Do You Need a High-Tech Toilet?

The toilets of today come with cleaning capabilities and technology that can warm you up. Paul Spella (Shutterstock 2) Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Fresh off a 14-hour flight from New York, I arrived in Tokyo in a jet-lagged brain fog.

I found a pleasant surprise in my hotel room that night — a toilet that illuminated itself and had a warm seat. But then came the hard part: flushing. It wasn’t as easy as pressing a

lever.

Instead, the toilet was outfitted with buttons next to the seat, offering myriad functions. Luckily, pictographs, like tiny cartoons, helped me along. I managed to find the warm-water bidet

spray and eventually the flush button.

I lived in Japan for a while in my younger days, and even in the 1990s most restrooms were outfitted with “smart” toilets like this, so I wasn’t shocked to find one in my hotel room. And

while they take a bit of adjustment, I have come to appreciate the, er, upside. 

Upon returning to the U.S., I not only hankered for miso soup and grilled mackerel but also a warm throne with cleaning capabilities.

Related: How a smart home can help you or a loved one age in place

Many Americans agree. According to experts at Kohler and Toto, two leaders in bathroom fixtures, a demand for convenience and cleanliness is rising, not just for the user but for the toilet

itself. A 2024 National Kitchen and Bath Association trend report says buyers are interested in toilets that clean themselves after every flush, warm the seat, and open and close the lid

automatically.

Warm-water bidet systems and air drying are also catching on in the U.S., says Bill Strang, president of corporate strategy at Toto USA. A 2024 report from home remodeling website Houzz

shows that 41 percent of bathroom renovations feature tech toilets with particular interest in bidet function, heated seats, night lights and self-cleaning.

Part of this trend can be attributed to the aging of America. Andrew Van Gorden, a Kohler senior product manager, says such functions can be beneficial in a household with aging family

members dealing with mobility issues.

But how much are technological advancements in toileting worth?