photo by kimmelcleaners
No matter where in the world you live in, little domestic chores like cooking, cleaning and washing are something you can’t avoid. Well, most of these chores wouldn’t trouble you much most of the time. But when it comes to washings, there are a few things that can’t be washed in an ordinary washing machine. Also, in Japan, it is quite hard to wash large-sized items such as blanket and futon mattress, because Japanese houses are generally designed small in size. These problems would be easily solved by just taking your washings to a laundry service shop, but you may have to tell the shop staff your contact details and explain what kind of care you require in English. If you are not confident in Japanese language, using English-speaking dry cleaner would be the best solution.
Major services of Japanese dry-cleaning shops
Japanese dry cleaners can clean various type of clothes and household items. The following are the most commonly used services in Japan.
- Ordinary clothes (water-washing/dry cleaning)
- Leather
- Futon, blanket, bed sheets, curtain, rag etc.
- Stain removal
- Kimono cleaning
You can take your washings to the shop in person, or most of shops offer pick-up and drop-off service for regular customers (booking required).
Average pricing
Pricing of dry-cleaning services vary depending on shops, area, as well as type of service that you request. The followings are general pricing of standard dry-cleaning service of shops within average residential area of the central Tokyo. Also, extra charges will be applied to luxury items such as expensive dresses, formal suits and leather products as these items require special care. Charges for large items such as futon mattress and curtains scale according to size. Overall, laundry service fees in Japan are cheaper than those in Western countries, and more expensive than those in other Asian countries.
- Shirt: from 300yen
- Blouse: from 350yen
- Trousers: from 500yen
- Skirt: from 500yen
- Jacket: from 700yen
- Suit: from 1000yen
- Futon (single size): from 3000yen
English-speaking dry-cleaners in Tokyo
There are only few dry-cleaners that provide their services in English. The following is a list of English-speaking dry-cleaners in Tokyo.
Flower Cleaning Alasaka
Pick-up/delivery service is available around Minato-ku area. 20% discount will be applied once a month for customers who bring their laundry in the shop.
Address: 9-1-28 Akasaka, Minato-ku Tokyo 107-0052
TEL: 03-5413-7970
Trading hours: Mon-Sat 9:30 – 19:00, Sunday & Public holiday closed
Comet Dry Cleaners
Delivery service is available within Shinagawa-ku, Minato-ku, Meguro-ku, Shibuya-ku and Chiyoda-ku.
Address: 2-4-2 Nishishinagawa Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0033
TEL: 0120-55-9235
Trading hours: Mon-Sat 9:30 – 19:00, Sunday & Public holiday closed
Senya
Delivery service is available within Minato-ku, Shibuya-ku, Chiyoda-ku, Meguro-ku, Shinagawa-ku, Chuo-ku and Shinjuku-ku (partially unavailable, inquire for details). Booking can be made via LINE app.
Address: 1-11-21 Haneda, Ota-ku Tokyo 144-0043
TEL: 0120-510085
Trading hours: 8:00 – 23:00 (Telephone operation）, Sunday & Public holiday closed
Nasu Cleaning
Other than ordinary clothes and household items, they provide quality cleaning and stain removal of special items such as wedding gowns and dance costumes. They also dispatch finished items across Japan by courier (postage will be charged).
Address: 2-35-14 Akabane-kita, Kita-ku Tokyo 115-0052
TEL: 03-3906-0645
Trading hours: 9:30 – 19:00, Sunday & Public holiday closed
Tips to use dry-cleaners
- Before you bring your clothes to the shop, empty all the pockets. Loss of items that were left in the clothes will not be compensated. Loss of buttons and decorative materials is not compensated either.
- Collect your finished items as soon as possible. Dry-cleaners normally set a certain period for the items to be collected, and overdue items will be out of compensation.
- Take stained items to stain removal service as soon as possible (within a week). Stain may not be removed if they are left too long.
- Make sure your items are properly cleaned when you collect them. Make-up cleaning will not be available once a cleaning tag is removed from the item, even though you are not satisfied with the outcome. Also, make-up cleaning must be ordered within the period appointed by the cleaner.
- Dry-cleaners may not accept your items when washing instructions cannot be read, or material of the items is unknown.
Clean clothes, happy day!
Unfortunately, in Japan, only few dry-cleaners provide English-speaking services even in Tokyo. Using dry-cleaning service may not be that difficult even though you don’t speak fluent Japanese, if it is just about ordinary clothing such as trousers or skirts. But if you are asking for stain removal or taking items with delicate materials, you will need to be able to clearly explain about special cares you request. In such cases, you may want to use the English-speaking dry-cleaners introduced in this column.
