Japanese at the Coin Laundry and Dry Cleaner
At a Japanese coin laundry (コインランドリー), you mostly need to read a few words on the machines: 洗濯機 (washer), 乾燥機 (dryer), 洗濯乾燥機 (washer-dryer), 洗剤 (detergent) and スタート (start). Many machines add detergent automatically, take coins or e-money, and show the time in minutes. At a dry cleaner (クリーニング店), you hand over your clothes, point out any stains (シミ), choose when to collect them and keep the receipt (預かり証), which you show when you pick them up. This guide covers the words, buttons and phrases for both.
At the coin laundry
Coin laundries are common in Japan, especially for drying futons and large items or in rainy season. Typical words on the machines:
- 洗濯機 (sentakuki): washing machine
- 乾燥機 (kansōki): dryer. Usually sold in blocks of minutes per coin.
- 洗濯乾燥機 (sentaku kansōki): washer-dryer that washes and dries in one go
- 洗剤・柔軟剤 自動投入: detergent and fabric softener added automatically. Don’t add your own unless the sign says you can.
- コース: programme, such as 標準 (standard), 毛布 (blanket) or 布団 (futon)
- 両替機: change machine
- 残り時間: time remaining
- 使用中: in use
- 靴・スニーカー専用: for shoes and trainers only. Don’t put clothes in these.
Read the house rules (ご利用上の注意). Many coin laundries ask you not to wash pet bedding, oily cloths or very dirty work clothes, and to remove your laundry promptly.
At the dry cleaner
| You might say or hear | Meaning |
|---|---|
| これをお願いします | I’d like these cleaned, please |
| ここにシミがあります | There’s a stain here |
| シミ抜きはできますか | Can you remove the stain? (often an extra charge) |
| いつできますか | When will it be ready? |
| お急ぎですか | Are you in a hurry? (express service may cost more) |
| ポケットの中を確認してください | Please check your pockets |
| ワイシャツはたたみますか、ハンガーにしますか | Folded or on a hanger for shirts? |
| 預かり証 / 引換券 | The receipt you show to collect your items |
Many dry cleaners have point or membership cards and run discount days. When you collect, say 取りに来ました and show the receipt. If you lose it, you may need ID. Shirts (ワイシャツ) are usually washed and pressed rather than dry-cleaned, and prices are often per item.
Laundry at home
Many Japanese homes don’t have a tumble dryer and dry clothes on a balcony or with a washer-dryer. Useful words: 部屋干し (drying indoors), 外干し (drying outside), 花粉 (pollen, a reason people dry indoors in spring) and 梅雨 (rainy season). See renting an apartment in Japan and living in a Japanese neighbourhood.
Practise before you go
Errands like the dry cleaner are easier when you’ve heard the questions before. Our native Japanese tutors teach one-to-one online, in English, and can role-play everyday situations from the dry cleaner to the post office. Your first 15 minutes are a free trial.