Along with the effort to increase the number of public toilets, to raise people's awareness that those who do not look like a typical man or woman can use a toilet as a matter of course is also import

Most public toilets in Tokyo are unisex. There is a door, a urinal and a toilet. It is a fact of life in Tokyo and I've never been bothered by it. My only complaint is the number of public toilets seems to have been drastically reduced since I was a kid in the 80s. There is a tacit agreement not to notice who is going in and out while you use them.

One thing they might want to think about during the Olympics are the cleaning ladies who pop into the men's toilet. I still remember how shocked I was the first time I was standing at the urinal doing my business only to have the cleaning lady nonchalantly walk in with her cart and start moping the floor. I've gotten used to it now but I suspect people from some other cultures might find it off-putting.

My friends say that they need bigger barriers between men's urinals.

@M3M3M3

Yep. Works both ways. I once walked into a toilet in Germany and casually did my stuff, outraging the cleaning lady. Apparently, the bucket in the doorway was a "no entry” symbol.

My friends say that they need bigger barriers between men's urinals.

Years ago I stopped at a highway rest stop in Korea. There were no separate urinals, just a stainless steel trough. The men were squeezed together shoulder to shoulder. I tried. I got in there with the rest, between two guys holding themselves, but I couldn't go

The cleaning lady in the men's bathroom shocked me the first time it happened to me! I was fresh off the boat, mid-stream, when suddenly a ladies voice said something (probably 'cleaning lady coming in'), and she walked right in! When I was done I mailed home about it.

I think they're saying "excuse me", just happened to me again yesterday, at Shin-Yokohama Station

I agree with gokai_wo_maneku, unisex toilets are common in Japan, in small public toilets. But I think they are thinking of much larger public toilets. In which case, you divide them into male and female.

Male toilets are for those of us with dangly bits between our legs and female for those who don't. It doesn't matter whether you feel male or female, "identify" as one or the other, whether you "feel" you were born in the wrong body or anything else.

Male toilets are for those with male bodies and female for those with female bodies. It doesn't have to be "fair" or "true," it's a convention, like driving on the left in Japan and the U.K. and on the right in the U.S.A.

Years ago I stopped at a highway rest stop in Korea. There were no separate urinals, just a stainless steel trough.

Stainless steels urinals are still de rigueur at most stadiums (at least japan (hanazono and even noevir if I remember well) and oz. Ultra modern stadiums in Europe or the us may be different but not even sure about that. Very adapted to high traffic/in-out n1). Not great but they still have a place in our world (I guess).

Personally I have no issue with cleaning ladies coming in unannounced, their call. Same with other ppl and that includes trans and women.

PS: I don't really understand why some men are more 'bothered' by the presence of a woman or transsexual in our restrooms?

Personally I have no issue with cleaning ladies coming in unannounced, their call. Same with other ppl and that includes trans and women.

I don't anymore, but coming from cultures where this never happens, suddenly having a female in the bathroom when never having had that happen before shocked me.

I don't anymore, but coming from cultures where this never happens, suddenly having a female in the bathroom when never having had that happen before shocked me.

I think the main reason we rarely/never see that in 'our' cultures is for their (cleaning ladies) own protection. Pervs of all sorts, exhibitionists etc would have a field day. I occasionally see cleaning ladies at some 5* hotels in oz though (lobby restrooms).

I associate cleaning ladies in men's restrooms with Asia. Even saw them at my gym in Chiang Mai 10y ago. Now that's bold and yes have to admit I was 'surprised' the first time I heard a 'hello sir' as I was stepping out of the shower! But had no issue with it.

I think the main reason we rarely/never see that in 'our' cultures is for their (cleaning ladies) own protection. Pervs of all sorts, exhibitionists etc would have a field day.

Maybe, but wouldn't this same thing happen in Asia?

Maybe, but wouldn't this same thing happen in Asia?

Possibly. But perhaps employers (in Asia) do care less about their employees safety/well-being and/or men are so used to it (cleaning ladies presence) that they do behave themselves and mind their own biz. Hard to tell which one is prevalent.

Along with the effort to increase the number of public toilets, to raise people's awareness that those who do not look like a typical man or woman can use a toilet as a matter of course is also important.

Honestly, as long as there is a door to a closed room with a toilet then good enough, I say.

The Tokyo metropolitan government is seeking to install universal-use toilets for all genders in the venues it is constructing for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.

What they might want to do is make sure they aren't squat toilets cause those are NOT universal. They might also want to consider having washlets in all toilets. Keep them clean, and watch how the world will rave about the SUPERIOR Japanese public toilets and moves will be made to make them universal; giving Japan's washlet industry a huge boost. my 2 cents.

I'd say a higher priority would be getting soap in public bogs. The number of stations and parks where you're expected to make-believe a sprinkle of cold water is good enough after you've wiped your arse on cheap single-ply bog paper is just unacceptable in a supposedly developed country.

Never mind the cleaning lady the toilets... In Golds gym and other gyms here, a woman will walk in to the men's lockers and showers and start scrubbing as soon as you do.

Oh yeah, that is nostalgic. When I was a kid in the 80s, there were places where there were no urinals but only a metal sheet covering a wall and a trough at the bottom. It was like that at school until the rest rooms were remodeled. You can still find them at train stations in the countryside.

I've never had a problem with cleaning ladies doing their job while I'm in the place but I'm not happy when women come into a men only toilet to use the cubicles because they can't be bothered to stand in line at a women's toilet.This does happen at places that are crowded at busy times.Golden week,New year etc.If a man did the same he'd be arrested immediately.

I am taking this to mean that a man or women whose appearance can be interpreted as either or can feel at ease entering male, female or a universal public convenience.

but I'm not happy when women come into a men only toilet to use the cubicles because they can't be bothered to stand in line at a women's toilet... If a man did the same he'd be arrested immediately.

The line at a women's toilet would be a lot shorter when they realize they don't always have to go to the restroom in pairs, heheh