Coin Laundry (Coin Laundromat)

Coin laundry in Japan gives residents what most homes lack: powerful dryers and drums large enough for futons.¹² A short walk-in visit covers the loads a balcony line or a small home washer cannot finish.

Confirm current details with official sources

Procedures, fees, and requirements can change. Confirm current details at the shop display or the operator page for the store you plan to use, such as WASHHOUSE or Mammachao.

Overview

A coin laundry is a neighborhood self-service shop with rows of washers, dryers and washer-dryer combos.³¹² Many sites run unstaffed around the clock and are built for walk-in use with no membership step.¹

The resident pattern is simple. Routine clothing gets washed at home, while drying and bulky items go to the coin laundry.¹² That split is the focus of this guide.

Prices and payment vary by operator and by shop, not by city or visa status. WASHHOUSE states that prices vary by shop and business hour and directs users to check the specific shop.³ Treat every figure below as a dated band and confirm it on the machine you will use.

Why Residents Use Coin Laundry

Residents turn to coin laundry for three recurring needs: drying without a home dryer, washing items too large for a home drum, and fast drying after rain.

Drying When Home Drying Is Impractical

Homes without a dryer rely on balcony or indoor drying, which stalls in rain, humidity or winter.² A coin dryer finishes the same load in under an hour.

Dryer-only use is a standard option. Bring home-washed clothes, load a dryer and pay for time.³² Operator guidance puts a typical dryer-only session for a standard load at 30 to 50 minutes (as of 2025-06; confirm current figures with the shop display or operator page).²

Washing Large Items That Do Not Fit Home Washers

Large-capacity machines accept futons, comforters, blankets and rugs that do not fit home washers.³¹² Mammachao labels its large washer-dryers as futon capable with dedicated feather-futon and blanket courses.¹

A feather futon or blanket wash-and-dry course at Mammachao Akihabara is listed at about 2,000 to 2,500 JPY, with shikibuton at 2,700 JPY, in about 60 minutes (as of 2026-09; confirm current figures with the shop display or operator page).¹ WASHHOUSE lists futon mattress washing from 700 JPY with futon drying at 7 to 10 minutes per 100 JPY (as of 2026-09).³

Post-Rain Emergency Drying

Partial or rain-wet loads need drying only, not another wash.³¹ Load the damp items into a dryer and buy time in short blocks.

Mammachao Akihabara lists drying-only at 12 to 13 minutes per 100 JPY depending on the machine (as of 2026-09; confirm current figures with the shop display or operator page).¹ If clothes are still damp, add extra paid time rather than starting over.²

What a Typical Shop Offers

A typical shop lines up separate washers on one wall and dryers on another, with washer-dryer combos alongside them.³² Machines are labeled by kilogram capacity so users can match the drum to the load.

Machine Types and Sizes

Drum washers come in small, medium and large capacities.² Washer bands in operator and guide examples run from about 300 JPY for a small load to about 1,500 JPY for a 20 to 30 kg load (as of 2025-06; confirm current figures with the shop display or operator page).²

Mammachao Akihabara lists a 9 kg washer at 500 JPY and a 27 kg wash-only course at 1,000 JPY (as of 2026-09).¹ Washer-dryer combos for the 10 kg class run about 1,000 JPY (as of 2025-06).²

A standard wash cycle typically takes about 30 minutes (as of 2025-06).² WASHHOUSE lists washer times of about 35 to 46 minutes for clothes and combos of about 60 minutes (as of 2026-09).³

Item	Amount	As of	Notes
Washer, small (around 7-10 kg)	300-500 JPY	2026-09	Operator and guide bands32
Washer, large (around 20-30 kg)	1,000-1,500 JPY	2025-06	Guide band2
Mammachao Akihabara 9 kg washer	500 JPY	2026-09	Shop price table1
Mammachao Akihabara 27 kg wash-only	1,000 JPY	2026-09	Shop price table1
Washer-dryer combo, 10 kg class	about 1,000 JPY	2025-06	Guide band2
Feather futon wash and dry course	2,000-2,500 JPY	2026-09	Shop course price1

The table bands above are dated examples, not a national tariff. Prices move by shop and course, so read the panel on the exact machine before loading.

Term	Meaning
コインランドリー (koin randorī, "coin laundry")	Neighborhood self-service laundry shop2
洗濯乾燥機 (sentaku kansōki, "washer-dryer combo")	Single drum that washes and dries without transfer2
乾燥機 (kansōki, "dryer")	Time-metered drying drum2
洗剤自動投入 (senzai jidō tōnyū, "automatic detergent dispensing")	Machine adds detergent and softener itself1
両替機 (ryōgaeki, "change machine")	In-shop bill-to-coin changer2
羽毛布団 (umō futon, "feather futon")	Duvet-style bedding washed in large drums1

Detergent, Softener and Sneaker Machines

Most modern machines dispense detergent and softener automatically at no separate charge.³¹² Mammachao states its machines add eco detergent and finish in optimal amounts.¹ Add nothing unless the panel tells you to.

Some older or independent shops still require users to add their own detergent.² The panel governs, so check before pouring anything into an unmarked opening.

Many shops also run dedicated sneaker washer and dryer units apart from clothing machines.³² Sneaker wash is about 200 JPY for about 20 minutes, with sneaker drying at 100 JPY per 20 minutes (as of 2026-09; confirm current figures with the shop display or operator page).³²

Check the detergent panel before adding soap

Automatic dispensing is the default at modern chains, and extra soap poured on top causes excess suds. Read the display first and only use the marked compartment when the machine asks for detergent.¹²

Costs and Payment

Coin laundry pricing has two parts: a fixed wash price and metered dryer time. Combos bundle both into one course price.

Typical Wash and Dryer Prices

Small washes run 300 to 500 JPY per load (as of 2026-09; confirm current figures with the shop display or operator page).³² Dryer time runs 100 JPY per 6 to 10 minutes depending on machine size and shop (as of 2026-09).³²

A typical clothing dry takes 30 to 50 minutes, so a full dry commonly adds several hundred yen in time blocks (as of 2025-06).² Mammachao Akihabara lists its dryers at 100 JPY per 12 to 13 minutes (as of 2026-09).¹

Item	Amount	As of	Notes
Wash, small load	300-500 JPY	2026-09	Per load32
Dryer time block	100 JPY per 6-10 min	2026-09	Varies by machine size32
Mammachao Akihabara dryer	100 JPY per 12-13 min	2026-09	Shop price table1
Sneaker wash	about 200 JPY	2026-09	About 20 minutes32
Sneaker dry	100 JPY per 20 min	2026-09	Dedicated shoe dryer32
Full wash plus dry, standard load	600-1,200 JPY	2026-09	Size and operator dependent32

The table covers the common bands as dated examples. A futon course or a large combo can run higher, so confirm the course price on the panel before paying.

How to Pay: Coins, IC Cards and Apps

The default is 100 JPY coins, and many older machines take nothing else.² Many machines do not accept 5,000 or 10,000 JPY bills.² Some shops have a change machine, but it can run out of change, so arrive with coins ready.

Newer shops add cashless paths that vary by shop and machine: IC transit cards, QR wallets, proprietary apps or rechargeable cards.¹⁴⁵⁶ Mammachao Akihabara lists cash plus QR code payment with IC e-money such as Suica and PASMO (as of 2026-09).¹

Baluko offers a rechargeable Baluko Card for machine payment at some shops, issued and charged at an in-shop terminal.⁴ The Baluko app supports cashless settlement with credit card or PayPay.⁵ The WASHHOUSE app supports QR scan machine selection, smartphone payment across multiple wallets, remaining-time display and end notification, plus machine reservation and availability checks.⁶

The wash-to-dry flow below shows the decision points where payment and detergent checks matter.

Hours, Finding a Shop and Modern Chains

Access is the easy part. The harder part is picking a shop with the right drum size and payment method for the load.

24-Hour Access and Finding a Nearby Shop

Many coin laundries operate 24 hours and sit unstaffed.¹² Mammachao Akihabara lists 24-hour operation.¹ Hours still vary by shop, so check the door sign or shop page before heading out late.³¹

Find a nearby shop by searching a map app for coin laundry or for コインランドリー (koin randorī, "coin laundry").² Save one backup shop in dense areas, since large drums fill first on rainy weekends.

Bring coins even where cashless is advertised

Cashless coverage varies by machine, and change machines may not accept large bills or may run out. A pocket of 100 JPY coins keeps a wash from stalling at the payment step.¹²

Newer Chains and App-Based Services

Newer chain shops commonly pair larger-capacity machines with cleaner interiors and app or cashless features.¹⁴⁵⁶ Mammachao runs large washer-dryers for nonstop wash-to-dry in about 60 minutes with no reservation.¹

Baluko and WASHHOUSE provide apps covering payment and availability, with WASHHOUSE adding reservations and receipts.⁵⁶ Features differ by store, so confirm them on the official page for the location you plan to visit.

Weekly Strategy: Coin Laundry Plus Home Washing

Wash routine clothing at home and send heavy, bulky or drying-dependent loads to the coin laundry.¹² That split keeps weekly costs down while giving bedding the large drum it needs.

For bedding, Mammachao guidance suggests washing feather futons about once or twice per year, at a season change or before storage.¹ A practical pattern is one periodic coin-laundry visit for bedding and heavy items plus home washing for daily loads.¹²

Good to know

Check Detergent Display Before Adding Anything

Most modern machines already dispense detergent and softener, so extra soap only causes excess suds.¹² Older shops are the exception. When the panel shows automatic dosing, add nothing; when it shows a compartment, use the marked amount.²

Size Up the Drum for Futons and Do Not Overfill

Tight loads wash and dry poorly, and a futon forced into a small drum comes out damp in the middle.¹² Choose a futon-labeled large drum and fill it loosely so items can tumble. Resident guides suggest filling to about 70 to 80 percent (as of 2025-06).²

Dry in Short Rounds and Separate Heavy Fabrics

Dryers sell time per 100 JPY, and towels and jeans dry far slower than shirts (as of 2026-09; confirm current figures with the shop display or operator page).³² Start with a short round, check, then add time. Separating heavy pieces from light ones avoids overdrying shirts while towels finish (as of 2026-09).³²

Return Before the Cycle Ends

Shops run limited machines, and finished loads left sitting block the next user.² Note the displayed remaining time, set a phone timer a few minutes early, and remove everything promptly at the buzzer.²

Confirm Payment Method Before Loading

Cashless coverage varies by shop and machine.¹⁴ Change machines may reject large bills or run out of coins.² Confirm whether the exact machine takes coins, IC, QR or an app before loading, and keep a coin backup (as of 2026-09).¹²⁴

See also

• In-Unit Washer: The Cold-Water and No-Dryer Default
• The Balcony-Drying Norm
• Dry Cleaning (Kuriningu)
• Seasonal Clothing Storage Service

References

Footnotes

1. Coin Laundry Mammachao Akihabara shop page (Mammachao official chain page, Chiyoda-ku). Shop hours, price table, futon course notes, payment and detergent notes, English summary. https://www.ciao-net.jp/shops/155736931423.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²² ↩²³ ↩²⁴ ↩²⁵ ↩²⁶ ↩²⁷ ↩²⁸ ↩²⁹ ↩³⁰ ↩³¹ ↩³² ↩³³ ↩³⁴ ↩³⁵

2. Japan Travel by NAVITIME. "How to Use Japanese Coin Laundries | Tips and Etiquette." 2025-06-02. https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/guide/NTJarticle0030-en/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²² ↩²³ ↩²⁴ ↩²⁵ ↩²⁶ ↩²⁷ ↩²⁸ ↩²⁹ ↩³⁰ ↩³¹ ↩³² ↩³³ ↩³⁴ ↩³⁵ ↩³⁶ ↩³⁷ ↩³⁸ ↩³⁹ ↩⁴⁰ ↩⁴¹ ↩⁴² ↩⁴³ ↩⁴⁴ ↩⁴⁵ ↩⁴⁶ ↩⁴⁷ ↩⁴⁸ ↩⁴⁹ ↩⁵⁰

3. WASHHOUSE. "WASHHOUSE English service page: estimated price and time, how to use." https://www.wash-house.jp/en/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²²

4. Baluko. "Baluko Card: rechargeable IC card for laundry machines." https://baluko.jp/self-laundry/balukocard ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

5. Baluko Laundry Place app listing (Google Play). "Cashless payment with credit card or PayPay." https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.baluko.app&hl=en ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

6. WASHHOUSE app listing (Google Play). "WASHHOUSE app: smartphone payment, QR scan, supported wallets, machine reservation, availability check." https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.laundromat.washhouse&hl=en ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴