Tokyo remodels airport toilets with voice guides for the blind

To prepare for the likely 40 million visitors for the 2020 Olympic games, the Japanese government has launched a national toilet improvement campaign.

The new campaign focuses on public facilities, and aims to redesign comfort rooms for all types of users from around the world.

Tokyo’s Narita airport has singing toilets, beeping bidets and sanitary wipes for smartphones.

Two new bathrooms in Narita’s Terminal 2 include a voice-guidance system that helps blind users and a light alert system to help signal to the deaf in emergencies.

There are also double-wide stalls for travelers with service animals. These pet-friendly units have leash hooks, pet mats and cans for dog waste disposal.

All bathrooms have been modelled according to universal design, which means eliminating barriers for the most number of users.

Universal design touches in Narita’s airport restrooms include directions for visually impaired, braille and tactile information panels, toilet bowls with handrails, hooks for putting canes and umbrellas, lowered washbasins, wheelchair compatible toilets and emergency alarms.