As an ardent traveller, I sincerely wish that the Japanese washlet were popular across the world, because they really should be! Japan is the land of the rising sun but also the land of high-tech toilets with washlets packing the latest technologies. They combine hygiene, comfort and convenience in one sophisticated package. Like an excellent well-made coffee, a perfectly fitting watch or a packet of chips, there are some things that once you try you just cannot go back. The Japanese toilet/washlet is definitely one of them. One of the things that the Japanese have undoubtedly figured out is convenience, hygiene and comfort while using the loo. The most popular brand– Toto– is ubiquitous all over Japan and the term Washlet was coined by them in 1980 when they first introduced it in Japan.
Whether you're at a café, restaurant, train or bus station, or an airport, you'll find these washlets installed. Whether you're zipping along the ground at over 300 km/h on high-speed bullet trains like the Hayabusa or soaring through the sky among the clouds, these washlets are readily available. Japanese airlines, like ANA and Japan Airlines, have managed to install these high-tech multi-function bidets on most of their wide-body aircraft. As Indians we genuinely miss the health faucet while traveling abroad but you won't miss it in Japan.
Every feature on the Washlet is meticulously designed to enhance comfort and cleanliness, which is at the core of Japanese culture. Below is a non-exhaustive list of features that these washlets could have based on how premium they are:
While I was scouting Akihabara for interesting products earlier in May this year I found a lot of these Japanese toilet seats for sale from brands such Toto, Panasonic, Toshiba and Inax. While local products sold in Japan are based on 110V and won't work in India, some of these models are rated at 220V and targeted at tourists who want to take home some expensive souvenir in the form of a Japanese toilet seat.
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