The twelfth of my images of Japan collection

Now this may seem like an odd choice of topic, and possibly not in the best taste, but the Japanese toilet is a modern marvel.

They play music to disguise any disconcerting noises, they wash you in all sorts of places that I am certainly not going to list here, they have heated seats for your “cheeky” comfort, they have non-touch flushing so you don’t have to put your hands anywhere that others have been (and that extends to the taps, the soap, and even the toilet seat itself sometimes – you don’t actually touch anything). All in all it’s more like a fun day out than a quick run in to spend a penny. That being said, many have come a cropper by being flummoxed by the sheer number of buttons and gizmos, and have left the cubicle soaking wet and more than a little mortified having been sprayed from all directions. You have been warned.

The other end of this is of course the really old fashioned asian-style squatter, which is still very prominent in older buildings and train stations. Least said about these the better.