A surprising amount of what I see and read about Japan online seems to cover the same topics. The food, manners, modernity, safety, a lack of real poverty, and of course the cleanliness. Elements of the country that are genuine positives. Lots of truth in there too, even if it is just in a comparative sense. What often seems to get lost, however, is that just like everywhere else in the world, Japan has its fair share of problems, meaning for many, life is tough, and those much touted aspects that supposedly make it such a special place are an irrelevance, or worse still, simply don’t ring true at all.
All of which came to mind when I saw the scene below. I’ve photographed this coin laundry before, but seeing it stripped of the lockers it once housed, I assumed it was no longer in use. But I was wrong. It still is. And surrounded as it is by accommodation in a similarly sorry state, it remains the nearest and most accessible option for many.
Sean says
Wow that’s one scuzzy laundromat…….
Lee says
Just a bit eh? Always looked quite grim, but now much more so with the lockers gone.
Richard says
What a sad scene!
Lee says
I know. That area is changing just like the rest of Tokyo, but still a lot of people struggling there.
Marc says
Once while doing laundry in Tokyo a guy arrived, placed his laundry in the machine, stripped naked, threw those in and proceeded to take a bath in the large sink there. We decided it was a good time to head to the combini for a beer and some cheddar cheese popcorn.
Lee says
That is the laundrette story to end all laundrette stories. Your shock must have been quite something to say the least.
cdilla says
Was he wearing 501s?
https://youtu.be/tydaBDYgdy0?feature=shared
Richard says
THAT is a first!