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A new exhibition hall, the "Toilet Culture Museum," which spreads Japan's toilet culture to the world, will open on April 17, 2025 at the INAX Live Museum.
Image of the completed "Toilet Culture Museum"
Operated by LIXIL Corporation (hereinafter LIXIL), the cultural facility 'INAX Live Museum' in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture, which conveys the charm of soil and ceramics, will open the exhibition hall 'Toilet Culture Museum' that disseminates Japan's toilet culture to the public from Thursday, April 17, 2025.
LIXIL's domestic water and tile business in Japan celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024. Since its establishment in 1924 in Tokoname, Aichi, known as the town of six ancient kilns, Ina Seito Co., Ltd. (later INAX, now LIXIL) has been pursuing new values for living and creating numerous innovations. Especially, sanitary ceramics such as toilets have been manufactured since the end of World War II in 1945 and will celebrate their 80th anniversary next year in 2025.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Water & Tile Division, the 'Toilet Culture Museum' will open as the seventh facility of the INAX Live Museum. From the era of wooden toilets to lavishly decorated ceramic toilets, and eventually to modern toilets that have undergone water flushing and achieved technical development and spatial enhancement combining Japanese and Western styles, visitors can trace the evolution through approximately 50 actual exhibits and rich material displays.
Through the exhibition, we hope that you can see the evolution of Japan's toilets and also feel the spirit of Japan that seeks cleanliness and purity in toilets as a background.
■ Overview of the facility
Location: 1-130 Okueicho, Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture (inside INAX Live Museum)
Site Area: 732.4 m² Floor Area: 405.7 m² (1st floor Portico approx. 50 m², 2nd floor Exhibition room approx. 180 m²)
Design: Nankajima Workshop First-Class Architect Office (Jointly Morikawa Design) Construction: Kohara Construction Co., Ltd.
Interior and Exhibition: Tanseisha Co., Ltd.
Building: Reinforced Concrete / Wooden 2-Story Indoor Exhibition Hall
■ Exhibition Overview (2nd Floor Permanent Exhibition Room)
From the era of non-flush wooden and ceramic toilets, through the transition to flush toilets, explore the unique development of Japanese toilets incorporating advanced Western technology with actual toilets, illustrations, statistical data, etc. representing each era. The exhibition includes epoch-making toilets such as Japan's first domestically-produced warm-water bidet toilet and the 19th-century British flush toilet developed ahead of the world.
2nd Floor Permanent Exhibition Room Image
■Overview of INAX Live Museum
Location: 1-130 Okusaka-cho, Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture.
TEL: 0569-34-8282
Closed on Wednesdays (open on public holidays), year-end and New Year holidays.
New common entrance fees (after April 2025): General: 1000 yen, Students: 800 yen, Junior and Senior High School Students: 500 yen, Elementary School Students: 250 yen
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LIXIL opens a cultural facility in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture, the technology base for ceramic products. It consists of six buildings: 'Kiln Square & Museum,' 'Global Tile Museum,' 'Origin of Architectural Ceramics Museum,' 'Clay & Mud House,' 'Ceramic Craft Studio,' and 'Ceramic Workshop,' forming an experiential museum. In April 17, 2025, they plan to open the 'Toilet Culture Museum' to showcase Japan's toilet culture. From soil to ceramics, they convey the history, culture, beauty, and joy. They offer experiential classes, exhibitions, and workshops where you can experience the charm of soil and ceramics.