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By Reuters 
3h ago
Public baths are usually a welcome sight for anyone who’s had too much to drink, but some may think twice when they come across the newly opened ones in a Tokyo park.
Made of special glass, the cubicles turn opaque when the lock is turned, but are otherwise completely transparent, with exposed sinks, urinals and toilets.
The toilets were designed by architect Shigeru Ban as part of the Tokyo Toilet Project, which is supported by The Nippon Foundation, a non-profit organization.
By installing elegant bathrooms in public spaces, the project hopes to change the common view that such facilities are dark and dirty places.
“It would be great to see Tokyo toilets become a model for toilets not just in Japan but around the world,” said Nippon Foundation program director Hayato Hanaoka.
Passersby had mixed reactions.
“It’s really cool, but it wasn’t very relaxing,” said Arisa Komori, 28, who was visiting the park with her friend and had used the bathroom. “But it’s also pretty,” she added, laughing.
Some said that being able to see inside the toilets first made them feel safer when using them.
“You can see right away that there are no suspicious people lurking right away, so I appreciate that I feel more secure in letting my children use the toilets,” said Chieri Kurokawa, 36, who lives nearby and had brought her two young children to play in the park.
As part of the project, renowned architects and designers will redesign a total of 17 public restrooms, including Pritzker Prize winners Tadao Ando and Kengo Kuma.
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