Sergio Yoneda – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
Public restrooms with totally transparent walls don’t seem like the greatest idea at first sight, but they are actually an innovative design that can solve some problems associated with public restrooms, such as hygiene, safety, and accessibility.
In August 2020, toilets with transparent walls were installed in the Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park and Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park in Tokyo, Japan.
The toilets were added as part of The Nippon Foundation’s Tokyo Toilet project. The goal of the project was to create public restrooms that are accessible to everyone, regardless of age or disability. The project also aims to provide a total of 17 toilets in the Shibuya ward area.
The stalls have see-through glass walls that come in a variety of colors. Everything from the sink to the flush toilet can be seen from the outside.
At first, it feels strangely exposed, but when someone enters and locks the door, the walls turn opaque, obscuring the user from view and ensuring full privacy.
The glass walls are covered with PDLC film, which makes them transparent when electricity is applied. When the door is unlocked, the electricity is turned off, and the glass walls return to their original opacity.
A famous Japanese architect and designer named Shigeru Ban dreamed up the idea. He is known for his work with paper. Other well-known architects who worked on the project included Toyo Ito, Tadao Ando, Fumihiko Maki, Kengo Kuma, and Sou Fujimoto.
The transparent walls address the need for hygiene and safety. Since the walls are see-through, people at the parks can easily tell that the toilets are clean and no one is hiding inside the stall.
In addition, the restrooms light up at night, turning into colorful beacons that brighten up the parks and make the facilities easier to find.
Sergio Yoneda – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
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The design further enhances the feeling of safety, particularly for women, children, and those using the restrooms after dark.
At first, many people were confused about the toilets and worried that they might become transparent due to technical errors while users were inside, but they eventually warmed up to the unique design.
The concept captured international attention and quickly became a viral sensation, even making its way into pop culture. In 2023, the transparent restroom was featured in the critically acclaimed film Perfect Days by Wim Wenders. The film followed the life of a toilet cleaner in Tokyo.
What started as a bold experimental project has grown into a symbol of Japan’s commitment to innovation and inclusivity. A see-through restroom might initially raise some eyebrows, but these transparent toilets in Tokyo prove that even the most ordinary of spaces can be transformed into something cleaner, safer, and surprisingly beautiful.
If you do use the transparent toilets, make sure that you remember to lock the door!
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in… More about Emily Chan
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