Oddities of Japan .. transparent bathrooms in public gardens

Japanese architects have created "strange" bathrooms that have recently opened in a number of public gardens, as they consist of transparent glass panels that can be seen inside as long as they are not occupied, but there is a secret in the unique design.

The toilets, which have been installed in some Tokyo metropolitan parks, consist of what engineers have called "smart glass," which turns opaque when the cabins are occupied, so whoever is inside cannot be seen.

Transparent toilets are currently distributed in 5 locations in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, as part of a campaign organized by the non-profit Nippon Foundation, called the "Tokyo Toilet Project."

The foundation responsible for the project said, "There are important practical considerations behind the construction of transparent toilets. The first relates to making sure that they are clean before entering them, and the second is knowing that the place is occupied if it is dark, and thus searching for another."

And using a new technology, the foundation said that the outer glass walls of the compartments turn to dark after locking the door, and they give the garden an aesthetic view at night, as they are lit with what looks like lanterns, according to the company.

The toilets come with all their tools, as they contain a washbasin and dryer, and they are equipped with a seat heating service, as well as their covers that open and close automatically.

It should be noted that the company behind the transparent toilets project plans to install toilets in 17 sites in Shibuya, Tokyo, by next spring.