear them out, it’s not a good look!<\/span><\/p>\n

So that is Cinti’s guide to Japanese toilets…and if you ever get stuck “Otearai wa doko desu ka?”<\/span> means, Where is the bathroom?<\/span><\/p>\n

www.mypoppet.com.au<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whilst Pilgrim with her designer’s eyes was absorbing all the colours and patterns in Japan, I was a little bit fascinated by Japanese bathrooms. You see the combination of heat, lots of fluid and the fact that I have the bladder which is the size of a pea, meant that I spent quite a lot of my trip visiting the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[153],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n