The Japanese bathroom

Now that we've moved into our new home, we've been spending a lot of time trying to figure out appliances and other features of the house. If you're not familiar with Japanese toilets, you may not realize that there are a lot of options to memorize. Japan has really perfected the toilet.

With our toilets, we have the option for a small flush or a big flush. But even better...the seat is heated. It took a little getting used to a warm seat, but I pretty quickly realized how great a feature it is - especially in the winter. We can also adjust how hot we want the seat to be. There are also various bidet options. (reason #43 for why you should come visit us in Japan - ha!)

Our toilet downstairs has a sink above it. When you flush the toilet, the sink automatically starts running so you can wash your hands. That same water then refills the tank. It's brilliant! It's also incredibly cold water, but I imagine I'll appreciate it in the summer. Based on a trip to a local home store in Japan, Ryan thinks this toilet is close to $900 - $1,000.

Here is our control panel for this toilet:

A couple weeks ago I went to a restaurant where the toilet seat automatically rose as I opened the door. (which made for a little confusion - do I close the lid upon leaving or assume that the lid will close when I shut the door? I chose the former choice, which I think was incorrect)

I've also heard of a toilet in a restaurant that has a button you can press to create some noise to - ahem - cover any noises you may be making.

The other great feature about our bathroom is the soaking tub. This is the real reason #43 why you should come visit. (at least in colder months) I didn't take a picture, but the tub is essentially like a hot tub without a jet. With the push of a button (either from the bathroom or from our kitchen), we can fill the tub. Once you're in the tub, you can push another button to reheat the water. Again, brilliant!