■Japanese Toilets
　Travel in Japan is pleasant, convenient, and far less expensive than many people think. But for many foreigners, going to the toilet will present a series of riddles and provocations they may not be prepared for.

　Picture the weary traveler, fresh off a plane and stumbling to the urinal in some public restroom. No sooner has he undone his fly than an elderly woman appears alongside, mopping the floor around his feet. Cleaning staff, invariably women, breeze in and out regularly. The upside, of course, is a clean restroom. The downside? A little old lady keeping you company while you stand at the urinal. And in many places, especially parks and other outdoor areas, the urinal may be in full view to the rest of the world. Not an ideal setup for the shy.

　Here’s another hapless wanderer, faced with her first Japanese toilet. Should she sit down on it? Squat? Facing which direction? Sometimes Japanese toilets are on a small, raised platform of their own. You’re meant to step up and then squat, but many newcomers to Japan simply sit down directly on the porcelain. Don’t. It’s cold. And you should always face the end of the toilet with the raised lip. Unfortunately, if you’re not used to this kind of toilet you may need to strip completely from the waist down. Don’t worry, you’re not the first.




　Older western style toilets may seem strangely small, as though you were perched atop a teacup. Newer toilets are a bit larger, but the control panel can be daunting at first. Which button flushes and which sends an unwelcome jet of water up your backside? Actually, there are often two flushing options. Marked with the Chinese characters for ‘little’ and ‘big,’ one uses about half the water of the other. In some women’s restrooms, there’s even a button that causes a flushing sound without really flushing at all, drowning out more embarrassing noises. The buttons usually have a little picture to indicate their function, but if you can’t work it out you’ll have to experiment.

　Finally, take a clue from the locals and carry a handkerchief. Most toilets have sinks, and a few have hand soap, but very few have towels.

Happy travels!




Shooting Location: HACHIRO'S BAR

 









>>Access
Takata Bld. 2F,5-15 Nakamachi, Nakaku, Hiroshima

TEL: 082-246-3086

Bus
Hiroshima Station====(Hiroden bus (green bus No. 3, 4, or 6), 20min.)====Fukuromachi===(on foot, 5 min.)===HACHIRO's BAR

Streetcar
Hiroshima Station====(Streetcar No.1, 25 min.)====Fukuromachi===(on foot, 5 min.)===HACHIRO's BAR

>> Open Hours
6:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.

>>Holidays
Sunday

>>Map
Hiroshima Downtown Map>>>Clickhereto view


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　-Matt Mangham