fb

Driver accidentally reverses car into Japan’s oldest-ever toilet

The man behind the wheel was employed to preserve Japan's cultural heritage.

by | Published on 19th Oct 2022

A driver has accidentally reversed his Toyota WiLL Vi into a 700-year-old heritage-listed toilet in Japan. 

Ironically, the man behind the wheel was actually a worker employed to preserve Japan’s cultural heritage. 

The Japanese police say the driver accidentally hit the gas without realizing his car was in reverse.

The outhouse, which is inside a centuries-old Buddhist temple at Tofukuji in Kyoto, dates back to the 15th century. 

The structure is essentially a stone row of about 20 circular holes – so the actual ‘toilets’ themselves remain intact while the wall protecting them does not.  

In fact, the wall now has a giant Toyota WiLL Vi-sized hole in it.

CHECK THIS OUT!

Director of the Tofukuji Research Institute Toshio Ishikawa said he was stunned by the amount of damage caused. 

The research institute said it would take a lot of work to restore the outhouse to its original state, but it was of utmost importance to them.

“We’d like to restore it before the autumn foliage season, but it will probably take until the new year [to repair it],” Toshio Ishikawa said.

The heritage toilet block was originally built during the Muromachi period, according to the BBC

It was built for trainee monks who were practicing self-discipline. 

About the Toyota WiLL Vi 

The Toyota WiLL Vi is a very distinctive four-door saloon. 

It was produced for only two years after arriving in January 2000. 

And it’s only available in Japan. 

The car is the result of Toyota combining neo-retro styling with driving performance. 

The Will Vi was also made using recycled material, including shredded pieces of other cars. 

Tags

Share

You might be interested in

Kate Bain is the Page Editor at supercarblondie.com. She is based in Dubai and coordinates coverage of the latest news across automotive, technology, and lifestyle. Kate has a bachelor's degree in business and post graduate in journalism. She is an experienced editor and journalist who has worked for News Corp, Daily Mail Australia, and Sky News. When she's not at work, you'll find her attached at the hip to her dog, Thor.

Trending This Week

Related Articles