Best Japanese Toilets for American Homes: TOTO and Panasonic

The Drake II is the definitive Japanese toilet for American homes, combining a verified 1,000-gram MaP Tornado flush with EPA WaterSense certification at 1.28 GPF, a wide 2-1/8-inch trapway and full compatibility with every TOTO Washlet seat.

The Drake II replaced TOTO's original Drake as the standard-bearer for Tornado flush technology in the American residential market. It uses a 3-inch flush valve and two water-entry nozzles positioned to create a centrifugal swirl that coats the entire bowl interior without rim holes, the design feature that makes the bowl dramatically easier to clean over time. Every TOTO Washlet seat from the entry-level C2 to the top-tier S7A mounts directly to the Drake II bowl via TOTO's SoftClose mount system, so buyers can start with the toilet alone and add a washlet seat later.

Aggregated owner reviews consistently rate the Drake II above 4.7 stars across major retailers, with flush power and bowl cleanliness the two most cited positives. The most common negative note is that the tank and bowl junction collects grime in the two-piece design. For buyers upgrading from a Kohler Highline or American Standard Champion 4, the most notable difference reported is that the Drake II very rarely requires a second flush even on heavy use, which is consistent with its 1,000-gram MaP score.

The UltraMax II delivers the identical Tornado flush performance as the Drake II in a sleek one-piece design that eliminates the tank-to-bowl seam, making it easier to clean and visually cleaner in any bathroom style.

The UltraMax II is where TOTO's Tornado flush technology meets the one-piece format preferred in master bathrooms and design-forward renovations. The flush mechanism, trapway diameter and MaP score are identical to the Drake II, so there is no performance trade-off for the cleaner aesthetic. The comfort height bowl at 16-1/8 inches sits higher than standard 15-inch toilets, which is measurably easier for most adults and meets ADA height guidelines when grab bars are also installed.

Owner reviews note that installation is more demanding for a one-piece unit because the combined weight requires two people to set it on the flange, but once installed the absence of a tank-to-bowl junction is consistently praised. Compared to a Woodbridge T-0001, which also ships as a one-piece in a similar price range, the UltraMax II's Tornado flush and CeFiONtect glaze give it a measurable advantage in bowl cleanliness over time according to aggregated long-term owner feedback.

The Aquia IV brings TOTO's Tornado flush to a dual-flush platform that uses just 0.8 GPF on the partial cycle, making it one of the most water-efficient WaterSense-certified toilets available in the US at 1.0/0.8 GPF.

The Aquia IV is the Tornado flush answer for buyers who place water efficiency above maximum flush power. Its 0.8 GPF partial cycle is one of the lowest available from a major manufacturer on a gravity toilet, and the 1.0 GPF full cycle still exceeds the EPA WaterSense 1.28 GPF threshold comfortably. The trade-off against the Drake II is real: a 600-gram MaP score on the full cycle means the Aquia IV will handle most typical household loads easily but is not the right choice for a household with chronic clogging history or heavy daily use.

In LEED-certified construction or California water-district rebate programs, the Aquia IV frequently qualifies for rebates that the 1.28 GPF Drake II does not, because many utility programs now require sub-1.0 GPF for full rebate eligibility. Aggregated owner reviews are positive, with the most common complaint being that the partial flush on the 0.8 GPF cycle occasionally needs a follow-up flush for solid waste, which partially offsets the water savings in actual household use.

The Neorest 700H is TOTO's flagship integrated toilet for the US market, combining Tornado flush at 1.0/0.8 GPF dual mode with ewater+ electrolyzed water self-cleaning, auto-open/close lid, a fully integrated Washlet, pre-mist and auto-flush in a seamless tankless-style housing.

The Neorest 700H is the closest thing available in the American market to the integrated shower toilets common in Japanese hotels and upscale homes. Its ewater+ technology generates mildly electrolyzed water from tap water and uses it to mist the bowl both before use (pre-mist) and after each flush, reducing bacterial load without chemicals. The auto lid opens when you approach within sensor range and closes after you step away, which is the feature most often cited in owner reviews as feeling genuinely different from any other toilet on the market.

The Neorest is not for buyers evaluating cost versus performance on flush mechanics alone. Its flush system is the same Tornado dual-flush platform as the Aquia IV, and because it has not been submitted to independent MaP testing, there is no published gram score to compare against the Drake II. The honest picture is that the Neorest earns its premium on automation, aesthetics and the self-cleaning ewater+ system, not on flush power data. For the master bathroom of a renovation where the toilet is a design statement, it is unmatched by any domestic brand including Kohler's Numi at the same price tier.

The TOTO Washlet C5 is the best mid-range washlet seat for adding Japanese bidet functionality to an existing elongated toilet, offering instantaneous warm water, a heated seat, an air dryer and a SoftClose lid at a fraction of the integrated unit cost.

The C5 sits in the middle of TOTO's Washlet lineup, above the entry-level C2 (which uses a tank for water heating) and below the S7A (which adds auto-open lid and ewater+ to the seat). Its instantaneous heating coil means there is no temperature drop partway through use, which is the most common complaint about tank-style bidet seats including many value-brand alternatives. The wash wand retracts into a self-cleaning housing and the seat drops softly via the SoftClose hinge.

For buyers who already own a Drake II, UltraMax II or any elongated toilet in good condition, the C5 is the most cost-efficient way to add the core Japanese washlet experience. Owner reviews consistently rate the instant warm water as the most valued feature, and the most common installation complaint is cord length relative to outlet position, which can be solved with a GFCI outlet relocation. Compared to Kohler's C3-315 and American Standard's Advanced Clean 3.0, the C5 is rated higher on water temperature consistency and seat comfort in aggregated reviews.

The original TOTO Drake uses a G-Max gravity flush with a 3-inch flush valve and a 1,000-gram MaP score, making it a proven workhorse that costs less than the Drake II while still delivering the TOTO flush reliability that made the brand the default for American plumbing professionals.

The original Drake is the toilet that established TOTO's reputation in the American residential market and remains one of the most-installed toilets in US plumbing history. Its G-Max flush uses a conventional rim hole design with a large 3-inch flush valve, which produces a powerful downward sluice rather than a centrifugal swirl. That design earns the same 1,000-gram MaP score as the Drake II but requires more attention to rim hole cleaning over time as mineral deposits accumulate.

For buyers replacing a toilet where the existing rough-in is 10 or 14 inches and the Drake II is not available in that size, the original Drake fills the gap. For rental properties or secondary bathrooms where the washlet path is not planned, the original Drake at 1.28 GPF (the E-Max version) offers TOTO quality at the lowest point in the brand's lineup. Plumbers consistently rate it as one of the most reliable toilets for service calls, because the flush valve, flapper and fill valve are all standard and widely stocked.

The Neorest 550H delivers the integrated Japanese smart toilet experience at a step below the 700H, with ewater+ self-cleaning, automatic lid, Tornado flush at 1.28/0.9 GPF dual mode and a fully integrated washlet seat, at a lower cost than the 700H.

The Neorest 550H is the Neorest entry point, and for most buyers considering the integrated Japanese toilet category it is the practical starting point because it includes every feature that makes the Neorest experience distinct: ewater+, auto lid and integrated washlet. The 1.28 GPF full flush rate uses marginally more water per flush than the 700H's 1.0 GPF, but WaterSense certification is maintained on both cycles. The skirted bowl design, where the trapway is enclosed within the outer ceramic profile, eliminates the exterior trapway bump that collects dust and grime on conventional toilets.

Owner reviews of the 550H versus the 700H consistently note that the feature difference between the two is narrow for most users, and the 550H is frequently described as offering the best value within the Neorest line. For a renovation where the integrated look matters but the 700H budget is not available, the 550H is the recommended choice over the Kohler Veil Intelligent Toilet, which lacks ewater+ and has a smaller review base.