Japan is known for being one of the cleanest countries in the world. However, Japanese people themselves rarely use public toilets due to stereotypes that consider them dirty, smelly, and even scary. A new project called The Tokyo Toilet aims to change Japanese perceptions about using public restrooms in public spaces, and it does so, as befits the Japanese, in the most impressive and beautiful way possible.
The Tokyo Toilet brings together about 17 public restroom facilities in the famous Shibuya district, designed over the past three years by important Japanese architects and designers, most of whom are winners of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. As expected from the high profile of the designers, including Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma, and Shigeru Ban - some of the greatest Japanese architects of recent decades - these are exceptional creations that have already become a pilgrimage site for design enthusiasts from around the world. The transparent ones One of the standout public restrooms is the one designed by architect Shigeru Ban: toilet cubicles made of smart, colorful glass with varying opacity.
When the toilets are vacant, the glass is completely transparent, allowing anyone approaching to check if they’re in use, and as soon as you enter and lock the door, the facades automatically turn milky and completely opaque, ensuring privacy. 6 View gallery Shigeru Ban's transparent toilets ( Photo: Sergio Yoneda, Shutterstock ) This is a relatively new technology mainly used in .
