Japanese Bathroom Etiquette
For anyone visiting Japan for the first time it is important that the traveler learn about the etiquette of the Japanese culture before traveling, including Japanese bathroom etiquette. Japanese bathroom etiquette differs from American bathroom etiquette considerably. For one thing, when visiting Japan one will find that the toilet and tub are in two different rooms of the home, and there is distinct etiquette associated with the use of the bathroom and toilet in Japan.
The Japanese use special slippers for their feet when they use the toilet and they expect the same of their guests. These slippers are often positioned nearby the door; they are to be placed on the feet before entering and removed and put back where they were originally positioned. This latter practice helps to keep the floor protected and it also makes it convenient for the next bathroom user to grab the slippers and put them on.
If utilizing public bathrooms while in Japan it will be necessary to come prepared; this means that the traveler should have some tissues on hand in a bag or purse. Often times one will find that the public bathrooms in Japan are not stocked with tissues: to avoid a messy situation, it will be necessary to carry some tissues along while traveling or to avoid the use of public bathrooms all together.
Some Japanese homes and establishments have what is identified as squat toilets. These toilets, when first seen by an individual so accustomed to Western toilets, may seem quite intimidating. Squat toilets are literally toilets that are set in the floor whereby the user is expected to squat over them in order to utilize them. Many Japanese homes are being established with Westernized toilets, but the traveler must be prepared to encounter either variety.
Using the separate bathroom containing the Japanese whirlpool bathtub also requires specific Japanese bathroom etiquette practice. In Japan, the act of using the bathtub is not viewed as an act of bodily cleansing but as an act of relaxation. This means that one does not utilize the tub to actually clean their physical body; this action must be conducted before using the tub. Why does an individual clean themselves before using the Japanese tub? The reason why one must cleanse themselves first is because the whole family uses the bath water to relax in: the water is not changed from one member to the next.
In the Japanese bathroom where washing is conducted one will find a sink, shower, and tub. The sink and Japanese bath shower are used for bodily cleansing purposes. Who uses the bathwater for relaxation purposes is based upon familial hierarchy in most instances; the older the individual, the higher up on the list in terms of "first usage" the individual is. This fundamental rule of bathtub use is only changed when there are visitors in the household: guests get first options on the use of the tub; this is why it is imperative for the traveler visiting Japan to fully understand bathroom etiquette before visiting!
