Japanese toilets explained: slippers, buttons and the flush
Which button flushes, why there are separate toilet slippers, and the mistake almost every visitor makes.
Avoid these
Wearing slippers out
Many places have slippers used only inside the toilet. Walking back into the room (or a restaurant) still wearing them is the classic tourist fail.
Pressing every button
The pictogram buttons (おしり / ビデ) are the bidet spray — they do NOT flush. You will get a surprise.
Flushing anything else
Only toilet paper goes in the bowl. Wipes, pads and tissues go in the bin.
Do exactly this
Swap into the slippers
Step into the toilet slippers at the door — and swap back into yours the moment you leave.
Find the flush
To flush, look for 流す, or 大 (big) / 小 (small) — usually a plain button or a lever, not the colourful ones.
Paper only
Toilet paper in the bowl, everything else in the bin. Then slippers off on your way out.
The phrase locals love
nagasu = FLUSH
流す
“Nagasu” (流す) = flush. When the panel is covered in buttons, this is the one you’re hunting for. The おしり / ビデ buttons are just the bidet.
📍 look for it as a plain button, or 大 / 小