Hyper about hygiene

We wanted to make a cultural note about the super hygiene of the Japanese. There are many public restrooms throughout the city, and all are clean, with toilet paper, and most with liquid soap. There are always both modern and traditional toilets (the ones with no seat and just a hole), which makes quite a contrast to the ultra high-tech and modern Tokyo. The modern toilets, also called "shower toilets," have a seat and handle to flush, plus buttons on a control panel to the right side of the seat to make a flushing noise, warm the seat, and spray water up. (Note: this is for women restrooms... not sure about the men's. :))

Another note about sanitation is the genkan, a space inside the entrance where people remove their shoes. We all take our shoes off just inside the school door entrance before proceeding into the classes. Certain sandals are marked especially for restroom use and are available at the door, so we can switch from one pair of slippers to the "restroom slippers" to just step outside the office for the restrooms located in the hallway.

People still wear white covers over their mouths, either because they are sick or for sanitation reasons. Or, perhaps for the smell or dirt from the streets, cars, trains, buses, and subways? We'll have to ask in class tomorrow...

Japanese toilets

Traditional Japanese toilet

Western-style toilet

quite the spa-like experience! :)