Useful Information for Foreign Tourists in Sapporo: How to use toilets

Toilets at public and commercial facilities are available for free

Toilets located in public places such as underground passageways, subway stations, and JR stations, as well as those in commercial facilities such as department stores and shopping malls in Sapporo are free for visitors to use. Nearly all toilets have toilet paper, and used toilet paper can be flushed down the toilet. One unique aspect of toilets in Japan is the presence of toilet flushing simulators that play a loud flowing water sound to muffle the noises made while the toilet is in use. Many toilets are equipped with a warm water “washlet” that features a spray for your bottom and a bidet function as well. Watch out, though, as a toilet equipped with a water spray will shoot out cool or warm water with the press of the button when you are seated on the toilet. Recently, in place of a flush lever, some new toilets are flushed by passing your hand over a sensor or pressing a switch located on a separate wall panel. There are also toilets with lids that open automatically when they detect someone enter the stall, and toilets that flush automatically.