Public toilets in a lot of European countries can lack what Japanese count as a basic right of toilets: the seat. The best way to conquer this challenge is just to sort of squat and hover over the seatless toilet. We recommend a healthy regiment of core-strengthening Pilates prior to your trip to the loo in the Louvre.

Something else surprising on a trip to Europe is the existence of an extra porcelain fixture in an otherwise “normal-looking” restroom. Japanese tourists may be surprised to see something that for them is just another part of the toilet seat.

Apparently, Japanese visitors to the U.K. complain about the toilet paper there saying it cannot absorb very well. Some even claim they can easily jot down ideas with a pen on British TP. But it’s not just the U.K., it seems like Japan holds most of Europe’s toilet paper in contempt as well.

In Japan, restroom visitors are treated to toilet paper within arm’s reach of the porcelain throne. But overseas, the length of an arm can be a bit too long. Some tourists to the U.K. report the toilet paper there being as far as 1.5 meters (5 ft) away.

In places such as Greece, Brazil and South Korea, a lot of places ask that used toilet paper be put into a bin nearby instead of being flushed down the toilet. Either the toilet paper there is really strong or the plumbing system can’t handle the extra load. Let’s hope these restrooms make liberal use of odor-masking deodorants.

Japanese visitors to Southeast Asia and India may prefer the toilet paper troubles mentioned above when they find out many places in these regions don’t have it at all. Instead, these restrooms require you to use mother nature’s original toilet paper: your hand. Just make sure you wash up afterwards.