The Red Light That Started It All

Our toilet is almost 10 years old. Our building was built in 2016, and while it’s still working fine, we recently saw a red blinking light on our Lixil toilet. A blinking light is never a good sign, but since nothing seemed wrong, we checked the user manual. It turns out that even without a problem, a red blink means it’s time for a regular inspection from Lixil.

We didn’t bother calling anyone right away, but the idea of an upgrade started taking root. In Japan, toilets are now treated much like electrical appliances, with many manufacturers recommending replacement after about 10 years—similar to the advice given for air conditioners. We’ve always wanted to update ours, along with the flooring, so this felt like the perfect excuse.

Why We Decided to Upgrade

Sure, part of me knows it’s a strategy to sell more toilets. But once the seed is planted, there’s no going back. We use this thing multiple times a day, and it could easily be a noticeable quality-of-life improvement. Our household rule is never to skimp on things we use daily—and a toilet definitely qualifies.

Researching Our Options

As with any big purchase, we did our homework— ChatGPT, and YouTube were especially helpful. We became mini-experts in toilet features and market options. In Japan, Toto is king, with Lixil/INAX in a solid second. Panasonic is around as a cheaper alternative, but really, it’s Toto vs. Lixil. Both offer tankless models, which was exactly what we wanted. Toto has the Neorest series; Lixil has the Satis series.

At first, we leaned toward Toto. But after sitting on actual display models in a store, we changed our minds—Lixil simply felt more comfortable. We then visited the Lixil Showroom in Shinjuku to compare models and choose flooring. Our final choice: the Satis X in noble gray. For the floor, a dark gray tile designed specifically for toilets. We’re keeping the white diatomite walls but repainting the overhead cabinets from brown to white. The look: white, light (noble) gray, and dark gray.

Finding the Right Renovation Company

We found a local renovation company through the Lixil website, making sure they were accredited so they’d know exactly how to install both the toilet and the tiles. After several meetings and lots of messages to finalize the design, materials, and schedule, all that remained was to get building management approval and send our neighbors an apology notice for any noise or inconvenience. The renovation company sent its own notice—with branded towels as a “gift,” which I’m sure also doubled as advertising.

Normally, replacing a toilet takes a day. But since we also replaced the floor, repainted cabinets, and installed a new handwashing cabinet, the job took eight days. We stayed at a nearby hotel during the work—running to a convenience store every time we needed a toilet wasn’t exactly tempting. We visited daily to check progress: piping and electrical work came first, then lights, tiles, cabinets, walls, and finally, installation.

Back Home and Loving It

After the handover, we were back home with our new toilet. The only question: who would use it first? There was some hesitation from both of us, but I eventually took the honor. When it’s time, it’s time.

The Satis X is fully automated. It can lift the lid when we enter, then close it and flush after use. It has a self-cleaning function we can schedule to run daily while we sleep. Since we were already in automation mode, we also added motion-activated lights and a motion-activated faucet for handwashing. The result: a fully automated bathroom experience—the quality-of-life boost we were aiming for.

We’re happy with our choice and agree it’s been a worthwhile upgrade. Working on a project like this—discussing options and making decisions together—was a great experience for us. Here’s to enjoying it for at least the next ten years, until it’s time to replace it again… unless we become too old to care.

Either way, it’s nice to know we made a choice that makes our everyday life better.

What about you? What’s a recent quality-of-life boost you’ve made in your own home or routine?