A walking route through all 17 public toilets of The Tokyo Toilet Project — an initiative commissioning world-renowned architects and designers (Tadao Ando, Shigeru Ban, Kengo Kuma, Toyo Ito, Fumihiko Maki, Marc Newson, Sou Fujimoto, NIGO and more) to reinvent the humble public restroom as a piece of neighborhood architecture. Every stop is a tiny, free, 24/7 building worth visiting in its own right. Shibuya, end to end.
Stops
1
You'll find yourself standing before what looks like a forest of white trees sprouting from the urban landscape—Sou Fujimoto's radical reimagining of the humble public toilet. This isn't just a restroom; it's a meditation on nature and architecture, where 15 concrete columns crea
2
Marc Newson's Urasando toilet transforms a utilitarian necessity into sculptural art, with flowing curves that feel more like a contemporary art installation than public infrastructure. The sleek, monolithic form seems to emerge organically from the urban landscape, its seamless
3
You'll discover NIGO's playful take on public architecture in this vibrant Jingumae restroom that feels more like a contemporary art installation than a utility. The fashion designer turned architect has created a bold, colorful structure that reflects the creative energy of Hara
4
You're standing before Tadao Ando's masterpiece in miniature—a public toilet that doubles as a meditation on geometry and light. The concrete prism rises from Jingu-Dori Park with Ando's signature precision, its angular form creating dramatic shadows that shift throughout the day
5
You'll discover Kengo Kuma's masterful interpretation of public architecture nestled in quiet Shoto, where his signature wooden lattice work transforms a humble restroom into a meditation on Japanese craft traditions. The structure breathes with organic warmth, its intricately wo
6
You'll discover Pritzker Prize winner Shigeru Ban's ingenious transparent toilet that challenges every assumption about public restrooms. When vacant, the frosted glass walls become completely clear, revealing the pristine interior and creating an unexpected architectural spectac
7
You'll discover one of Shigeru Ban's most playful architectural experiments tucked into this quiet Yoyogi park. The Pritzker Prize winner has created transparent glass walls that magically turn opaque when you lock the door, transforming privacy through innovative smart glass tec
8
You'll discover one of Tokyo's most unexpectedly elegant public restrooms, where Pritzker Prize-winning architect Toyo Ito has transformed a utilitarian structure into a work of art. The design features flowing, organic curves that blur the boundaries between interior and exterio
9
You'll discover one of Tokyo's most thoughtfully designed public spaces in this unassuming neighborhood park. Architect Takenosuke Sakakura has created a restroom that feels more like a serene pavilion, with clean geometric lines and materials that speak to Japanese minimalism
10
You'll find yourself face-to-face with one of Tokyo's most elegant architectural surprises in this quiet Hatagaya park. Kazoo Sato's design transforms the humble public toilet into a study of refined minimalism, where clean geometric forms and thoughtful materiality create an une
11
You'll discover an unexpected architectural gem where Miles Pennington and UTokyo's DLX Design Lab have reimagined the humble public toilet as a sophisticated piece of neighborhood infrastructure. Their design philosophy centers on creating a dignified, almost residential presenc
12
You'll discover Junko Kobayashi's thoughtful meditation on public space nestled along the Sasazuka Greenway, where architecture becomes an act of urban kindness. Her design embraces the surrounding parkland with gentle curves and natural materials that feel more like a pavilion t
13
You're standing before what might be Tokyo's most striking geometric puzzle—a public toilet that doubles as avant-garde neighborhood sculpture. Masamichi Katayama of Wonderwall has created a bold, angular composition that challenges every preconception about public facilities
14
You'll discover that even a train station toilet can be a masterpiece when Kashiwa Sato applies his legendary branding genius to public architecture. This sleek, minimalist pavilion transforms the mundane act of using a restroom into an encounter with world-class design philosoph
15
You'll discover that even the most utilitarian spaces can become poetry in concrete when visionary design meets everyday necessity. Nao Tamura's restroom transforms the mundane act of finding relief into an encounter with thoughtful minimalism, where clean lines and carefully con
16
You'll discover that even the most utilitarian spaces can become architectural poetry in the right hands. Fumihiko Maki's elegant intervention transforms a simple public necessity into a sculptural pavilion that feels more like a meditation on light and form than a restroom
17
You'll discover an unexpected architectural gem disguised as a public restroom in peaceful Hiroo East Park. Tomohito Ushiro's design transforms the mundane necessity into a contemplative pavilion that feels more like a meditation space than a toilet