If you wandered into a restaurant or public restroom and hear a phone camera “shutter” click, click, clicking… you’d be thinking “what is that creep doing in there?” Don’t worry…it’s just this creep….ME! Taking pictures of random Japanese rocket ship loos so I can translate the buttons here.
The fancy-pancy, R2D2 ‘bottom battleships’ are fascinating and terrifying at the same time.
If you’re desperately looking for the flush button… want to know a secret?
The flush button is often in the normal flush spot at the back of the toilet and, in fact, accessories aside… it can often be an old-fashioned restroom with a silver ‘push-down’ lever.
But incase you can’t find a more simple way to locate the button, here is a cheat sheet of loo symbols I’ve come across recently (that don’t have English attached.)
*I’ll keep adding to the list. I’m creepy like that.
Oh and if you’re wondering why the toilet makes a flushing noise – even when you first sit down – it’s to save you then embarrassment of someone overhearing you tinkle ( goodness gracious – I hope people don’t think I’ve actually gone in there to pee!)
It does make me laugh that my kids are most perplexed by a simple flush handle like this. They have no idea what to do.
And if you’re confused what “Wand Clean” means on Japanese toilets (sounds so very Harry Potter doesn’t it?)
It means that you can push a button for the wand the pops out to perform the bidet function self cleans for a moment.
Did you know that this is the symbol to look for in Japan if you need an Ostomote-friendly restroom?
It is usually within the wheelchair accessible bathroom.
