Time and Cost of Using Washing Machines and Dryers in a Japanese Business Hotel: A Late-Night Laundry Experience

Late-Night Laundry Experience at a Japanese Business Hotel

I am on a business trip for the first time in a while that lasts more than four nights.

This time, the plan is for 10 nights and 11 days.

I need to do laundry.

Around 10 PM, I went to the hotel's laundry room thinking I would wash my clothes, but someone else was using the machine.

I gave up and went back after midnight. It was finally available, so I started doing laundry at such a late hour.

The washing machine takes 38 minutes (as displayed on the machine).

The cost is 200 yen.

I bought detergent from the vending machine for 50 yen, so the total cost for washing was 250 yen.

After inserting 200 yen, water begins to fill the washing machine.

Once enough water has accumulated, I add the detergent.

Without waiting too long, I throw everything in together--dress shirts, underwear, handkerchiefs, socks.

While the washing machine is running, I return to my room and wait for the 38 minutes to pass.

The dryer costs 100 yen for 30 minutes.

According to the instructions on the dryer, dress shirts need 30 minutes, while underwear needs 60 minutes.

I put everything in together--dress shirts, underwear, handkerchiefs, socks--and insert 200 yen.

The display shows 60 minutes, so I return to my room.

There is a notice saying, "Please stay inside the laundry room because the dryer cannot be locked," but no one follows it.

I wait in my room for 60 minutes.

Given the time of night, I am sleepy.

I have no motivation today. After returning from the office to the hotel, I decided not to work and took a break.

So I am even sleepier.

It is now 2:50 AM.

Thinking it should be done by now, I rub my sleepy eyes and enter the laundry room, opening the dryer door.

I grab the laundry, expecting it to be warm and fluffy... but wait. It is neither warm nor fluffy.

It is lukewarm and damp.

The other laundry left in the dryer is in a similar condition.

I put the laundry back into the dryer, sigh, and insert another 100 yen.

The display shows 30 minutes.

I return to my room to wait another 30 minutes.

Back in my room, I doze off repeatedly at my desk, and my neck starts to hurt.

After 30 minutes, I open the dryer again. This time, the laundry is warm and fluffy.

Time and Cost Summary for Using Laundry Machines in a Business Hotel

1. Washing Machine

Cost: Detergent 50 yen, washing machine 200 yen
Time: 38 minutes (30 minutes)

2. Dryer

Cost: Dryer 300 yen (100 yen × 3)
Time: 90 minutes

3. Total

Time: 128 minutes
Cost: 550 yen

*Additional time is required for folding clothes, so you should expect at least 2 hours and 30 minutes in total.

*If the amount of laundry is small, the dryer might finish in 60 minutes.

Finally, an important note: Some business hotels do not have coin laundry facilities. If you need to do laundry during your stay, always check whether the hotel has a coin laundry. If you cannot find a hotel with one, choose a hotel located near a coin laundry.