Emergency Toilets: What You Need to Know

If the plan-A doesn’t work, your next option is to look for a toilet in a park, department store, or supermarket. Unlike cats or dogs, we can’t just sneak behind a telephone pole to take care of things, right? Luckily, Asakusa has plenty of department stores and supermarkets, so if you find one nearby, that’s your best bet. Look for a “toilet” there, or feel free to ask the staff for directions.

An important note: while the toilets are usually free to use, it’s good manners to buy something small, like a water or a snack, as a gesture of gratitude. Even if purchasing feels a bit complicated, remember that a little effort goes a long way. You’ve already overcome bigger challenges than this.

As a Plan C, you might consider using the toilets in parks, government offices, hotel lobbies, or train stations. However, these options share one common trait: your presence might feel slightly out of place in these settings. Have you ever gone to a government office in your home country just to ask for a toilet?

Hotel toilets are a decent choice—aside from the fact that you’re not a guest there. In most cases, toilets are located on the same floor as the front desk. Let’s hope the hotel you choose falls into the majority that follow this design.

Train station toilets can be a bit tricky. Many of them are located inside the ticket gates, so you might need to purchase an entry ticket to access them.