Male using change tables in female restrooms in Japan

Question

Next month I'll be traveling to Japan with my wife and two children. Our youngest (1yo) is still in diapers. I read a few guides about traveling in Japan, and saw mention that change tables are sometimes placed only inside female restrooms.

This is true for other parts of the world as well, including where I live (Netherlands). Even our local McDonalds has a changing table in the female restroom. I tend to ignore the gender sign and just walk in there if I need to change my kid's diapers. Most women seem to understand that it's not my fault that the table is in 'their' restroom. This remains true even if my wife is also present at the restaurant.

Now, the question: how can I best approach a similar situation in Japan? Should I ask my wife to do it if she's there? And what if she's not there? Should I ask the staff what to do? I mean, that can be problematic since my Japanese is very limited.

Answer 1

It is quite rare these days (even inside trains) for the changing tables to be in the women's section, usually they will be somewhere in between the two sections, or inside the separate large restroom with the wheelchair icon (yes, you can use it too).

If you do encounter such a case, though, it's not different than elsewhere. An apology (shitsurei itashimasu) and a bow are usually de rigueur, but as a foreigner you could dispense with them. When leaving, do the same but in the past sense (shitsurei itashimashita).

---

Try as I may, I cannot find a single Japanese news report of it ever causing a problem (and, in particular, subtantiating any of the stories found on obscure forums such as this one). This Q&A thread on the website of the Yomiuri advises to only do it as a last resort, and even then only after obtaining the staff's permission, which I suppose seems reasonable. You can copy the following on your phone or print it or whatever:

息子（娘）のおむつ交換が必要ですが、どこで交換できますか。

My son (daughter) needs a diaper change; where can I do it?

In virtually any reasonably modern place, you will be accompanied to the multipurpose room (多目的室) you had not noticed.