So I’m getting ready to take advantage of my first 90 day tourist visa in Japan. I have friends who have gone before and lived in short term share houses in order to meet people and save money. My budget isn’t a super big concern here, but I’d like to try and get out more and the way these social houses and share houses operate appeals to me, even as a tourist.
But one thing I’ve noticed is that the toilet to person ratio is pretty rough. Many places have 4+ people per toilet, and 8+ people per shower. Some places are as high as 8-10 people per toilet! How does this work? Do people schedule their toilet and shower times? Am I missing something or is this just a relatively normal thing in Japan? Am I getting concerned over a non-issue? It’s not like I have Crohn’s or regular GI issues or anything, I just truly hate the idea of not being able to use the bathroom when I need to in my own house/hotel.
I’m considering renting a whole Airbnb/apartment for myself to get around this, but I really would like to be more social. I’ve had wonderful experiences in European hostels, but I have little experience in East Asia outside of China.
10 comments
I wouldn’t worry. You’ll all shower at the same time to save time.
Never had a problem being 8 people to a bathroom. Obviously follow etiquette and don’t spend forever in there!
I wouldn’t worry about it. The people to toilet ratio is much higher in hotels, and I’ve never had a problem whether it be in New York City, Montreal, London, all over Japan. There’s a high turnover rate; it’s not like anyone’s in there for hours.
Personally, it is not the sort of lodging I am looking for, but I also don’t have 90 days to spend on vacation, so…
The share houses sound a little like college dorms or off campus housing, which often have similar ratios. I remember yeah, sometimes needing to wait to get a shower back in the dorms, but that was just how life was.
The house I grew up in had 1 shower for 5. (There were technically 2 showers but if you wanted actual hot water, you couldn’t take showers concurrently.)
People stay in those houses to save money, not to live in luxury or even privacy/comfort. So yeah, you’re gonna have to adjust your schedule at times and follow general shared shower etiquette.
Lots of hotels have 8-10:1 toilet ratios, same logic.
Not really addressing your concern, but hostels with private bathrooms do exist in Japan. Might give you the social experience you’re looking for with more privacy. K’s House is one example you could google.
I stayed inside a sharehouse with 30 people and 2 toilets, it’s generally fine. Since it’s very easy to catch the last person who violated the toilet everyone tends to leave it very cleanly.
When you do get sick it’s absolutely horrible though.
Regarding the shower concerns, Japan has public bath houses that you can use if you don’t like worrying about other people’s schedules.
You don’t have to stay in that kind of lodging to have a social trip. I would not advise that at all, sounds like it wouldn’t be ideal.
If you can afford it rent an Airbnb or apartment for sure. If you really want you can do a hostel type thing near the end of your trip for like a few days or however long you’d like.
In this situation I would just try to go to a close by sento