The Loo

When we landed in Sapporo, Rose and I went to the restroom at the airport. 

Mummy, what are all these buttons for? she asked.

Why don't we try some and see? I said. 

(This whole experience, after all, is about experiential learning, is it not?)

The first button was fine. A lovely sound of birds tweeting filled the stall.  Why do you think there is the sound of birds tweeting? I asked Rose.  To make you feel happy, she said. 

The second button was fine.  After a moment, Rose said Oh, the toilet seat is getting so warm. 

The third button pressed.  Shrieks from Rose. Ah - the 'bidet' function.  

Emerging from the stall, we found the restroom had filled with old Japanese ladies, waiting patiently (and so quietly!!!).  Ah kawaiiiii, they said (Oh, cute), when they looked at Rose. I said, Oh sorry for making you wait. It was the first time in a Japanese loo for my daughter.  

Ah, naruhodo ne! 

A loo with a warm seat that plays music, massages your buttocks, squirts water for that 'extra fresh' feeling…

what's not to like?

Although in a traditional Japanese home, you may still encounter a 'squat toilet' (you know - a hole in the ground … my first encounter of this was in a campsite in France when I was a kid), modern homes and apartments have a western style loo.  But they have taken the design and Japan-ified it for extra comfort. 

Even in our wee house in the middle of nowhere, we have some special loo functions.