While looking for apartments last year, I remember I spoke with two friends. One of them an American-Taiwanese and the other, a Singaporean. The American-Taiwanese said he prefers apartments where the bathroom and toilet are separate. In case you didn’t know, it is very common for bathroom and toilets to be separated in Japan. The Singaporean girl on the other hand, said she prefers them together since we’re so used to having them together. I asked the guy why he preferred them separate and he said he’s got no idea. He just prefers them that way and it seems more classy. And the girl said she’s never understood why the bathroom and toilet ever had to be separated.
These two comments while different in an obvious way, led me to wonder why the bathroom and toilet are at many times separate here in Japan. I asked a Japanese friend and he wasn’t able to provide an answer that was enough to make me stop questioning. Only until recently, I had an epiphany while using my own toilet (which is separate from the bathroom, by the way) and I think I finally got the answer.
Remember how we used to be amazed by Japanese toilet seats that have functions like those that spray water to clean your behind after you’re done with your business? And for women, they have the bidet. Apart from that, since using the toilet during winter is literally a pain in the ass, they also have the seat warmer function so you can comfortably sit on your toilet seat without fear of freezing your butt cheeks. So how does all this make it necessary for the toilet to be separated from the bathroom?
Logically, all the above functions require electricity, and only when the toilet stands by itself can there be a wall socket for the supply of power. Now, how’s that for an answer?
Never imagined I’d spend so much time thinking about the toilet.
Yeah but all bathrooms have wall sockets for hair dryer, night light, etc!
Really? I haven’t seen one like that here but if that is true at least of some, then my hypothesis is probably incorrect. =X
Don’t quote me but I think Shintoism deems the toilet as an “unclean” place which is also why toilet slippers are not allowed outside the toilet while the Japanese bath is where people purify themselves, hence these two should be separated from each other.
I guess as time goes by, no one really cared about the reason why…
That’s an interesting thought.
I’m not well-versed in Shintoism enough to know how true that is but it definitely seems like a possible reason too!
i’ve noticed that if the toilet is in the same room as the shower, if one uses the shower right after using the toilet, the water pressure for the shower is reduced… maybe that’s why? i’m not sure if the water pressure for the shower also reduces if the toilet’s in a different room though
I think it happens even if they are not together.
It’s probably due to the way the pipes are connected, though I can’t say for sure since I’m not trained in this aspect. And I’ve never really paid much attention to whether the flush reduces water pressure in my shower. But it sure happens for the other taps at home.
If person A is using the shower and suddenly person B needs to use the toilet bad. What do you do? Someone will be inconvenienced.
That’s my take on it.
I’ve thought about that before but even for people who live by themselves, they prefer them separate as well. Perhaps that’s to prepare for visitors?
But I also realized recently that the benefit of having them separate is when the floor remains wet from the shower, you can still use the toilet without having to remove your socks just before you leave home.