Researched guide · Checked on Oct 21, 2026
A see-through glass toilet that turns opaque when you lock the door, a “toilet village” of cedar huts in the woods, a round pavilion by Tadao Ando: THE TOKYO TOILET turned 17 public toilets in Shibuya into works by 16 world-class creators. They are free, open to everyone, and an unusual way to explore the neighborhoods around Shibuya, Harajuku and Ebisu.
Quick answer
What: 17 redesigned public toilets in Shibuya City, by creators including Shigeru Ban, Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma, Toyo Ito and Fumihiko Maki.
For everyone: every toilet is wheelchair accessible and has a Washlet. Some have ostomate facilities.
Cost: free, like any public toilet.
Five to see
- Shigeru Ban (Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park and Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park): colored glass walls you can see through, so you can check from outside that the toilet is clean and empty. Lock the door and the glass turns opaque. At night they glow like lanterns.
- Tadao Ando, “Amayadori” (Jingu-Dori Park): a round building with a spreading roof and a wall of vertical louvers that lets in wind and light.
- Kengo Kuma, “A Walk in the Woods” (Nabeshima Shoto Park): a “toilet village” of five huts clad in cedar boards set at random angles, linked by a path through the trees.
- Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall, “Modern Kawaya” (Ebisu Park): inspired by the kawaya, the ancient Japanese hut over a river, and designed to stand in the park like playground equipment.
- Kashiwa Sato, “WHITE” (Ebisu Station, West Exit): a pure white toilet next to the police box in front of the station, designed to feel clean and easy to enter.
All 17 locations
| Location | Address (Shibuya City) | Creator |
|---|---|---|
| Ebisu Station, West Exit | 1-5-8 Ebisu-Minami | Kashiwa Sato |
| Ebisu Park | 1-19-1 Ebisu-Nishi | Masamichi Katayama / Wonderwall |
| Ebisu East Park | 1-2-16 Ebisu | Fumihiko Maki |
| Hiroo East Park | 4-2-27 Hiroo | Tomohito Ushiro |
| Higashi Sanchome | 3-27-1 Higashi | Nao Tamura |
| Jingu-Dori Park | 6-22-8 Jingumae | Tadao Ando |
| Jingumae | 1-3-14 Jingumae | NIGO® |
| Urasando | 4-28-1 Sendagaya | Marc Newson |
| Nabeshima Shoto Park | 2-10-7 Shoto | Kengo Kuma |
| Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park | 1-54-1 Tomigaya | Shigeru Ban |
| Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park | 5-68-1 Yoyogi | Shigeru Ban |
| Yoyogi-Hachiman | 5-1-2 Yoyogi | Toyo Ito |
| Nishisando | 3-27-1 Yoyogi | Sou Fujimoto |
| Nishihara Itchome Park | 1-29-1 Nishihara | Takenosuke Sakakura |
| Nanago Dori Park | 2-53-5 Hatagaya | Kazoo Sato |
| Hatagaya | 3-37-8 Hatagaya | Miles Pennington / UTokyo DLX Design Lab |
| Sasazuka Greenway | 1-29 Sasazuka | Junko Kobayashi |
Clean by design
The project focused on maintenance as much as design. Toilets are cleaned up to three times a day, with a deeper clean once a month and a special clean once a year, and they are checked by a third-party toilet consultant. All 17 were open by March 2024, and since April 2024 Shibuya City has managed them.
Tips for visiting
- These are working public toilets in everyday parks and streets. Be considerate of people using them, and do not photograph anyone inside or waiting.
- Combine a few on a walk: three are in the Ebisu area (Ebisu Station West Exit, Ebisu Park and Ebisu East Park), and two are in Jingumae, the Harajuku area (Jingumae and Jingu-Dori Park). See our Harajuku guide and Ebisu guide.
FAQ
What is THE TOKYO TOILET?
A project that redesigned 17 public toilets in Shibuya City with 16 world-class creators, including Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma and Shigeru Ban.
Are THE TOKYO TOILET toilets free?
Yes. They are public toilets and free to use.
Which is the transparent toilet?
Shigeru Ban’s toilets in Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park and Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park. The glass turns opaque when you lock the door.
Are they wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Every location is wheelchair accessible, and all have a Washlet.
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Sources
Locations, creators, designs and maintenance come from THE TOKYO TOILET’s official website by The Nippon Foundation (checked October 21, 2026).
