March 24, 2026

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism recently unveiled draft guidelines with the aim of increasing the number of women’s toilets in public places such as train stations, public facilities, airports, passenger ship terminals, bus terminals, and stadiums.

A survey conducted by a woman and Diet debates led by Japanese Communist Party Inoue Satoshi, a former House of Councillors member, have served as the driving force behind this review of restroom installation standards.

Tokyo resident Momose Manami in 2022 began surveying the number of men’s and women’s toilets in public places. She found that the number of men’s toilets, including both stalls and urinals, was 1.75 times that of women’s.

Upon learning of her survey, then Upper House lawmaker Inoue in the Diet repeatedly raised the issue of women being forced to wait in long lines for restrooms. He demanded that the gender disparity in the number of toilets be addressed.

Consequently, the Ministry of Infrastructure has formulated the draft guidelines which require administrative bodies, facility designers, and managers to ensure that in buildings with an equal number of male and female visitors, the number of women’s restrooms exceeds that of men’s.

Recognizing the recent increase in demand for men’s private stalls and the resulting lines, the draft guidelines emphasize that the ratio of private stalls to urinals for men “also needs to be reviewed”. The draft guidelines also emphasize the need to pay greater attention to ensuring that restroom facilities accommodate wheelchair users, people requiring assistance or accompaniment from the opposite sex, and people of sexual minorities.

Past related article:
> Pushed by JCP Dietmember, more women’s restrooms will be built in public spaces [July 18, 2025]