9 reasons why Japanese bathrooms are so popular
In Japan, much thought has gone into designing the perfect bathroom. As well as using water economically, their ideas save a lot of money in the long run. So take a look for yourself — here's why the Japanese have the best bathrooms...
1. Separate rooms
In Japan, walls are used to separate the wash basin, bathtub and toilet from each other. While one person is brushing their teeth, another can take a bath and a third person can disappear to the toilet.
2. Faucets the Japanese way
Japanese faucets can be extended from the wash basin. This gives you more room to wash your clothes or bath your baby in the wash basin.
3. Wash before bathing
Next to the bathtub, there's a stool which you sit on while rinsing yourself off before your bath. That means you'll be clean before going into the bathtub. In addition, more people can then use the same bathwater as you're clean beforehand. What a great way to save on water costs!
4. The floor
The floor is slightly sloped so that the water runs into a drainage area. That means you can shower next to the bathtub without any problems.
5. Cleaning the bathroom
Japanese bathrooms are designed so that you can simply rinse them clean using the shower head. The water then runs into the drain next to the tub.
6. Mini computer
This little device allows you to control the temperature of the bathtub and the water within. That's practical when several people want to use the tub at the same time. The device also has an alarm and another button that can be pressed in the event of an emergency. Very smart.
7. Doing the laundry
Here's another excellent money-saving measure. Instead of sending used bathwater down the drain, use it to do the laundry. For this, there's a special pipe that transfers the water from the tub to the washing machine. If you've showered before taking a bath, the water shouldn't be dirty.
8. Drying laundry
When the bathtub is not being used, you can hang your laundry above it. As well as removing condensation, the fan in the bathroom is great for drying clothes quickly when you can't hang them up outside.
9. Toilet
Last but not least, we come to the toilet. Above the toilet tank, there's a wash basin. The water you use to wash your hands will be flushed down the toilet later. It's a great way to save water and some cash, too.
Watch this charming young girl go through all the tips one more time...
Those are some great tips for saving money and doing your bit for the environment. Hopefully, the rest of the world will follow Japan's example!