ACTUAL CONDITIONS OF OPERATION AND USE OF LAUNDROMATS AND LAUNDRY CAFES AS “PLACES TO SHARE LAUNDRY AND STAY”

This study focused on laundromats and laundry cafes as places for sharing laundry. The purpose is to clarify their spatial characteristics and actual usage. For laundromats, we collected case studies from five areas in Tokyo and organized their spatial characteristics. For laundry cafes, we extracted examples in Tokyo, conducted interviews with operators, and conducted a questionnaire survey of users. The results suggest that there is a relationship between the size of laundromats and the quality of their facilities and services, and between people’s lifestyles and their reasons for choosing a laundry cafe.