Public toilets go transparent in Tokyo parks

Public toilets are getting an upgrade in Tokyo, and among them are see-through restrooms found in Shibuya parks.

The Tokyo Toilet Project, launched by Nippon Foundation with the Shibuya City government, aims to get rid of the notion that public toilets are “dark, dirty, smelly and scary” by renovating 17 public toilets in Shibuya, the foundation said in a statement on Aug. 3.

How do transparent toilets figure into this?

The foundation tapped 16 top designers to reimagine public toilets. Shigeru Ban Architects developed cubicles that are transparent so that users can see if it is occupied and clean.

Privacy, of course, is a consideration too: Technology allows for the glass to turn opaque once it is locked.

Image: Nippon Foundation

Image: Nippon Foundation

The glass comes in bright colors to complement the nearby playground, and lights up at night like “lanterns.” It is accessible to women, men and persons with disability and has a baby chair too.

The unique restrooms were installed on Aug. 5 in Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park and Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park.

The foundation also arranged for maintenance to ensure that the toilets remain sparkling clean.

Installations for other designs are ongoing in August and September. The rest of the project will be completed by the spring of 2021.  /ra

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