Making the most of small spaces

Unlike in the States, toilets in Japan are often in their own room, separate from the shower, bathtub, etc. These small toilet rooms usually include their own sinks, crammed into a tight space. Sometimes the sink is even built into the toilet, so that you can wash your hands while the tank refills.

In the case of our toilet room, there was a tiny sink with a broken spigot when we moved in. A maintenance man promptly replaced the spigot but chose to use an industrial model designed to connect to an outdoor hose. For a long time the sink went unused until we finally thought of a better use: a Totoro garden to match our bathroom decor! Making the most of a small home in Japan means making the most of every small space.