TOTO, inaugurated in 1917, is the oldest as well as the largest toilet maker in Japan. Most big businesses in Japan have their head office in mega cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya though, TOTO's head office is in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. The picture shows TOTO Museum adjacent to its head office. This is one of the rare full-scale museums in the world, as the main exhibits are focusing on toilets. From the first modern toilet in Japan down to the latest automated ones, various kinds of toilets in each era are on display here. Toilets aside, a lot of beautiful old dinnerware is also found here. Tracing the history of TOTO, it was separated in 1907 from Noritake, which is a world-famous dinnerware maker, and had been manufacturing dinnerware too till 1970. And TOTO's old dinnerware is still highly appreciated by connoisseurs.
Licensed tour guide, travel consultant,
Masahisa Takaki.
全国通訳案内士 高木聖久。
