Many Tokyo apartments come without a dryer, and some without a washer at all. Add a rainy week, a futon that needs a real clean, or a machine that suddenly breaks, and you may find yourself standing in front of a コインランドリー (coin laundry) wondering where to start. The good news: they are everywhere, most are open 24 hours and unstaffed, and once you have done it once it feels completely routine. This guide walks you through it.
When a coin laundry helps
- Your home has no dryer, and laundry will not dry indoors fast enough.
- You need to wash large items a home machine cannot handle: futons, duvets, blankets, or a bulky winter coat.
- Your own washer is broken or being repaired.
- You want big, fast commercial dryers to fluff bedding back up after a wash.
How it works, step by step
- 1Pick the right machine. Most shops have separate washers and dryers, plus combo washer-dryers that do both in one run. Machines come in several sizes, so choose one to match your load.
- 2Load your laundry and close the door firmly. Many machines dispense detergent and softener automatically, so you often do not need to bring your own, but check the machine or sign first, as some stores still require you to add it.
- 3Choose a course and pay. Insert coins (usually 100-yen coins), or use an IC card such as Suica or PASMO, a shop app, or QR payment where supported. Change machines are usually on site if you only have notes.
- 4Wait for the cycle. A wash is roughly 30 to 40 minutes; a dryer is commonly around 100 yen per 10 minutes and about 30 minutes for everyday clothes. A combined wash-and-dry run is often about 60 minutes, and bedding can take longer.
- 5Take everything out when it finishes, fold or bag it, and give the machine and area a quick wipe for the next person.
Do not leave your laundry in the machine after the cycle ends. Coin laundries are shared and usually unstaffed, so set a timer on your phone and come back on time. Leaving clothes for a long while is inconsiderate to people waiting, and unattended items can go missing.
- Set a phone timer for the exact run time so you are not guessing.
- Buying detergent at a supermarket or drugstore in advance is usually cheaper than buying it on site, for the times you do need your own.
- Not everything is dryer-safe. Items marked no tumble-dry, and some natural-fill bedding like wool blankets or wata/wool futons, can shrink or be damaged, so check the care tag and any store notice first.
- Bring a laundry bag or net for delicate items, and wipe up any spilled detergent or lint you leave behind.
- Carry a few 100-yen coins as backup even if you plan to pay by card or app.
- Do I need to bring my own detergent?
- Often no. At many shops detergent and softener are added automatically by the machine. But it is not universal, so look at the machine or the posted instructions; some stores still ask you to bring and add your own.
- How much does it cost?
- It varies by shop and load size. As a rough guide, a wash is often a few hundred yen, dryers commonly run about 100 yen per 10 minutes, and washing a futon or other bulky bedding costs more and takes longer. Always check the prices posted in the shop or on the operator's official site.
- Can I wash a futon or duvet there?
- Usually yes, in the large-capacity machines, and it is one of the most popular reasons to use a coin laundry. However, some natural-fill or wool items are not suitable for machine washing or drying, so check the item's care label and the store's guidance before you start.
