Abstract
In Japan, the concentration of various functions of accessible restrooms has been recommended in order to help a wide variety of people, including those with infants and toddlers use the accessible restroom. Today, it is recommended to distribute the functions of accessible restrooms to general restrooms. This research shows the actual circumstances of functional distribution at railroad stations and other facilities, and clarified that functional distribution is steadily being promoted. Compared with Europe and the United States, there is the possibility that Japan’s policy of recommending functional distribution is unique. Furthermore, it became clear that the issue of wheelchair users and others who can only use accessible restrooms because a variety of users use accessible restrooms has been established based solely on questionnaire surveys, and the policy has been implemented without sufficient fact-finding surveys. Additionally, this research also shows that it may be more efficient to use multi-functional restrooms instead of distributing functions depending on the individuality of the facility.
