44. Public Toilet

Japanese toilets are a story in itself. First of all, a great thing with Japan, as well as South Korea, is that public toilets are commonplace, and not only that: They are almost often clean and fresh, and you don't have to worry if you need to sit down. And they are always free of charge.

Note the holder to the right in the picutre. This is where you can put your baby when you need to use the loo. Certainly a releif for a father taking care of his kid! (I guess that the ladies' toilet have the same thing.)

And then the toilet itself... This is a "washlet", which can spray you in the back when you are done. And for the ladies there is also a front spray. Often the ring is heated. And it may sense when you rise and flush automatically. Else, flushing can be a problem. That is, how do you it? Is there a button on the wall, is there a button on the spray control, is there a sensor to cover with you hand? Or an old-fashioned handle?

Far from all public toilets are washlets; most are regular plain ones. But in your hotel room or a restaurant, this is what you can expect.

After all this luxury, there has to be something they have to cut down on. And indeed, far from all public toilets have soap, and paper towels? Just forget it. (This is better in South Korea.) And the toilet papper is thin which is not to my taste.