The Tokyo Toilet Project: When Public Restrooms Become Design

Discover how a Shibuya project turned seventeen public toilets into works of architecture, who designed them, and why cleanliness and inclusion sit at its center.

Published October 19, 2026 at 10:23 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: The Tokyo Toilet is a project that renovated seventeen public restrooms in Shibuya, Tokyo, with designs by sixteen internationally known architects and creators. Launched by The Nippon Foundation with Shibuya City, with the first toilets opening in 2020, it aims to make public toilets safe, clean and welcoming for everyone, regardless of gender, age or disability.

What the project is

The Tokyo Toilet is a public-design project in Shibuya, one of Tokyo's busiest wards. Seventeen public toilets in parks and along streets were rebuilt or redesigned, each by a different creator or team, and the project has drawn coverage from design and architecture publications. Shibuya is known worldwide for its crossing, shops and nightlife, but the project looks at a quieter corner of city life. Together the buildings show that a public restroom can be a small piece of architecture and a place that people feel comfortable using.

The Nippon Foundation, a Japanese philanthropic organization, launched the project in cooperation with the Shibuya City government. The first toilets opened in 2020, and the seventeenth opened in March 2023, with the whole set announced as complete in June 2023. Since April 2024, responsibility for the project has moved to the Shibuya city government. The official project website describes the toilets as a symbol of Japan's hospitality culture and says they are meant to last for years, which is why upkeep receives as much attention as the original design.

Why public toilets were chosen

The stated aim is to make public toilets usable by everyone, regardless of gender, age or disability, as a step toward a more diverse and inclusive society. The Nippon Foundation also describes a wish to change a familiar image of public toilets as dark, dirty, smelly or frightening, so that they feel safe and pleasant instead.

Toilets are an everyday service that visitors and residents use in every season, which makes them a practical place to express a city's values. In Japan, hospitality (omotenashi) is often described as paying attention to small details, and the project presents the toilet as one example of that attitude. The idea also fits Japan's broader attention to shared spaces, where clean public facilities are widely valued as part of daily life. A well-kept public facility also makes a park or street easier for older people, parents with small children and people with limited mobility to enjoy.

The designers and architects

Sixteen creators from Japan and abroad were invited to design the toilets. They include the architects Tadao Ando, Toyo Ito, Kengo Kuma, Sou Fujimoto, Fumihiko Maki and Shigeru Ban, who designed two of them, along with the designer Marc Newson and the creator NIGO. Several of the architects are winners of the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Because each designer worked independently, the buildings look very different from one another. Some are compact structures set in parks, while others sit beside streets or station areas. The creators come from architecture, product design and fashion, so the group reflects several design traditions. The variety is part of the idea: rather than one standard model repeated seventeen times, the project offers a small series of distinct designs that people can discover one by one.

Locations in Shibuya

All seventeen toilets are in Shibuya Ward, spread across several neighborhoods. Reference sources list locations including Hatagaya, Yoyogi, Ebisu, Sasazuka, Hiro-o and others. Many stand in or beside parks, which fits the project's goal of making outdoor public spaces more welcoming.

Because the sites span several neighborhoods, a plan that groups nearby ones works best. The official project website provides the full list and a way to find each location, so that is the best place to plan a walk. Because the sites are spread out, a visitor can combine two or three of them with a park stroll or a day exploring the area. Check the official page before setting out, and allow a little extra time to find each address, since facilities can be closed temporarily for cleaning or maintenance.

The glass that turns opaque

One of the best-known designs is Shigeru Ban's toilet at Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park, which has transparent outer walls. When the user locks the door, the glass turns frosted and gives privacy. The design is widely reported and has drawn media attention as an inventive way to combine openness with privacy in a park setting.

Not every design uses glass in this way, since each creator chose a different approach to form, materials and layout. Those who want to know how a particular building works are best served by the official project pages, which describe each of the seventeen toilets and its designer.

How the toilets are kept clean

The project treats cleaning and maintenance as just as important as design. According to The Nippon Foundation, staff clean the toilets two or three times a day, and the cleaning uniforms were designed under the supervision of NIGO. The project site adds that professional inspectors check the facilities periodically.

The official project site says that wheelchair access is possible at all locations, that ostomate facilities are available at some of them, and that the toilets have warm-water bidet seats of the kind common in Japan.

Using the toilets politely and planning a visit

These are working public facilities, so the most considerate way to enjoy them is to use them as intended. Follow the posted instructions, put waste in the right place, and leave the room tidy for the next person. Toilets are used by people of every age, so avoid occupying one for photographs when others may be waiting, and take pictures of the exterior from a respectful distance.

For a walking plan, pick two or three locations in the same neighborhood from the official list and add a park or a museum stop. Shibuya has plenty of cafes and shops along the way, and the area is well served by trains and buses. Opening arrangements and maintenance can change over time, so look at the official page for the latest information before you go.

Public toilets elsewhere in Japan are also often clean and well supplied, especially in stations, department stores and convenience stores, and many offer features such as baby-changing spaces. This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official project pages before you act.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who started The Tokyo Toilet project?

The Nippon Foundation launched the project in cooperation with the Shibuya City government. The first toilets opened in 2020, and all seventeen were complete by 2023, after a rollout of several years. Since April 2024, the project has been transferred to the Shibuya city government, according to the foundation's project page.

How many toilets are there, and who designed them?

There are seventeen public toilets in Shibuya, designed by sixteen creators. Shigeru Ban designed two of them. The group includes Tadao Ando, Toyo Ito, Kengo Kuma, Sou Fujimoto, Fumihiko Maki, Marc Newson and NIGO, among others. The official project site lists all sixteen designers.

Can anyone use these toilets?

They are public toilets built for everyone, including people of different genders, ages and abilities, and they are intended for ordinary use by residents and visitors alike. The official site says wheelchair access is possible at all locations and that ostomate facilities are available at some. Locations and conditions can change, so check the official page for the current list and any temporary closures.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Tokyo, Made Simple is available on Amazon.

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