How to Use A Japanese Washing Machine: An Easy Guide

Learning how to use a Japanese washing machine (洗濯機, sentakuki) is one of the first practical tasks for anyone moving to Japan.

Most Japanese homes use either a top-loading or front-loading washing machine, and almost all models default to cold water washes.

The control panels are written entirely in Japanese kanji and hiragana, covering six core buttons: power (電源), course selection (コース), cycle stage (行程), water volume (水量), timer (予約), and start/pause (スタート/一時停止).

This guide covers every button, every common wash cycle setting, how to choose the right laundry detergent in Japan, how to dry your clothes without a dryer, and how to use a coin laundry (コインランドリー) for large or bulky items.

Japanese washing machine buttons

There are two common types of Japanese washing machines: top-loading and front-loading machines. 

Your washing machine can also act as a dryer, though many Japanese households only have a washing machine.

Main Japanese washing machine buttons to know:

• 電源 (Power): The power button. 入 for on. 切 for off.

• コース (Course): The different types of washing cycles depending on your laundry.

• 行程 (Cycle): Shows which stage of your machine's washing process is currently in. 洗い for washing, すすぎ for rinsing, 脱水 for spinning/drying.

• 水量 (Water volume): Press to adjust the amount of water used for the wash cycle.

• 予約 (Timer): Set a delayed start for your laundry cycle. Allows you to have just finished laundry at a convenient time.

• (スタート/一時停止) Start/Pause: To start and pause the wash.

How to use Japanese washing machine: step-by-step

1. Turn on the washing machine.

Look for the 電源 button. Your machine might have 入 for on and 切 for off.

2. Select the course that you want.

There are many different courses to choose from.

Here are the most common Japanese washing machine course settings to choose from. If your machine has a 標準 (hyojun) button, this is the standard wash cycle and works as a reliable default for most everyday clothes:

3. Select the amount of water to use.

Most courses allow you to select the amount of water you need depending on how much laundry you have. Depending on your machine, it can be as low as 12L to almost 50L.

Please note that Japan mainly uses cold water to wash their clothing.

4. Pour the laundry detergent into the washing machine.

Japanese laundry detergent can be a little confusing, but here are 4 translations to help you distinguish between detergent, softener, and more. 

• 洗剤: Laundry detergents

• 柔軟剤: Fabric softeners

• 柔軟剤配合: Laundry detergents containing fabric softener

• 衣料用漂白剤: Bleach for clothing

Additionally, your washing machine might have to be in separate locations to load detergent and fabric softener. Refer to your machine's manual to find the correct compartments. 

Separate compartments for detergent and softener | Translated Toshiba Laundry Machine AW-80DF Model

5. Close the lid.

Make sure your laundry items fit when the lid is closed.

Press スタート button and your washing machine will still operate. 

How to dry your laundry in Japan

Drying laundry in Japan without a clothes dryer is one of the biggest adjustments for people moving from Western countries. A 2019 survey found that 70 percent of people in Japan dry their clothes outside, and a separate informal poll found that roughly 66 percent of people living in Japan have no dryer at home.

The most common drying method is hanging clothes on a balcony pole (物干し竿, monohoshi sao) or an indoor drying rack (物干しスタンド, monohoshi sutando). Some apartment buildings prohibit outdoor hanging to maintain building aesthetics, in which case an indoor rack or bathroom drying is the standard alternative.

Many Japanese bathrooms include a built-in ventilation and heated drying mode (浴室乾燥, yokushitsu kanso) that can dry clothes in roughly three hours. If your bathroom does not have this feature, a drying rack with a built-in heater is a practical investment.

Washer-dryer combo units are available but are significantly more expensive than standalone washing machines and consume more electricity. During Japan's rainy season (梅雨, tsuyu), which runs roughly from June to mid-July in most of Honshu, indoor drying or coin laundry dryers become the most practical options.

One more tip for apartment living: in Japan it is considered inconsiderate to run the washing machine late at night, as sound travels easily through apartment walls and floors. Most residents do laundry during the morning or afternoon. Check your building's house rules (管理規約, kanri kiyaku) for any specific quiet hours.

Coin laundry machine in Japan

Many coin laundromats exist in Japan, and they are especially useful when you have large or bulky laundry items that do not fit in your regular washing machine. 

A major plus to coin laundries is washing and drying machines in one location.

How to use a coin laundry machine in Japan

Many coin laundry machines use 100 yen coins, and there are machines to exchange larger bills.

The typical cost for a wash cycle is about 200 to 500 yen depending on load size, with a standard cycle running around 30 to 40 minutes.

Drying generally costs 100 yen per 10 minutes, though some newer laundromats offer 30 minutes for 100 yen.

Note that Japanese dryers are typically less powerful than Western models, so budget extra time and coins for drying. A combined wash and dry run on separate machines usually totals around 800 yen; all-in-one combo machines typically cost 1,300 yen or more.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn on a Japanese washing machine?

Press the 電源 (dengen) button to turn the machine on. The kanji 入 means on and 切 means off. On most models, the power button is the largest button on the panel, usually positioned on the right side. Once the machine is on, select your wash cycle using the コース (kosu) button before pressing スタート to start the wash.

What is the standard wash cycle on a Japanese washing machine?

The standard wash cycle is labeled either おまかせ (omakase, meaning automatic) or 標準 (hyojun, meaning standard). Both run a complete wash, rinse, and spin sequence and are suitable for most everyday clothes including cotton shirts, socks, and casual garments. Use おまかせ when in doubt, as it is the default setting on most top-loading Japanese washing machines.

Do Japanese washing machines use hot water or cold water?

Japanese washing machines use cold water by default, and most models do not have a hot water connection or a temperature setting. This is different from many Western washing machines. Japanese laundry detergents (洗剤, senzai) are formulated to work effectively in cold water, so you do not need to adjust your detergent choice to compensate.

What is the difference between 洗剤 and 柔軟剤 in Japan?

洗剤 (senzai) is laundry detergent and 柔軟剤 (junanki) is fabric softener. These go into separate compartments on most Japanese washing machines. If you see 柔軟剤配合 on a detergent bottle, it means the detergent already contains fabric softener. 衣料用漂白剤 (iryo-yo hyohakuzai) is bleach for clothing and should only be used on compatible fabrics.

How do I dry clothes in Japan without a dryer?

The most common method in Japan is hanging clothes on a balcony pole (物干し竿, monohoshi sao) or an indoor drying rack (物干しスタンド, monohoshi sutando). Many Japanese bathrooms have a built-in heated drying mode (浴室乾燥, yokushitsu kanso) that can dry a full load in roughly three hours. Some apartment buildings prohibit outdoor hanging, in which case an indoor rack or the bathroom drying function are the standard alternatives.

How much does coin laundry cost in Japan?

A standard wash cycle at a Japanese coin laundry (コインランドリー) costs between 200 and 500 yen depending on load size, with a cycle running about 30 to 40 minutes. Drying costs approximately 100 yen per 10 minutes at most locations. Coin laundries are especially useful for bulky items like futons and blankets that do not fit in a home washing machine. Bring 100-yen coins, as most machines do not accept other denominations, though some newer locations accept IC cards.

What does 脱水 mean on a Japanese washing machine?

脱水 (dassui) means spin or spin-dry. It is the final stage of the wash cycle and refers to the high-speed rotation that removes most of the water from your clothes before you hang them to dry. On the 行程 (kotei) display, you will see the machine progress through 洗い (wash), すすぎ (rinse), and then 脱水 (spin).

Can I use a Japanese washing machine for futons and blankets?

Yes. Most Japanese washing machines include a 毛布 (moufu) course specifically for blankets and futons. This cycle uses more water and runs a longer wash to handle thick or bulky items. For very large futons, a coin laundry with a large-capacity front-loading machine is the better option, as home machines may not have enough capacity.

In closing

Doing laundry in Japan can be daunting at first, especially when learning how to use a Japanese washing machine for the first time. But once you understand the basics, it'll become routine like anywhere else.

Happy washing!