by Have you ever seen a Japanese toilet?
No, not the hole-in-the-ground squat toilets.
I mean, the Japanese high tech toilets that look like a NASA command center. If you ever wondered what makes them so high tech and what the big deal about them is…. you’ll find out here.
And afterward, you’ll see some Japanese high tech toilets that you can get for yourself.
In this guide:
- Top 10 Features of Japanese High Tech Toilets
- Where to Get Such Toilets for yourself
So, let’s get to it.
What makes Japanese toilets so high tech?
For most people, it’s the “look at all those buttons” that make Japanese toilets seem so advanced.
Buttons aside, here are some features that you’ll find on some if not all Japanese high tech toilets. Not all have the same features but all will have some of the below.
10 Awesome Japanese High Tech Toilets Features
Here’s what’s cool about Japanese toilets:
1. Water spray/Bidet (plus message feature)
Some are wary of water going “down there.” Others are perfectly fine with it. It all depends on whether you’d rather stick your hand down there and be the width of one-toilet-paper-away from poop or just have water clean it up for you. Your choice.
With the bidet, you can control water pressure, water temperature, nozzle position, and the “flow” of water with a massage option. There’s usually a separate bidet option for women as well.
Fun bonus: The water spray can replace your need for toilet paper almost completely. Or at the very least, instead of yanking out a foot of T.P., you’ll be fine with just a square or two.
2. Heated seats
Ever sat on a cold toilet seat on a cold winter morning? Yes? Why would you do that to yourself if a warmer option exists?
3. Lids automatically opening and closing
The higher ends toilets tend to have this feature. Especially in classy hotels and restaurants. Where you open the door to the stall and the lid automatically starts going up.
4. Sounds or music to mask your “toilet” grunts, splashes, and streams
This is another feature that’s popular among high tech toilets in cafes, restaurants, and other places serving the public. Basically, you press a button and the toilet starts playing sounds, for example, the sound of water running, while you’re uhh…doing…uh… that. And no one hears the… “plop.”
5. Operation panel (built into the toilet or on the wall)
This your command center, captain poop-head. Where all the fancy buttons are. Here, you can control all the flushing, sounds, water spray, and so on.
6. Flushing by a button (strong or weak flush)
In case you don’t want to get up and pull the lever, there’s a handy button on the said button panel for that. You can do a half or a full flush.
7. The drier
Yes, some toilets will even send warm air to your “down-there’s” to dry off after the washlet or bidet has done its job.
8. Deodorizer
Some toilets come with built-in air filters that suck in the “fumes.” Good for dealing with “smelly” situations.
9. Self-cleaning
Japanese high tech toilets also wash themselves (as in, their nozzle and bowl). How? By sending water out from various places in the basin. Some include special solutions. Others have a UV light.
10. Night light
Just a convenient little light inside the seat that shines down on the bowl. So you can see at night… and never miss your shot.
Yeah, can your toilet offer that?! If toilets were TVs… the regular, no-button, cold-seats-in-the-winter-toilets outside of Japan are the chunky black and white TVs. And Japanese toilets are the thin, high definition TVs of the present day. In other words, Japanese toilets make a world of a difference. Warm seats alone put Japanese toilets 1000s of miles ahead of any other country. Once you’ve tried one, you’ll never understand how you dealt with the regular toilets that belong in the caveman times.
Where can you get some Japanese high tech toilets?
You can go either to the source — the Japanese companies, like Toto, that make them. Or, you can go to Amazon to see what they have. On Amazon, you’ll find more washlets (“toilet seats)” than actual Japanese toilets. But, you can still use these washlets to upgrade your current toilet. You just remove your current seat and lid and install the new one.
1. Inus 2020 Model Light Mode Indicator with Warm Air Dryer, Heated Bidet Toilet Seat
This washlet has lights, dryers, action, buttons, nozzles, and a heated seat. Perfect just in case you can’t see a thing at night. You will be able to see a thing… at night… now.
Looks cool, right?
2. Kohler K-5724-0 Puretide Elongated Manual Bidet Toilet Seat
The Kohler is a much more affordable option when it comes to washlets. Just $99. It includes heated seats, a nightlight, and an air drier.
3. TOTO SW3046#01 S500E Electronic Bidet
This washlet (seat and lid) is made by the famous Japanese toilet company, Toto. It comes with a heated seat, dryer, deodorizer, warm water, and self-cleaning.
4. Brondell Bidet – Thinline Dual Nozzle SimpleSpa
This is the cheapest option when it comes to washlets. Just $50. Why the price? Well, all it offers is the bidet. So, if you’re just looking for the water spray and nothing else (for now), you’ll do okay with this.
Now, if you want an actual Japanese high tech toilet (or something similar) and not a washlet, check these out.
5. TOTO MS982CUMG#01 Neorest 550H with Ewater+ Disinfection System, Cotton White
With toilets, instead of a “side-arm” for buttons, you get a panel control that you can stick to the side of a wall.
This Toto toilet has automatic flush, a bidet, self-cleaning, “pre-mist” spray to moisten the bowl, and avoid “sticking” and much more.
This is a nice alternative to Toto.
It includes a bidet (as they all should), water heater, air dryer, heated seat, self cleaning, a night light, and much more.
Japanese high tech toilets. Should you get them?
Anyone that’s spent time in Japan is most likely a convert and a fan of Japanese toilets. Experiencing is believing. But, it’s also possible for anyone used to regular cold-in-the-winter toilets to be wary of all the buttons, and the water spray going “over there.”
Should you get a Japanese high tech toilet? If you want…
- A warm seat
- A self-cleaning toilet
- Better cleanliness without struggling to wipe for 5 minutes because something just won’t go away
- Less stink your bathroom
Then, please go for it.