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There990 Archivestoilets, and then there are Japanese toilets.

Often more sophisticated than their western counterparts, even public toilets come with various features such as heated seats, in-built bidets and some even play you music.

SEE ALSO: NYC toilets are rated by poop emoji on this Instagram

Tourists are often unable to understand the many controls, finding going to the toilet more complicated than they thought.

In a bid to make itself more tourist-friendly ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Japan's Restroom Industry Association has agreed to create a set of standardised icons, so all tourists will now know their backside wash from their small flush.

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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Under the new icons, future Japanese toilets will use eight icons representing eight different options: Toilet lid opening/closing, toilet seat opening/closing, large flush, small flush, backside wash, bidet wash, dryer and stop.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

"When foreign tourists use public toilets such as at hotels and sightseeing facilities, it is difficult to understand the operation buttons", said the association in a press release.

The decision to create standardised icons came after results of a 2014 survey showed that 25 percent of tourists did not know how to use a Japanese-style toilet, according to a report by Gizmodo.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

This isn't the first time foreigners in Japan have gotten mixed up, with the country previously having to change its hot springs bathing symbol after tourists mistook it for a sign showing a restaurant selling hot food.

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