Japan is Still Largely a “Cash” Society You might be used to tapping your credit card for everything back home, but when it comes to coin laundries in Japan, cash is still king. However, things are slowly changing. Here is the current situation regarding payments. 1. The Standard: 100-Yen Coins Usually, about 80% to 90%…
It’s Not Just About Rules, It’s About Harmony Japan is famously known for its cleanliness and orderly society. This is largely due to the shared value of considering others around you. Coin laundries are shared public spaces. While they are very safe and easy to use, following a few simple unwritten rules (manners) will ensure…
Forget Your Old Image of Laundromats In many countries, public laundromats can be dark, dirty, and places you want to avoid. Travelers often worry: “Is it safe to wash my clothes in a public machine in Japan? Won’t they get dirtier?” Set those worries aside. Japanese coin laundries are in a completely different league. They…
Don’t Buy Bleach by Mistake! While most modern coin laundries in Japan add detergent automatically, sometimes you need to buy your own. Perhaps you are hand-washing delicate items in your hotel sink, or using an older machine at a hostel that requires manual detergent. You run to the nearest 7-Eleven or Lawson, but you are…
Don’t Be Afraid of the Kanji Buttons! You’ve arrived in Japan, and your suitcase is already full of dirty clothes. You find a nearby coin laundry, but you freeze. The machines look high-tech, and the buttons are covered in complex Japanese characters (Kanji). Don’t worry! Using a Japanese coin laundry is actually very simple, clean,…
