Staying in an Airbnb? How to Use a Japanese Home Washing Machine (Deciphering the Kanji)
The Challenge of the Airbnb Washer
Staying in an Airbnb or rental apartment is great, and they often come with a washing machine for free use. However, these are typically standard Japanese home appliances, designed only for Japanese residents.
The control panel will be covered in Kanji characters, and they work differently than commercial coin laundries. Don’t panic; here are the basics.
Top-Loader vs. Front-Loader
Most home machines in Japan are top-loaders (vertical type). Unlike coin laundries, they usually do not dry clothes completely. You only use them to wash and spin-dry, then hang the clothes outside or in the bathroom to dry.
Key Kanji Buttons to Know
- 電源 (Den-gen): Power On/Off.
- スタート/一時停止 (Start / Pause): Usually a large, prominent button.
- 標準 (Hyo-jun): Standard Course. For most washing, just select this and press Start.
- 洗い (Ara-i): Wash cycle.
- すすぎ (Susu-gi): Rinse cycle.
- 脱水 (Dassui): Spin-dry cycle.
Where does the detergent go?
Look for a small pull-out drawer near the top, often labeled “洗剤” (Detergent) or “柔軟剤” (Softener). If you can’t find it, for top-loaders, it’s often acceptable to pour the liquid detergent directly onto the clothes before starting.
