Toilet seats are cleaner than keyboards
May 16, 2007 12:57 PM   Subscribe

Dirty Toilets in Tokyo Many more photos (in Japanese) here.
posted by KokuRyu (57 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
The English index page for the above site.
posted by rolypolyman at 1:05 PM on May 16, 2007


This is a shi...

Damnit I can't do it. It's just too easy. (and disgusting)
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:07 PM on May 16, 2007


I like that the index also shows the clean toilets of Tokyo. It's important to be able to compare.
posted by miss lynnster at 1:07 PM on May 16, 2007


I like the cut of your jib, but Engrish accompaniment is kind of necessary for the hahas so you're kind of losing me after the first three.
posted by The Straightener at 1:11 PM on May 16, 2007


Three whole (hole?) pictures. I am enraptured.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 1:13 PM on May 16, 2007


These are about 10% as bad as what you find in the public restrooms at a national park.
posted by brain_drain at 1:19 PM on May 16, 2007


They're not that bad, I think.

Is this a place for sharing public toilet experiences? If so, the most unsettling thing I've ever encountered in one was a little girl's one piece swim suit, laid out on the floor, with a lot pf paper towels around it. I left that toilet in a hurry, it freaked me the hell out.

And I've peed surrounded by shit, vomit and hypodermic needles.
posted by soundofsuburbia at 1:20 PM on May 16, 2007


What's interesting to me is that a) the entire time I was in Tokyo I didn't see any dirty public toilets, I must have been looking in the wrong train stations, and b) the dirtiest of the ones in the first link are positiviely sterile compared to the typical gas station crapper here in the USA.

Mind you, the absolute worst public toilet I ever saw was in the airport at Moscow, it didn't seem to have been cleaned for years, was horribly stopped up, and overflowing. It made some portapotties I've seen look clean.
posted by sotonohito at 1:24 PM on May 16, 2007


There's probably a better adjective to describe the graffiti found in Cool Graffiti, no?
posted by bhayes82 at 1:33 PM on May 16, 2007



I couldn't understand the photos man, they were mostly in Japanese...
posted by From Bklyn at 1:33 PM on May 16, 2007


Google Translate does kind of a crappy job, but here it is.
posted by KokuRyu at 1:37 PM on May 16, 2007


That website would not exist in Singapore. They like their super-loos clean.
posted by miss lynnster at 1:39 PM on May 16, 2007


Toilet areas are nice places to meet new friends and chat with strangers.
posted by Postroad at 1:40 PM on May 16, 2007


Shit Sandwich. Exactly why is this a FPP?
posted by dbiedny at 1:43 PM on May 16, 2007


Japan
toilet
Japanese
crap
shitty
shitter
posted by sveskemus at 1:45 PM on May 16, 2007


*shits on thread*
posted by Debaser626 at 1:52 PM on May 16, 2007


This toilet is under stair to platform and a lawless zone

Lawless zone? Woah.. sounds Akira.

Also, these guys have never been to the public toilets at Teotihuacán. There was blackish moss growing up the trough...
posted by wfrgms at 1:55 PM on May 16, 2007


It seemed like a good idea at the time...Why can't more people read Japanese? *sob*
posted by KokuRyu at 1:56 PM on May 16, 2007


I'm sure there are a few things I would rather look at less, but I can't think of any right now...
posted by gottabefunky at 1:59 PM on May 16, 2007


Diddly-squat!
posted by doctorschlock at 2:01 PM on May 16, 2007


As the japanese toilet cleaner's boss might say: why is this shit still up?
posted by phaedon at 2:07 PM on May 16, 2007


These are dirty toilet bowels(sic)??

I do not think they know what dirty is.
posted by MtDewd at 2:07 PM on May 16, 2007


Remember when Metafilter consistently had front page posts of quality?
posted by pelican at 2:08 PM on May 16, 2007


Remember when Metafilter consistently had front page posts of quality?

What are you talking about? The guy has documented every single public toilet in Tokyo.

That's got to be worth something...pelican.
posted by KokuRyu at 2:15 PM on May 16, 2007


Remember when Metafilter consistently had front page posts of quality?

Heh, no.
posted by soundofsuburbia at 2:15 PM on May 16, 2007



What's interesting to me is that a) the entire time I was in Tokyo I didn't see any dirty public toilets,


me neither, but i didn't go into any subway toilets (after all, i don't go in them here, so why there?)
posted by amberglow at 2:23 PM on May 16, 2007


Updated July 1997! Almost a 10th anniversary FPP.
posted by stevil at 2:35 PM on May 16, 2007


i don't go in them here, so why there?

manga toilet paper?
posted by matteo at 2:41 PM on May 16, 2007


You know who else is Japanese? Tubgirl would shit these places up in an instant,.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:47 PM on May 16, 2007


I can't see the site (blocked by workplace filter), but I've seen some filthy toilets here in Japan. The key is: the dirty ones are the Japanese-style ones, because of people with bad aim. Aiming on a Western toilet is far easier, so they only get filthy if they get clogged.
posted by Bugbread at 2:52 PM on May 16, 2007


Is this really appropriate? Someone might as well FPP ratemypoo.com.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 3:16 PM on May 16, 2007


*drops steaming pile in this thread*
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:23 PM on May 16, 2007


You know what? This FPP is not shitty enough. I wanted closeups of turds and all you've got is some vague brown jpeg artifacts. Fake, and not educational.
posted by gorgor_balabala at 4:16 PM on May 16, 2007


amberglow Actually, I found the subways in Tokyo to be superior to the surface rail in many ways. Often less crowded, in the summer cooler, and just as crime free and clean as the rest of the city. Don't recall using any of the toilets in the subway, but I doubt they'd be any worse than the JR toilets.
posted by sotonohito at 4:36 PM on May 16, 2007


sotonohito writes: I found the subways in Tokyo to be superior to the surface rail in many ways

You know what's better about Tokyo surface rail, though? Sunlight coming through the windows. And a little fresh air through the doors at every stop. Unfortunately, the newest train cars feature windows that can't be opened (another step backward in human-friendly design), but in the older cars where you can open windows, that can be nice too, on the surface lines.

And, KokuRyu, I know this is a toilet thread and all, so sorry for derail concerning trains.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:50 PM on May 16, 2007


The good thing about squat toilets is that even if it's disgusting, your body (ass) doesn't come in contact with the toilet at all, unlike Western toilets. So in that sense they are infinitely cleaner.

And if you've never used a squat toilet, the first 3 or 4 times are a chore, and after that you'll wonder what all the fuss was.
posted by zardoz at 5:01 PM on May 16, 2007


sorry for the derail concerning trains

The thread needs all the hope it can get.

How about this: buy a couple of cans of beer and some kaki no tane in Umeda and catch the train for Kanazawa - a two and a half hour trip. Perhaps it's one of the older bonnet-style Raicho's from the sixties - I think they're out of service now.

You drink your beer, eat your snack, read a book or whatever.

Then it's time to pee.

Lurch up towards the train lavatory (perhaps holding your breath as you pass through the smoking car), find the john, slide the door shut, and prepare to release your bladder.

It's gross. The train sways about, making it hard to aim. Invariably, a little gets on your shoes. And the room stinks - really stinks - like most lavatories associated with JR.

The only thing that saves the situation is the tiny open window. You can hear the train rushing through the night as you try to gulp some fresh air.
posted by KokuRyu at 5:10 PM on May 16, 2007


this is reminding me of the last trains in London before they stopped for the night, where there'd usually be one person vomiting in a totally packed car.
posted by amberglow at 5:34 PM on May 16, 2007


zardoz writes: The good thing about squat toilets is that even if it's disgusting, your body (ass) doesn't come in contact with the toilet at all, unlike Western toilets. So in that sense they are infinitely cleaner.

Absolutely. Zardoz nailed it. No bodily contact. Case closed. And KokuRyu, all due respect, but I have to wonder, if the JR toilets really seem that horrible to you, have you never been to other countries where things are worse in this regard? Cause I'm telling you, it can get a lot worse than anything I've ever seen in Japan.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:36 PM on May 16, 2007


Flapjax

Although I'm not proud to say it, I've lived to Japan, visited the States and been to Korea, and that's it. For what it's worth, the only country I give a shit about (just trying to stay in metaphor) is Japan. So as long as I'm in Canada, the only place I'll be traveling regularly is back to Japan.

But picture this: about seven or eight years ago I was out of work and found a job with a construction lease company in Japan cleaning up and storing scaffolding that had been used to repair a nuclear power plant.

The lease company kept two large Huskies as pets, and the latrine was located right out in front of the warehouse, next to the kennels where I had to work.

It was hot (100+) and the dogs stank. The area in front of where I worked was covered with dog turds and tufts of dog hair. So it stank. But the worst stench of all was the latrine. That is my memory of that summer.
posted by KokuRyu at 6:12 PM on May 16, 2007


But picture this...

Oh dear. KokuRyu, I think somehow you've had the misfortune of visiting some of the foulest and smelliest of Japanese locales! Hopefully, next time you come to visit, more pleasant odors will be here to greet you!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:51 PM on May 16, 2007


These are about 10% as bad as what you find in the public restrooms at a national park.
posted by brain_drain


I concur. I've cleaned public toilets at a national park. One time I had to destroy turds in the shower with the jet stream of a hose. Another time, a couple of nice girls had a shit-fight. It looked like a turd cannon went off. This was humbling work.

this is a crappy thread so I have no problem spewing chatfilter. PS i'm pretty bored
posted by recurve at 6:58 PM on May 16, 2007


PS i'm pretty bored

Well, you can try going here. Sure, it's kind of a stupid site, but, hey, you might find something there that'd take your mind off your dreadful past...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:03 PM on May 16, 2007


Toilets? Who the hell uses toilets anymore?

All the cool people shit their pants now. Get with the program!
posted by breezeway at 7:09 PM on May 16, 2007


When toliets go BAD!
posted by miss lynnster at 7:50 PM on May 16, 2007


(Forgot the word "good." Too busy concentrating on purposely misspelling toilet.)
posted by miss lynnster at 7:51 PM on May 16, 2007


Those at work, be advised, embedded audio at miss lynnster's link above NSFW. Jumps right out atcha!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:57 PM on May 16, 2007


While it doesn't look dirty - the ladies toilet at Hiratsuka station at the main exit always smells so terrible! Up to 8pm it's best to wait and dash into the luxurious toilets in Lusca.

Another toilet of note are the new ones at Oiso beach. Never have I seen such a clean, well lit designed public beach toilet.
posted by gomichild at 8:08 PM on May 16, 2007


Why do I want to see this? If I want to see a dirty bathroom, I can just sneak into the men's bathroom at work. One time, there was poop on the WALLS.

Beat that, Japan! Our jerks are dirty than yours!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 8:39 PM on May 16, 2007


The best thing about toilets in Japan is the abundance of them. The free-standing urinals of Amsterdam are the only thing that comes close, but are, obviously, of limited use. I understand the headaches of providing public toilets, and the liability, but it should be a human rights issue that toilets and drinking water be made publicly available, and Japan does a really good job of both.

And for that, they're usually very clean. There's a free-standing washroom on the way home from the grocery store, not connected to any business, and it's not spotless, but a hell of a lot better than it would be anywhere else.

Also, when they're not clean? Hurray for squat toilets. You never even touch em.
posted by dreamsign at 8:52 PM on May 16, 2007


Those toilets aren't near as bad as the public toilets at Temple Street in Kowloon.
posted by bwg at 9:14 PM on May 16, 2007


Remember when Metafilter consistently had front page posts of quality?

Er, no? I mean, yes? Or no? Perhaps maybe?
posted by mediareport at 9:33 PM on May 16, 2007


Sorry, it has to be done:

Metafilter: It is hard to smell whether shit or poison.
posted by The Deej at 9:47 PM on May 16, 2007


Ha! the scrolling marquee on the bottom is funny:

"Sorry for watching this page."
posted by chillmost at 12:30 AM on May 17, 2007


Bah, I used to work for a skateboard manufacturer and had to visit the crapper after a weekend tournament. Those little bastards peed and pooped on the floor, they put the toilet seats down and pooped on them, every roll of paper was peed on, the sinks were stopped up with TP and peed in, it was just horrible. I still cringe when I see some chavy little skate rat.
posted by Iron Rat at 12:42 AM on May 17, 2007


And if you've never used a squat toilet, the first 3 or 4 times are a chore, and after that you'll wonder what all the fuss was.

I'm still waiting to hear a MeFite make that claim about an Indian style squat toilet. The style, you understand if you've spent time there, having nothing to do with the toilet.
posted by dreamsign at 2:32 AM on May 17, 2007


Lavatories of the World seems to be appropriate reading at this point.
posted by Space Kitty at 2:17 PM on May 17, 2007


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