Are you brave enough to use Tokyo’s “Transparent Toilet” at Shibuya’s popular Yoyogi Park? Let’s uncover this mysterious lavatory together!
At first glance, you may think, “I am never going to use this toilet,” and fair enough; no one wants to be seen doing their business! However, there is more to this see-through toilet than meets the eye. In fact, once you get to understand how this piece of architectural genius works, you’ll be wondering why there aren’t more of them around the world!
How the “Transparent Tokyo Toilet” works!
Designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, the transparent toilet at Yoyogi Park is more than a see-through wall, and it certainly isn’t designed to rob you of your privacy (especially when you need it most!). Rather, the transparent walls are designed to turn opaque once the door is locked, giving you the privacy you most surely need. Don’t worry, the opaque transition happens on both the interior and exterior walls, so you won’t have to see the outside people strolling by while you take care of business either!
So, why have a transparent toilet in the first place? Mr. Shigeru Ban explains that there are two things you look for when entering a public toilet: cleanliness and vacancy. Without even entering the toilet or touching the door, you will know whether the toilet is occupied and how clean it is, making it much easier to decide if you’d like to use it. The see-through toilet also has the benefit of spotting from afar whether it is vacant or not, so you can time your approach more efficiently. Furthermore, as the occupier of the toilet, the opaque walls make it more obvious if you’ve forgotten to lock the door; after all, no one wants any unwelcome guests walking in on their sacred toilet time!
My Halloween Toilet Experience
Finding a toilet in Tokyo is usually pretty easy, especially with a loo in every FamilyMart, 7-Eleven, and Lawson at every corner. However, Halloween in Shibuya is a different story! Toilets become overcrowded and dirty, with long queues stretching right across the store (it’s no wonder many combinis choose to close the restroom at such times!). Well, I certainly had no intention of queuing up for an overused convenience store toilet, so I decided to wait till my buddy and I got back to the hotel.
Passing through the infamous Yoyogi Park on our way home, we stumbled upon a most mysterious sight, and that was the transparent, see-through toilet of Shibuya. In all honesty, after a long night of seeing the most wacky Halloween outfits and decorations, we almost thought this toilet was also some kind of Halloween gimmick. Well, Mr. Shigeru Ban’s design certainly lived up to its purpose, because we easily noticed how clean and empty the restroom was. Of course, it took us a moment to figure out how the transparent wall worked, and you best believe we made sure the opaque walls were functioning on both ends!
To see more interesting and innovative toilets like this all around Tokyo, check out THE TOKYO TOILET website for unique restroom designs and where to find them!
To learn more about life in Japan, check out my book: The Japanese Pursuit of Perfection. This book features my most profound observations of Japanese culture and society as a foreign resident. Available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Grab your copy today!