Transforming Public Restrooms into Data Assets with TOIMAP's Digital Toilet Maps

Revolutionizing Public Restroom Accessibility with TOIMAP

In an effort to innovate public restroom accessibility, KICKs, a company based in Kyoto, Japan, has launched a free campaign for creating digital toilet maps named TOIMAP targeting local governments, tourism associations, and event organizers across the country. Starting from August 18, 2025, this initiative leverages the company's expertise, gained through the official endorsement of the "Hachioji Festival," which attracted an impressive 700,000 visitors and relied on successful implementations of similar technology. The aim is to enhance the satisfaction levels of residents and visitors alike, ultimately assisting in evidence-based policy making (EBPM).

The Challenges Facing Travelers

Surprisingly, over 70% of travelers have faced difficulties in finding restrooms while on their trips, which can significantly tarnish a destination's reputation. Traditional maps often fall short, merely indicating locations without crucial information such as whether a facility is wheelchair accessible or equipped with changing tables. This lack of information poses challenges for various groups including the elderly, individuals with disabilities, parents, and a large number of tourists, dissuading them from heading outdoors altogether.

TOIMAP: More than Just Directions

TOIMAP goes beyond simply pinpointing locations; it provides detailed information that directly influences user decisions, such as whether facilities are wheelchair-friendly, if changing tables are available, and assessments of cleanliness. The success of TOIMAP was highlighted during the summer event of the Hachioji Festival, where it was used as the official toilet map. It offered restroom information approximately 12,000 times throughout the event, leading to high praise from attendees who felt reassured enough to enjoy the festival fully.

Visualizing Urban Movement through Toilet Usage Data

The real power of TOIMAP extends beyond mapping. By analyzing restroom use data gathered during the Hachioji Festival, KICKs has been able to visualize pedestrian movements and needs during the event, thus supporting data-driven policy making. Examples of how toilet search data can be beneficial include uptake trends by time, helping authorities determine peak restroom demand for resource allocation regarding security and cleanliness, and creating heat maps that identify areas with high activity to optimize future restroom placements.

Limited-Time Offer: Free Digital Toilet Map Creation

To enable more communities to experience these program benefits, KICKs is offering a limited-time campaign that provides initial digital toilet map creation services for free (normally priced at ¥19,800 or more). Organizations simply need to share their existing restroom databases (in Google Sheets or Excel format), allowing KICKs to publish a dedicated toilet map for their region, sometimes within just one day.

Three Key Benefits of this Initiative

1. Enhancing Satisfaction for Residents and Visitors: By delivering clear, accessible information for both everyday needs and events, communities can improve their overall image.
2. Supporting Evidence-Based Policy Making (EBPM): By analyzing essential data concerning restroom usage, local governments can effectively integrate public needs into infrastructure planning.
3. Cost-Effective Infrastructure Digital Transformation: Start experiencing the benefits with this free campaign, and get in touch with KICKs to discuss optimizing data management capabilities.

A Message from Kaito Yamamoto, CEO of KICKs

“In my own experiences of being anxious about restroom access while out, I found the inspiration for this project. During my research at Kyoto University, I recognized this wasn't just my personal issue — it’s a significant social problem shared by many. By merging our technological solutions with insights from local governments and tourism associations, I believe we can help create more inclusive cities where everyone feels secure. I hope this campaign will serve as the first step towards that goal.”

For inquiries about the free toilet map creation, please visit the TOIMAP contact form.