KireiLens — Read every toilet button in your language

What it does

Live camera OCR

Point your iPhone at a panel. Each button is labeled on-screen in real time.

32 terms × 8 languages

Flush, rear wash, bidet, stop, odor control, emergency call — the buttons that matter in a hurry.

Works offline

Everything runs on-device. No signal needed. No images ever leave your iPhone.

Emergency-first

Emergency call buttons are highlighted in red so you never confuse them with flush or bidet.

How it works

Open KireiLens

Point the camera at the panel on the wall or beside the seat.

Read the overlay

Each Japanese button gets a label in your chosen language, right on the image.

Tap for details

Tap a button to see a one-sentence explanation of what it actually does.

How to Use a Japanese Toilet — Button by Button

Japanese toilet control panels show 8 to 15 buttons, almost always in Japanese only. Most travelers worry about the same three things: how to flush, how to stop the bidet, and how not to press the emergency call button by mistake. This quick guide walks through every button you are likely to meet on a TOTO, LIXIL, INAX, or Panasonic panel.

Flush — 大 (full) and 小 (half)

These two kanji are the most important on the whole panel. 大 (dai) is a full flush for solids; 小 (shou) is a half flush for liquid only. They are usually on the wall panel rather than on the seat-side panel. If you only see a single 流す button, that means simply 'flush'.

Stop — 止 (tomeru) — the most important button to know

If a bidet stream surprises you, look for the orange or red button labeled 止. Press it once and the water stops immediately. If you remember only one button before your trip to Japan, remember this one.

Rear wash — おしり (oshiri)

おしり literally means 'bottom'. Pressing it starts a warm stream from the rear nozzle. Water pressure is usually adjustable with a separate 弱 (weak) and 強 (strong) pair, and position can be moved with 前 / 後 (front / back) arrows.

Bidet — ビデ (bidet)

ビデ is the front bidet, designed for women. It uses a different nozzle from the rear wash. The same 止 button stops both. Some panels also offer ソフト (soft) for a gentler stream.

Emergency — 呼出 / 非常 (call / emergency)

In public bathrooms, a bright red or orange button labeled 呼出 or 非常 is an emergency call button — not a flush. Pressing it alerts staff. KireiLens highlights these buttons in red on the live overlay so you never confuse them with the flush.

Other useful buttons

音 / 音姫 (sound / sound-princess) plays a flushing sound to mask noise. 脱臭 (deshuu) runs an odor-extractor fan. 乾燥 (kansou) is a warm-air dryer. 便座 (benza) toggles the seat heater. Most heated functions are silent and need no attention.

Every public toilet in Japan has a 止 button somewhere on the panel. Combined with KireiLens overlaying every label in your language, you will never press the wrong button again.

Frequently asked questions

Does it need the internet?

No. KireiLens runs entirely on your iPhone. Works in Airplane Mode.

Which languages does it support?

English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, and German.

Is it free?

Free for the first 3 minutes from your first scan. A ¥400 one-time purchase unlocks unlimited scanning for your entire trip. No subscription, ever.

Are my photos uploaded?

No. Images are analyzed on-device and are never uploaded to any server.

Which toilets are supported?

The panels you'll encounter in Japanese hotels, airports, stations, and restaurants — including models by TOTO, LIXIL, Panasonic, and INAX.

Travel Japan. Touch no wrong button.

Launching on the App Store. Need help or have feedback? Get in touch.

Contact support

Point your camera. Read every button.