I love my Washlet
Public toilets can be daunting. Actually, they are daunting. Having experienced many kinds of toilets, including the miserable squatting kind, it’s inevitable that I’m most impressed by Japan’s toilet technology–the Washlets.
Though it’s not the first time I’ve heard of the Washlets, invented by Toto and have become a hit among Japanese households. My Japanese teacher had brought them to our attention before in our cultural discussion blog. For some of my U.S. friends, whose most advanced cleaning technology is toilet paper, the Washlet is unsanitary. Still, some were like me—Washlet enthusiasts—and were looking forward to try once.
Be warned though: Washlets are a bit awkward when you first encounter them. The Washlets’ bodies are made of plastic, not porcelain, and were equipped with buttons on the right hand. Generally, there’s a stop button, a buttock button, a bidet button and a spray strength adjustment button. The buttock button is quite straightforward, while the bidet button is strictly for females. But if you’re a naughty man, then go for it. No one would know.
So I admit it. Having something sprayed at your private parts weren’t thinkable at first. But trust me, it becomes addictive after a while. The best part, yet, isn’t the bidet or the spray strength indicator, but the seat.Remember when you put your butt on a toilet seat at home, just to immediately spring up because of the cold surface? Well, that ain’t happening here. The Washlets’ seats are always, always warm. Sweet, isn’t it?
Having used a toilets at a variety of places, I can pretty much guarantee that ordinary toilets are rare. Most places replace the old toilets with the Washlets. Which shows that the Washlets aren’t unsanitary (otherwise the Japanese would’ve faced a special plague). And if you think you can avoid it by using only toilet paper, folks, I’m telling you: you’re missing out big time.
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Sam, I know what you mean! The Washlet is so different from what we have in America and honestly I am a little intimidated by it right now. The first time I saw one here in Japan I was very afraid that it was motion activated or something and it would spray water in my face!! So I have not actually used the washlet feature on it yet…some day soon though I hope to work up the courage!
It will spray water in your face if you don't sit down
Have you tried the "Bidet" function?
No…I don’t think I am interested in that Haha. The other day I was forced to use one of the squat toilets though and it was a crazy process. It took me a little while to even figure out how you use the thing but I did it. I think it came down to your theory that in emergencies out survival instinct takes over haha. That is one Japanese experience that I can check off the list now.
Use your survival instinct in Japan? Wa ha ha. Good job Daniel. Have fun squatting
I thought the same thing " is this thing gonna spray me with something awful!?" Don't miss out on the Squatting toilets either, they may be more primitive but it's fun to squat and pee !
Are you serious? Squatting toilet is the most painful thing—well, if you've had to use them for like ten years. Yes, you can pee because it doesn't take too long. But poop? No way.
hahaha I felt very strange when used it. Do you try every function of it yet?
Oh, I think I did. There aren’t that many functions. Some advanced models have this fake “flushing” sound to cover up your peeing sound. That’s outrageous, don’t you think?
Wow looks kinda high-tech haha! Maybe it's secretly a decepticon or something
and they've thought of everything, since there's this fake flushing sound haha! cover up the unecessary sounds by masking it with the fake flushing sounds 
I did get a bidet but it's not as fancy or as high tech as this one. I got mine here : http://products.mercola.com/toilet-bidet/ but this is better than some of the bidets that I've seen, where the knob is right behind the toilet (really inconvenient)