Japan’s new guidelines aim to reduce long lines of women at public toilets [Podcast Episode]

By Barrier Free Japan

March 23 2026

TOKYO – Japan’s transport ministry has come up with draft guidelines aimed at reducing long waiting lines at women’s toilets at stations and commercial facilities. At a meeting of experts and businesspeople on Friday 13th March, the ministry presented its first draft guidelines for public restrooms in such places. The guidelines say it is important for both men and women to be able to use restrooms comfortably, and that the waiting times for each must be equal. They also say that the number of toilets for women needs to be higher than those for men at facilities where the number of male and female toilet users are almost the same.

Episode notes:

‘Japan’s new guidelines aim to reduce long lines of women at public toilets’:

Japan’s new guidelines aim to reduce long lines of women at public toilets