A Lavatory Hall with Its Own Guardian Deity
Kasuisai Tosu (可睡斎東司) is a Zen temple lavatory hall (tosu) of about 1937 in Kuno, Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on December 19, 2014 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 108 square metres; registration number 22-0199.
A Lavatory with a Guardian on the Dais
The Kasuisai Tosu is a Zen temple lavatory about 8 metres square, with urinals along the south side, closets on the north-east, and Ucchusma, the guardian deity of lavatories, enshrined on a dais in the middle (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The ceiling has paired ribs around the edge, wickerwork panels within and a canopy-like ornament at the centre (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The temple says it is a flushing toilet for both men and women built in 1937, famous as the "best toilet in Japan".
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes its refined design, with latticework in the transoms, and registered it as a model of design.
What to Look For
Look for the deity on the central dais and the canopy-like ornament in the wickerwork ceiling (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Kasuisai (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The two buildings are introduced together on the Kasuisai page. According to the temple, the interior can be visited from 8:00 to 16:30 for an offering of 700 yen.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In about 1937 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What is a tosu?
- The lavatory of a Zen temple; this one is about 8 metres square.
- What is enshrined in the middle?
- Ucchusma, the guardian deity of lavatories.
- Is it still in use?
- The temple describes it as a flushing toilet for men and women.
- When was Kasuisai Tosu registered?
- On December 19, 2014 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Kasuisai Tosu (可睡斎東司) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2915-1 Kuno, Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2014/12/19 (Heisei 26) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, tiled roof, 108 m² |
| Owner | Kasuisai (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Paid entry 8:00-16:30 (Kasuisai) |
References
- Kasuisai Tosu (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00010308
- Visiting information (Kasuisai official site, Japanese)
- https://www.kasuisai.or.jp/wp/p06
Last verified: 2026.10.21
