Are you in Japan but don't know how to wash your clothes? Today we are going to talk about Coin Laundry or Koinrandorii [コインランドリー], a public place where you wash your clothes yourself and dry in coin-operated vending machines.
Public washing places have been around for a long time and this is not unique to Japan. I've seen it in several American movies and series. In other countries it is usually called coin laundry, self-service laundry, coin wash, laundromat and launderette.
Ready to visit these places? To make it easier, I'll leave a summary below:
Table of Content
Where can I find a Coin Laundry?
It is estimated that there are around 17,000 laundromats spread across Japan. Also, most hotels, hostels, and even onsens have these machines scattered around somewhere. Finding a Coin Laundry is not a problem.
To find a location using Google Maps , just search for [コインランドリー] or Coin Laundry. You can also look for Sento [銭湯] or Onsen [温泉] which usually always have a laundry near or at this location.
Read also: How to map your destination in Japan with Google Maps
Laundries in Japan are usually open from 8 am to 11 pm or even 24 hours. Some have instructions in English and Portuguese. Not all laundromats are the same, some have machines that automatically add soap and fabric softener.
You don't have to worry because you can find softeners, smells and others in the laundries. If you didn't bring coins, most laundromats have a machine to change money.
The washing machine and dryer usually use 100 yen coins, if the laundry you are in doesn't have machines to change, just go to any Hanbaiki and buy something.
We recommend reading: Vending machines – Automatic vending machines
Washing clothes in Japan
Take your dirty clothes to the washing machine, be careful not to confuse it with the dryer. The dryers are usually stacked on top of each other and have transparent lids. Each machine has the supported weight and waiting time.
It is recommended that you use a washing machine for white clothes and another for colored clothes to avoid staining. As soon as you put in the coins, the machine will start and the waiting time will appear.
Read also: Coins of Japan - Knowing the Yen and its history
If you want to go out, know that there is no danger. It is recommended that you place your laundry bag on top of the machine, in case you take too long and the machine needs to be used, someone else will put the machines in your bag.
Machines usually wash 4 to 7 kg and dry 7 to 14 kg. In just 1 hour you may be able to wash all your clothes. Some places have drink machines, TV, chairs, magazines and other things to pass the time. It takes about 30-40 minutes to wash and 20-30 minutes to dry.
Once your clothes are dry, you don't have to worry about ironing, just fold them as soon as the dryer strips. Of course, not all clothes will come out perfect, and we recommend avoiding washing refined clothes in these vending machines.
Remember to be considerate of other people in a laundry room. Every now and then, there may be a machine where the washing and drying has finished, but the clothes still remain inside. In that case, someone who wants to use the machine can take them out and put them in a basket.
To learn more about the inside of a Coin Laundry in Japan, let's leave a video below:
Hire a Laundry
In the case of suits and other clothes with delicate fabrics, you will find laundries that do the service or do dry cleaning. In Japan dry cleaning is so common that its cost is very cheap, about less than 1000 yen, I've seen even 400 yen.
Unfortunately in Brazil we have to pay 10 USD to dry-clean a suit, something I find absurd, but I understand. There are few places that dry cleaning in the city, in Japan all Japanese people wear suits, so it kind of became a regular thing.
Coin Laundry vs Laundry
As it is self-service, the price of coin laundry is extremely low compared to the cleaning sector or laundry with employees. These laundromat locations are used by single people and students with little clothing.
Do hotels in Japan have a laundry service?
Most have laundry services; with varying costs, but over 1,000 yen per delicate item is quite normal. Budget hotels, hostels, and ryokans are more likely to have coin-operated washing machines.
Hotel rooms usually have a clothesline in the bathroom so you can dry your clothes if the place doesn't have a tumble dryer. Coin operated washing machines are sometimes used a lot during the day, try a different time.
How to wash my sneakers?
You don't always need to hire a laundry for that. Some laundromats have special tennis washer and dryer machines. You can try searching using the term [コインラドリースニーカー] to find a location nearby.
The instructions may or may not be in English, but usually you put the shoes in the washing machine, close the door and put in the coins (about 200 yen for 20 minutes). The dryer is usually above the washing machine and you just need to hang your shoes on the installed hangers, close the door and put in the coins.
Laundry vocabulary
The list below will help you understand some of the ideograms of washing machines and laundromats in Japan.
| Portuguese | japanese | Romaji |
| Power on (power source) | 電源 | dengen |
| On | 入 | ireru |
| Off | 切 | kiru |
| Pause | 一時停止 | ichijiteishi |
| unlock | ロック解除 | rokku kaijo |
| anti-bacterial | 防菌 | boukin |
| deodorization | 防臭 | boushuu |
| to wash | 洗濯 / 洗い | sentaku / arai |
| rinse | すすぎ | rinse |
| drain | 脱水 | dassui |
| dry | 乾燥 | kansou |
| set timer | 予約 | yoyaku |
| time | 時間 | jikan |
| minutes | 分 | fun / pun |
| time left | 残り | nokori |
| clothes | 衣類 | irui |
| quantity / value | 量 | ryou |
| warm water | 温水 | onsui |
| amount of clothes | 衣類量 | irui-ryoo |
| amount of detergent | 洗剤量 | senzai-ryoo |
| custom settings | わが家流 | wagaryuu |
| drainage | 排水 | haisui |
| softener | 洗浄 | juunanzai |
| setting to toggle wash/dry | 洗 / 乾切替 | sen / kan kirikae |
| detergent / soap | 洗剤 | senzai |
We will update the list as soon as possible. If you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments.