Researched guide · Checked on Nov 5, 2026
Quick answer
A wash and dry in one machine costs about ¥1,200. A small washer alone costs about ¥400, and a dryer about ¥100 for 8–10 minutes. These are typical prices at one large chain, and each shop posts its own.
Allow about 60 minutes for a wash and dry.
Some chains’ machines add detergent for you. Read the sign before you add your own.
Carry ¥100 coins, because machines may not give change. Search Google Maps for “コインランドリー” to find a shop.
How much does coin laundry cost in Tokyo?
Most loads cost between ¥400 and ¥1,400. The figures below come from Mammaciao, a coin laundry chain. It checked the prices at 533 of its 538 shops across Japan in July 2026. They are one company’s numbers, not a Tokyo average, so go by the price shown in the shop.
| Machine | Typical price | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Small washer (up to 12 kg) | ¥400 | ¥200–¥600 |
| Medium washer (13–19 kg) | ¥600 | ¥300–¥800 |
| Large washer (20 kg or more) | ¥800 | ¥400–¥1,000 |
| Washer-dryer, one full cycle | About ¥1,200 | ¥800–¥1,400 |
| Dryer | ¥100 for about 8–10 minutes | Varies by shop |
Using a separate dryer for 30–40 minutes comes to about ¥300–¥500 at these rates. Some shops also offer night discounts or timed sales.
How to use a coin laundry in Japan
The steps are simple, and shops usually post instructions on the wall. Here is the order at Baluko, a large chain. Other shops can differ.
- Step 1: Check the drum for anything the last person left behind.
- Step 2: Clean the drum. On many machines you close the door and press the cleaning button before paying.
- Step 3: Load your clothes up to the line marked on the machine, then close the door.
- Step 4: Choose a course. Press the “no softener” button if you do not want fabric softener.
- Step 5: Pay. The machine starts after payment.
Japanese words on the machines
You only need a few words to choose the right button. Look for these on the machine and on the wall signs.
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| コインランドリー | koin randorī | Coin laundry |
| 洗濯 | sentaku | Wash |
| 乾燥 | kansō | Dry |
| 洗濯乾燥 | sentaku kansō | Wash and dry |
| 洗剤 | senzai | Detergent |
| 柔軟剤 | jūnanzai | Fabric softener |
A translation app can help with longer signs. See our list of essential apps for Japan and Japanese phrases.
How to pay
Bring ¥100 coins, then look for other options in the shop. At Baluko, machines do not give change, so you use the change machine first. It also takes payment through its app, by credit card or PayPay, and has a prepaid card that works only at the shop that issued it. Mammaciao’s Tokyo store list shows prepaid card, QR code or e-money options that differ by shop.
See our guide to money in Tokyo for more on cash and cards.
How long does it take?
Plan on about an hour. Baluko gives these times, which change with the fabric and the size of the load.
| Machine | Time |
|---|---|
| Washer-dryer, wash and dry | About 60 minutes |
| Washer-dryer, wash only | About 30 minutes |
| Washer (10 kg) | About 39 minutes |
| Dryer, regular clothes | About 30–40 minutes |
At Baluko, washers and washer-dryers lock while running, so you cannot take clothes out early. A dryer pauses when you open the door.
What not to wash
Check the care label on your clothes first, and follow the shop’s signs. Items can shrink, lose color or get damaged.
A Japanese health ministry notice says these should not go in regular machines:
- Diapers with human waste on them
- Sports shoes, unless the machine is made for them
- Pet bedding, unless the machine is made for it
- Clothes worn by someone with an infectious disease
Baluko also says stuffed toys, leather shoes and wool blankets cannot be washed. Some shops have a special sneaker machine, which typically costs ¥100–¥200 per use at Mammaciao.
Where to find a coin laundry in Tokyo
The easiest way is to search Google Maps for “coin laundry” or “コインランドリー” near your hotel. Check the listing’s hours too. Many shops run 24 hours, but not all.
| Shop | Location | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Baluko Shibuya Bridge | 1-36-3 Higashi, Shibuya | 24 hours |
| Baluko Yoyogi 3-chome | 3-51-2 Yoyogi, Shibuya | 24 hours |
| Mammaciao Shinjuku Kagurazaka | Shinjuku | 24 hours |
| Mammaciao Takanawa Isarago | Takanawa | 24 hours |
| Mammaciao Kamimeguro | Kamimeguro | 5:00–24:00 |
Both chains have store lists on their websites, linked below. Before you book a room, you can also check whether your hotel has a guest laundry. See our guide to where to stay in Tokyo.
Tips
- Do not add your own detergent without checking. Baluko’s machines add detergent and softener for you, and it asks customers not to add more. If no sign says this, check before you start.
- Come back on time. At Baluko, items left behind go into a basket. They are later thrown away after a period set by each shop.
- Bring a bag for clean clothes. See our 100 yen shops guide for cheap foldable bags.
- Plan laundry for a slow hour. Pair it with a meal nearby, or a rainy day in Tokyo.
FAQ
How much does coin laundry cost in Tokyo?
At Mammaciao, a coin laundry chain, a small washer is typically ¥400, a full wash and dry about ¥1,200, and a dryer ¥100 for about 8–10 minutes. Each shop posts its own prices.
Do I need to bring detergent?
Often not. Baluko’s washers add detergent and softener automatically. Other shops can differ, so check the sign first.
What if I do not have ¥100 coins?
Machines may not give change. Look for a change machine or a payment option in the shop. Baluko has a change machine and an app that takes credit cards and PayPay.
How long does a wash and dry take?
About 60 minutes at Baluko. A separate dryer takes about 30–40 minutes for regular clothes.
Can I wash my shoes?
Only in a machine made for shoes. A Japanese health ministry notice says sports shoes should not go in regular machines. Baluko says leather shoes and rain boots cannot be washed.
Related Articles
Sources
Checked November 5, 2026. We have not written about our own visits. Prices, hours and rules change by shop, so please follow the signs in the shop.
- Mammaciao: coin laundry prices (Japanese)
- Mammaciao: store list (Japanese)
- Baluko: machines and how to use them (Japanese)
- Baluko: questions and answers (Japanese)
- Baluko: Shibuya Bridge store (Japanese)
- Baluko: Yoyogi 3-chome store (Japanese)
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: coin laundry hygiene notice (Japanese)
