Whereas many houses in Japan heat during the winter with kerosene and
Whereas open flames and kerosene are not a good combination in a country prone to earthquakes (so heat must be turned off at night)
Be it resolved that going to the bathroom in the middle of the night can be a rather chilly awakening to one’s posterior--our house temp got down to 44 degrees one night.
But the Japanese are quite resourceful. In our house we have toilet seat covers made from a terry-cloth-type material. They come in a variety of colors and can be picked up quite cheaply at the 100 yen shop. Or you can purchase a simple seat that you plug in and it is always warm. (Although in this case one hopes that there won’t be any short circuits).
For those who like to be pampered, you can purchase a toilet seat (for up to $500 or so ) that has additional features. These pictures were taken at the Narita airport in Tokyo. I’ve blown up the instructions so you can read about the individual options. (The airport obviously didn’t spring for the high end model as not all buttons are present.) Some models also come with driers. Warm air will gently blow on your...well you get the idea.
(I don't know why the flushing sound is exclusively for women. I'd like to know but who would I ask?)
Since the instructions for the different functions on these upscale toilet seats often aren't available (or they're in Japanese), sometimes it's tempting to experiment by pressing the various buttons in restaurant or hotel bathrooms. One woman who accompanied Daisy on a prayer trip to Kyoto would tell you that is definitely NOT a good idea. She ended up having water squirted directly into her mouth as she leaned over the toilet, pushing different buttons in their hotel bathroom!
Now if this looks like something that you need in your house, they are available in the States. In fact if you go to http://www.sandman.com/intimst.html you can find info and a very “informative” 5-minute video--the ending is worth waiting for.
Now lest you think that in Japan we live in the lap of luxury, let me show you the other style of Japanese toilets.
From the picture you may be asking, “Where do you sit?” Well duh, why do you think they call it the squatty potty? You don’t. I would like to report that I have now been in Japan for over 2 years total time since we first came in 2001, and I have not yet used one of these. My goal is to keep it that way.
Public washrooms are usually equipped with Japanese style toilets, but the number of public washrooms with Western style toilets has increased significantly, especially in tourist areas. Public washrooms with both Japanese and Western style toilets are also common.
One thing you will want to remember should you come visit us is that because toilet paper is sometimes not provided in public washrooms, it is recommended that you always carry a small package of tissues with you. (People are always giving these away near the train stations.) Similarly, because paper towels or dryers are not always provided, it is recommended that you carry a handkerchief
In conclusion, I can only say that even in the basic functions of daily life, Japan continues to be an intricately woven combination of the very old...
and the very new.
