Toilet Culture Museum

Toilet Culture Museum : A New Exhibition Space Dedicated to Japanese Toilet CultureThe “Toilet Culture Museum,” an innovative exhibition center dedicated to spreading Japanese toilet culture worldwide, will open to the public on April 17, 2025, at the INAX Live Museum.

The INAX Live Museum, located in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture, is a cultural facility managed by LIXIL Corporation (hereinafter referred to as LIXIL) and is dedicated to showcasing the beauty of ceramics and clay. To mark its centennial, LIXIL will inaugurate the Toilet Culture Museum, an exhibition space tracing the history and evolution of Japanese toilets.

A Century of Innovation in Japanese Sanitary Ware

In 2024, LIXIL will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its business in the ceramics and sanitaryware industry. Founded in 1924 in Tokoname, one of Japan’s historic Six Ancient Kiln cities, the company has continually introduced new innovations in the field. Ceramic sanitaryware production began in 1945, shortly after World War II, and in 2025, it will celebrate its 80th anniversary.

An Exhibition Showcasing the Evolution of Toilets

The Toilet Culture Museum will be the seventh exhibition space at the INAX Live Museum, celebrating a century of toilet and tile manufacturing. Featuring approximately 50 exhibits and extensive historical documentation, the museum will present a journey through the development of toilets, from early wooden models to elaborately decorated ceramic fixtures and modern flush systems that combine advanced technology with Japanese aesthetics and functionality.

The exhibition aims to highlight the evolution of Japanese toilets and the deep cultural values behind them, emphasizing the country’s enduring pursuit of cleanliness and purity.

Facility Details

– Location: 1-130 Okuei-cho, Tokoname-shi, Aichi (inside the INAX Live Museum)
– Site Area: 732.4 m²
– Total Exhibition Area: 405.7 m²
– Design: Minami-Shimashima Architects & Associates
– Construction: Kajima Corporation
– Interior and Exhibition Design: Tanseisha Co., Ltd.
– Building Structure: Reinforced concrete and wood, with a two-story indoor exhibition hall

Permanent Exhibition (2nd Floor)

The permanent exhibition will illustrate the history and evolution of Japanese toilets through representative artifacts from each era, historical documents, and statistical data. It will feature iconic toilet models, including Japan’s first toilet with a warm-water washing function and the world’s first flush toilet from 19th-century Britain.

INAX Live Museum Information

– Address: 1-130 Okuei-cho, Tokoname-shi, Aichi-ken
– Phone: 0569-34-8282
– Closed: Wednesdays (open on public holidays), New Year holidays
– Admission Fees (from April 2025):
– Adults: 1,000 yen
– University Students: 800 yen
– Middle & High School Students: 500 yen
– Elementary School Students: 250 yen
– Website:

A Cultural Hub Dedicated to Ceramics

The INAX Live Museum is a premier cultural center for ceramics, located in Tokoname City. The facility comprises six exhibition buildings: the Kiln Plaza and Archives, the World Tile Museum, the Origins of Architectural Pottery Museum, the Mud Museum, the Ceramic Studio, and the Pottery Studio. On April 17, 2025, the Toilet Culture Museum will join this network of museums to promote Japanese bathroom culture.

Through a journey from clay to ceramics, the museum will showcase the history, beauty, and value of this industry. Visitors can also participate in hands-on workshops, special exhibitions, and interactive activities to explore the fascinating world of ceramics and clay craftsmanship.