#14: Ebisu Park

Modern Kawaya

Location #14 is at 1-19-1 Ebisu-Nishi, Shibuya, in Ebisu Park.

The designer, Masamichi Katayama, wrote that toilets originated in kawaya, a hut that stood over a river, dating back to the early Jōmon period of 10,000 to 6,000 BCE.

"Trying to envision the appearance and atmosphere of the primitive kawaya of the past, we built an "ambiguous space" that is simultaneously an object and a toilet by randomly combining 15 concrete walls. The spaces between the walls lead users into three different areas designed for men, women, and everyone. The design creates a unique relationship in which users are invited to interact with the facility as if they are playing with a curious piece of playground equipment."

Visiting the Toilet

The designer wrote:

The design creates a unique relationship in which users are invited to interact with the facility as if they are playing with a curious piece of playground equipment.

Well, yes, it looks like a maze at first. The women's entrance is at far right, the men's and universal entrances are around to the left.

The men's entrance is at left, the universal at right, and the women's is out of sight to the right and around the end of a wall.

The walls, both outside and inside, are cast concrete with strong wood grain patterns.

Here's the floor plan.

Moving on to the Next Location

I returned to Ebisu Station, where the next location is at the station's northwest exit.

Four Tokyo Toilet project facilities are within short walking distance from Ebisu Station — #13, #14, #15, and #16. The JR Yamanote Line, Saikyō Line, and Shōnan-Shinjuku Line serve Ebisu Station, as does the Hibiya Line of the subway.

Next❯ #15: Ebisu Station

Tokyo Toilet — Overview and Introduction
#1: Sasazuka Greenway #2: Hatagaya #3: Nanagō Dōri Park #4: Nishihara 1-chōme Park #5: Nishisandō #6: Yoyogi Hachiman #7: Haru No Ogawa Community Park #8: Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park #9: Urasando #10: Jingūmae #11: Jingū Dōri Park #12: Nabeshima Shōtō Park #13: Higashi Sanchome Park #14: Ebisu Park #15: Ebisu Station #16: Ebisu East Park #17: Hiroo East Park