In the middle of Tokyo’s bustling Shibuya district, where neon lights bounce off skyscraper windows and crossing signals guide oceans of people, something utterly strange and delightful waits in the park. Imagine walking past a public toilet with glass walls, seeing straight inside… and then stepping in, locking the door, and watching those walls instantly turn opaque.
It is part magic trick, part architectural marvel, and very much real. The idea sounds like the setup to a prank, but it is a carefully planned feat of design, technology and Japanese hospitality that has left visitors staring in amazement.
A Bold Answer to an Old Problem
Public toilets around the world often share a reputation that keeps people away. They can be dark, dirty and, worse, unpredictable. In Tokyo, where precision and care are woven into everyday life, a bold project set out to change that image entirely. The Nippon Foundation, a private non-profit focused on social innovation, partnered with 16 of Japan’s and the world’s most renowned architects to build 17 public toilet facilities across Shibuya.
Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban created the most extraordinary of them. His two transparent toilets in Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park and Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park use special glass that starts crystal clear but turns cloudy when the door is locked. The concept solves two big worries at once: people can see if the toilet is clean and whether it is occupied before stepping inside. By night, the cubicles glow like colourful lanterns, turning something as ordinary as a trip to the loo into an unexpectedly beautiful moment.
Designs That Dazzle and Disarm
The Tokyo Toilet Project is not just about the transparent wonders. Every facility has been treated as a piece of public art. Masamichi Katayama designed the “Modern Kawaya,” inspired by the earliest Japanese toilets that sat by rivers. His version uses 15 concrete walls arranged in surprising angles, offering privacy while feeling open to the air. Fumihiko Maki’s “Squid Toilet” in a children’s playground brings a sense of fun and whimsy. Designer Nao Tamura created an “Origata” toilet, folding architecture into a symbolic nod to inclusion and awareness for the LGBTQ+ community.
Even the fashion world has made its mark. Designer NIGO® and industrial design icons like Marc Newson have contributed to the line-up, each facility completely unique in form, colour and inspiration. By June 2023, all 17 toilets were completed and opened to the public, offering a rare combination of practical function and cutting-edge creativity.
The Pressure of a Lock
Visitors often admit to feeling a nervous thrill the first time they enter the transparent toilets. The moment they turn the lock and the glass walls change, there is a rush of relief mixed with lingering curiosity. From inside, it is impossible to tell if the glass has truly gone opaque, which adds an element of playful suspense.
The importance of locking the door properly cannot be overstated. During early visits, onlookers laughed when someone forgot to do so, proving that the design still requires human attention. Yet the success of these toilets lies in how they transform a basic necessity into an interactive experience, something rare enough to become a talking point for travellers and locals alike.
From Olympic Ambitions to Global Fame
Originally planned to coincide with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the project aimed to showcase omotenashi, the Japanese concept of wholehearted hospitality. The Nippon Foundation believed that hospitality should extend to everyone, regardless of gender, age or ability, and that public toilets could tangibly demonstrate inclusivity. Accessibility has been built into every facility, with layouts designed in consultation with toilet manufacturer TOTO.
The project has since grown beyond its original purpose. In April 2024, management of the toilets passed to Shibuya City, ensuring their upkeep for years to come. Internationally, they have captured imaginations. Photographer Ulana Switucha won first place in the Architecture & Design category at the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards with her series of Tokyo Toilet images. Media outlets from The Guardian to CNN have showcased them as symbols of how design can reinvent even the most mundane part of daily life.
An Unexpected Landmark
Tourists now visit the toilets not because they need to, but because they want to see them. Locals treat them as landmarks, guiding friends to “the lantern toilets” at night or pointing out the architectural flourishes of their favourites. Shibuya, already famous for its scramble crossing and youth culture, has found a new icon in something no one expected.
In a city that prides itself on innovation, the Tokyo Toilet Project has turned a private moment into a public spectacle, without losing comfort or dignity. It is a rare reminder that even the most minor parts of urban life can be extraordinary when creativity and care meet. Believe it or not, in Tokyo, even a trip to the loo can be worth the journey.
