Japanese Unit Bath Vrs. American Bathroom
Activity > Not area specific > Culture
All the foreigners in Japan know that the "Japanese Unit Bath" is the greatest thing ever! I'm talking about the "normal" apartment, condo, hotel type set-up and NOT an upper class home set-up. Although, they do have "upper-class" type Unit Baths too that are amazing! Push a button while your making dinner and by the time use have finished dinner the tub is ready and HOT at the exact temperature you set it for. Or, if you are re-using bath water from the previous day (because you always shower spik and span before getting into the tub), it will just re-heat that water. The baths are so-called "soaking baths" and are DEEP. The water actually comes up to your chin and soaking in that deep hot water takes a lot of stress away!
Bathroom Comparison:
"American Bathroom" Vrs. "Japanese Unit Bath"
Advantages
Japanese Unit Bath
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Three people can be using the different facilities (Sink, Shower/Tub, Toilet) at the same time
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There is a "Spray Wand" in sink
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You have BOTH a shower AND a Soaking Bath
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You "Sit Down" to shower using a plastic seat
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In the Shower/Tub area, you can get EVERYTHING wet, it is sealed tight
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"Auto-fill" and "Auto-heat" the Tub. Even from different parts of the house (the water heating system "re-heats" the water from the previous day)
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(Environmental and Economical) Tub water can be used for a couple/few days because you shower before you soak
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(Environmental and Economical) Tub water can be used as the water for the washing machine
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Shower/Tub area includes a "Super Fan" which can be set to "Dry", "Heat" or even "Sauna" the Shower/Tub area
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Toilet seat contains all the latest... personal hygiene "spraying" abilities
American Bathroom
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The actual "area" is larger because everything is in one room
The "unit bath" shown in the image is a typical "lower lever" type unit that would be used in a typical apartment, condo or hotel. There are much nicer and extremely nice Unit Bath systems available for upper-scale and Luxury type homes/resorts as well. In the Western World, "Japanese Soaking Tubs" have become popular recently. A "Japanese Soaking Tub" is a free standing tub you can purchase and place in your existing bathroom but it is different than a Unit Bath system. If you would like to read more about Japanese Soaking Tubs, you might want to check out JapaneseSoakingTubs.com.
