If you are planning on taking a trip to Japan, it is important to know that, unlike in the West, the toilet and the bathtub belong to separate rooms in a Japanese home, and each has its own set of rules for proper behavior and usage.

Toilet Etiquette:

There are two types of toilets in Japan: the traditional Japanese-style and the modern Western-style. Although most private homes now have Western-style toilets, there is a chance that you could find yourself in a home that does not, so you’ll probably find it very helpful to try to become familiar with one before you suddenly find yourself being forced to get very intimate with it. In addition, many public bathrooms still have the traditional Japanese squat-toilet, so you may have no other choice, while in Japan, than to take the plunge and try using one. Fear not, brave soul, for Japanese-style toilets are not as scary as they look or sound.

Squat toilets look a little bit like urinals lying down on the ground. Instead of sitting on a bowl, you straddle the toilet, facing the hood with a hole on one end, and squat to do your business. That’s it; that’s all there is to it. If anything, it’s good for building up leg muscles. Just be careful not to dribble on your clothes; it’s best to first make sure that your pants are pulled down all the way to your ankles.

Other Things to Remember:

1. In Japanese homes, special toilet slippers are provided exclusively for use in the bathroom. Be sure to slip them on when entering the bathroom, and leave them at the door, for the next person’s use, when leaving.

2. When using a public restroom, be sure to carry a small packet of tissue paper with you, for it is often not provided for you in public toilets. For this reason, it is also not uncommon to see cute girls handing out free tissues, complete with company advertisements imprinted on them, while on street corners or at train stations.

Even if you find yourself in a place that has both the Western and traditional Japanese styles, I recommend you try using the Japanese squat style, at least once, just for the experience.