[IcewindDude]

I know the paper towel thing is common in America. That's the reason you'll see a garbage can not only by the paper towels (right next to the hand blower), but you will find another garbage right next to the exit.

I personally don't care about it as much and I will simply contact the door handle as little as possible without inconveniencing myself, but still with my bare hand. I hardly ever get sick. This is something for those who are paranoid or who have been made paranoid by too much provoking news trying to make an easy headline (H1N1 virus anyone?). Trust me on this one, the restroom most likely the least place you should be worried about catching a bad virus. You cannot protect your hands from everything aside from wearing latex gloves. Just wash before you eat and, if you really don't want to get sick, don't go into crowded areas.

In any case, Japan is the only country I've seen people commonly wear face masks out in public... I'm not sure whether it's when they are sick or they are worried about becoming sick, but that's something I'll probably never see in America.

Another thing is, and I know some old timers in America say this too, is that in Japan, I hear way too much about catching a cold from being cold or wet... I think most of this know that this is an old myth by now.