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Illustration of a quiet Japanese restroom with a white seated toilet, wall control panel and toilet paper holder

Trash and Manners

How to Use a Japanese Toilet: Flush, Washlet Buttons and Paper

Find the flush control in Japan, distinguish spray, Stop, sound and call buttons, handle toilet paper correctly, and ask staff for help when the toilet will not flush.

ToiletsFlush controlsSpray seats

Start with this

Find the actual flush control and the spray Stop button, marked 止. Do not confuse the call button with the flush.

Show this in Japanese

For visitors unsure how to use a toilet at a Japanese hotel or station. First inspect the bowl, tank and walls for a flush lever, button or sensor. The cleansing spray and flushing-sound buttons are separate from flushing the bowl. This guide mainly covers ordinary flush toilets; follow the facility's instructions for controls and paper disposal.

Three checks when you enter

  • Find the actual flush control and the spray Stop button, marked 止. Do not confuse the call button with the flush.
  • Check the toilet paper and door lock before use. If there is no paper, try another cubicle or ask staff.
  • Check whether it is a seated or squat toilet and whether it has the facilities you need. Choose another cubicle if you cannot use it comfortably.

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Match the Japanese label to the action

Position, colour and available functions vary by model. These labels are clues, not a universal panel layout. Read the actual instructions rather than choosing by button colour.

流す・大・小
Flushes the bowl. 大 is a full flush; 小 is a light flush. Use the full flush for solid waste, and follow instructions for paper quantity and the particular model.
止・停止
Stops the rear or front cleansing spray. It does not flush the bowl.
おしり・ビデ
Optional cleansing: おしり washes the rear; ビデ washes the front. Using only toilet paper is fine. WASHLET is a TOTO trademark.
音・流水音・音姫
Usually plays a masking sound. Hearing water does not necessarily mean the bowl has flushed.
呼出・非常
Calls for assistance. Do not use it for routine flushing. Use it without hesitation when you need urgent help.

Official sources for this advice ·

Industry guide: flush controls, paper and callsIndustry guide: using a spray seatTOTO: cleansing, Stop and privacy soundLIXIL: full and light flush guidance

Prepare and find a suitable restroom

  • Carry a handkerchief and spare toilet paper if needed. Do not substitute ordinary facial tissues or wet wipes and flush them.
  • Look at facility maps in stations, airports and shopping buildings. Check opening hours, whether it is inside ticket gates and any permission requirement. Ask shop staff when needed; not every convenience store offers toilet access.
  • Specify equipment you need, such as wheelchair access or a baby-changing table. Give priority in multifunction rooms to people who need their space or equipment; check the fittings in each room.

Official sources for this advice ·

Industry guide: toilet typesIndustry guide: locations, permission and paper

From entering to leaving

1Choose a usable cubicleCheck paper, lock and flush first

Sit on the seat of a Western-style toilet. Do not stand or squat on the seat. A Japanese-style squat toilet is in the floor: straddle it and squat facing the raised end. If that is difficult, ask staff where to find a seated toilet.

2Use the spray only if you want toStay seated and stop before standing

Operate the spray while seated. If pressure is adjustable, start low and keep use brief. Press 止 (Stop) before standing, then dry with paper if needed. If the controls are unclear, you can skip the spray.

3Dispose of paper correctlyIn ordinary flush toilets, toilet paper goes in the bowl

Flush used toilet paper in an ordinary flush toilet, without putting in a large amount at once. Keep sanitary products, diapers, facial tissues and wet wipes out of the bowl. Use a bin marked for that waste or ask staff. Special toilets may collect paper separately, so follow the local notice.

4Flush the bowlCheck lever, wall, remote or sensor

Move a lever as indicated, or use a button after identifying its flush label. For a touch-free flush, hold your hand near the flush sensor. Even with an automatic system, check that it actually flushed. Do not test the sound or call button as a substitute.

5Check the result and your belongingsLeave after confirming the bowl has cleared

Confirm that the bowl has cleared and that you have your paper, bags and phone. Wash and dry your hands with a handkerchief or provided facilities. Where accommodation supplies toilet-only slippers, leave them in the restroom. If the toilet has not flushed properly, tell staff rather than repeatedly flushing.

Official sources for this advice ·

Industry guide: flush controls, paper and callsIndustry guide: using a spray seatIndustry guide: toilet types

When the controls do not work for you

Cannot find the flush

Check beside and behind the bowl, the tank, both walls and the remote. If you cannot identify 流す・大・小, show staff the Japanese question below. The call button is for emergencies, not routine questions about controls.

No spray, or unsure how to stop it

Check that you are seated and locate 止. You may simply use paper. Do not pull the nozzle or try to repair power or plumbing; consult the facility.

Water rises or paper remains

Stop adding flushes and tell staff which cubicle it is. If a blockage is suspected, do not dismantle anything; ask for another cubicle. Watch for slippery water on the floor.

Pressed the call button by mistake

Tell the responding staff it was a mistake and whether you need help. Do not leave without explanation. Use the call for a real emergency, such as suddenly feeling unwell. Tokyo Metro specifically says station staff will come to assist.

Official sources for this advice ·

Industry guide: flush controls, paper and callsTokyo Metro: emergency toilet calls

Before leaving

  • The bowl has cleared and the cleansing spray has stopped.
  • You have checked your belongings and reported any fault that needs attention.

Scope and exceptions

  • Equipment, hours, charges and entry conditions depend on the facility. A uniform layout or 24-hour access is not guaranteed.
  • Mountain, temporary and disaster-use toilets may work differently from ordinary flush toilets. Follow posted instructions for paper and water.
  • The paper capacity of a light flush depends on the product. Do not treat LIXIL's quantity guidance as a rule for every manufacturer; check the actual fixture's instructions to avoid blockages.

Official sources for this advice ·

LIXIL: full and light flush guidance

Help with your next action

Written and translated with AI assistance; official pages and six-language content and display are checked. No field testing, interviews, expert review or native-language proofreading have been conducted.

Useful Japanese phrases

Find a restroom

使えるトイレはどこですか？

Tsukaeru toire wa doko desu ka?

Where is a toilet I can use?

Ask how to flush

このトイレは、どうやって流しますか？

Kono toire wa, dō yatte nagashimasu ka?

How do I flush this toilet?

Report a problem

トイレが流れません。確認してもらえますか？

Toire ga nagaremasen. Kakunin shite moraemasu ka?

The toilet will not flush. Could you check it?

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