Japan: Get a handle on what to expect in the bathroom

The most hygienic restrooms are in hotels and department stores and are usually marked with international symbols. You may encounter Japanese-style toilets, with bowls recessed into the floor, over which you squat facing the top. If you can’t face a squat, the last cubical in the row may be a Western-style toilet. In many homes and Japanese-style public places, there will be a pair of slippers at the entrance to the restroom. Change into these before entering the room, and change back when you exit. Many public toilets don’t have toilet paper, though there are dispensers where packets can be purchased for Y50 (45 cents) or so.