Foyer
Japanese homes are strictly "shoes off" and the foyer is architected to easily separate the inside space from the outdoors. When one enters the home, whether is it a grand house or a tiny studio, there will be a continuation of the outdoor level inside and a physical step up where the "home" begins. Shoes are never ever worn above the step, even for the all-too-common "oh shoot, I just need to run in and get..." situation in a US shoes-off home.
Japanese Bath
The modern Japanese bath is just a brilliant and sustainable concept. There's an enclosed space with both a "shower" and "bath", but you clean yourself with the shower before you bathe so that the clean bath water can be reheated and re-used by the family (or several days for a single person). There is a cover for the bath that is rolled over during the shower, then removed for bathing. The whole room is equivalent to the "shower" space, with drainage and door to close off the space.
The hot water system is shower is controlled by a panels with options for temperature, water volume, and timer, and sometimes even multiple panels so that you can remotely heat up the bath from your kitchen and tells you when it's ready!
The bath is also taller so that one can sit upright and be covered above the shoulders. Tubs are not made to stretch out like Western bathtubs, but to sit with knees tucked up and warm up.
Japanese Toilet
There is a ton written on this topic in American media, but who doesn't want a warm seat and bidet when they do their business? As the founder of toilet product Tushy said, if a bird pooped on your head, would you wipe with a tissue or use water to make sure you're really clean?
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