Bathrooms

One of the big differences between the United States and Japan is the layout of their bathrooms. In the US you have one room with the toilet, sink and bathtub/shower; in Japan they are all separate rooms. You enter the bathroom and in front of you is the sink and washing machine and to the left and right are doors which lead to the toilet and bathtub/shower. The picture to the left was taken standing in the toilet and you can see the corner of the sink/vanity and the washing machine as well as the open doorway into the shower. You can't see the tub in the picture because it is behind that wall.

It's not a bad idea, especially if you have a one bathroom house - one person could be using the toilet while another is brushing his teeth and a third is taking a shower and each person has complete privacy, rather than the American way where one person is hogging up the whole bathroom.

The bathtubs are also deeper in Japan. Sitting in the tub, the water would easily reach up to the neck of a normal adult. In Japan, though, you don't just jump into the tub; first you take a shower so that you are nice and clean before getting into the bathtub. Taking a bath in Japan is all about relaxing and not about wallowing in your own filth.

The only drawback to this set-up? That claustrophobic feeling you get in the tiny toilet dropping a deuce.