Japan is elevating its humble public conveniences into works of architectural, technological and aesthetic wonder which in turn is transforming them into landmarks and encouraging 'toilet tourism'. Japanese home-fittings companies have built a reputation for designing the world's most hygienic bathroom equipment, with the 'washlet' built-in bidet a standard fixture in most modern homes, along with heated toilet seats, sound.
Once weary of hordes of foreign tourists crowding its narrow streets and ignoring etiquette, many in Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto are longing for their return missing the revenue they brought before the country largely shut its doors to overseas visitors two years ago due to the pandemic.
That includes Shoei Murayama, a former city assemblyman and author of the 2019 book The Day Kyoto Collapses From Overtourism, in which he warned the travel industry would push out local businesses and residents. He compared the city to Venice, which has banned cruise ships and is set to introduce a tourism