Foreigners traveling to Japan can be stumped by the mass of technology involved in a Japanese toilet. While some of the squat toilets or public toilets in Japan are self-explanatory, you will most likely encounter a newer toilet over the course of your stay in Japan. These modern toilets are most commonly located in private properties, or fancy hotels. Thus, I present: The foreigner’s guide to Japanese toilets.

Before I begin, it should be noted that the toilet I am translating is currently the newest model on the market, so don’t be discouraged if you find that your electronic toilet is missing some of these features. I would also like to point out that some Japanese toilets differ to the one I am translating {e.g. some include sound features to cover the sound of you going to the toilet}, and would like to remind readers that this guide is based on my experiences only. 

Above is a photo of the control panel that you use in the bathroom. It will most likely be located on the wall beside you. Though not pictured in the photo, two important and probably most used buttons sit on top of the control box. They are labelled 大 and 小. The former means ‘big’ in Japanese, and is the equivalent of a full flush, whilst the latter translates to ‘small’, and consequently is the equivalent of a half flush.

On the control panel, you will see an orange button, with this kanji: 正. This is your “abort mission button”. It will cancel any other button that you have pressed, and is a good one to remember in case of unwanted water spray. The next button to the right is labelled おしり {bottom} and is accompanied by a picture of a blue person with a small spray of water. This is the bide button, meaning that is shoots water up your おしり to clean it. However, a word of caution, this is the higher jet powered setting, newbies might prefer the next button to the right. Labelled やわらか, and depicting a similar image, this button also starts the bide, but at a lower pressure. I recommend using this button if you are a first timer, or else you might receive a nasty shock.

It should be noted that the two former buttons are intended for men/boys to use, and though it is alright for females to also use this, they might prefer the next button to the right. This button is simply labelled ビデ {Bide} and functions as above but on a different angle. Diagonally to the right from this button is one labelled パワー脱臭, which translates to: power deodorisation. Press this button if the toilet smells a lot, and it will freshen itself up. However, my host family told me that this button is never used, so perhaps it is best to proceed with caution.

To the left of this button is what looks like a slider, and is titled 洗浄位置 with buttons that read 前 and 後 below. The title roughly translates to ‘washing’ and the buttons below indicate the place that you want to wash, 前 being the front, and 後 being the back. However, the button also is seldom used. The next series of buttons to the left are titled 水勢, which translates to ‘force of water’. The two buttons below control the force of the water in the bide. The button to the left, 弱, means ‘weak’, and the button to the right, 強, means ‘strong’. For those who haven’t figured it out, you press the left button to weaken the water stream, and the right to strengthen it.

Diagonally to the left of this is a series of buttons that look like glasses with text above. The text reads 温度設定, and the direct translation of this is: temperature setting. The buttons below are used to alter the temperature of the toilet seat, and the water in the bide. I’ve heard that in some public toilets, the water temperature can be set to an incredibly high temperature, so this might be one to look out for. The buttons that are connected read 便座 on the left, and 温水 on the right. These buttons translate to ‘toilet seat’ and ‘water temp’, respectively. Therefore, if you want to adjust the temperature of the seat, press the left button, likewise, the right if you want to adjust the temperature of the water.

The rest of the buttons are marked 入/切on the actual face of the button. This means that you press them to turn the specified ‘thing’ on/off. However, each title is different, and it is important that you know the difference. The only button in this series not connected by a line is labelled ノズルそう, and this is used to clean the nozzle of the bidet. Consequently, you will rarely use this button, even more so if you are a guest. The next button to the right is connect to others via a line, and marked オート洗浄, meaning, automatic cleaning. If you want your toilet to automatically clean itself, this is the button to press.

Following this button is one titled おまかせ節電, which is pressed when you want the toilet to remember how often it is used. This is sometimes handy to save power, as, on days when the toilet is seldom used, the machine won’t keep the seat warm as often. It also ensures that, on days when the toilet is used often, the seat is always kept warm. To the right of this button is one marked タイマー3 6 9, and is pressed so that the toilet goes in to “saving electricity mode”. The numbers indicate the hours that the toilet will remain in this mode. Finally, the last button, which has no title, is used to confirm any button you press that is connected by the black line. It can also cancel buttons, however, according to 嘉穂 these buttons are seldom used in her household.

For those people who see the Japanese toilet as too high-tech, don’t worry! You can use a Japanese toilet as a Western one, and most will flush automatically. If it doesn’t flush, simply press the 大 or 小 buttons and be on your merry way.

I hope that this guide has provided some insight as to how to use a Japanese toilet. Please don’t accidentally bump into the control panel and get spurted in the face by the bide, as my host mother has done. I wish you good luck with your Japanese toilet adventures!

-H