From the archive

Winners of Japan’s 2019 Laundromat of the Year Award

Winners of Japan’s 2019 Laundromat of the Year Award

the overall top prize went to Hull (left) while the best design went to Eco Laundry (right)Around this time of year, a coveted prize is awarded within a niche industry in Japan: the Laundromat-of-the-Year-Award (pdf).
It’s presented at an industry fair in Tokyo known as the International Coin-Operated Laundry EXPO where excellence in laundromats are recognized within 3 main categories.
There’s a top prize, a prize for best design and a prize for best user experience.
photos by Azusa ShigenobuTop Prize: Hull (Hyogo Prefecture)The prestigious top prize was awarded to Hull, a new concept laundromat the combines laundry with a hair salon.
Together, they created a warm and welcoming space that contributed to the laundromat’s recognition of top prize for 2019.photos by Kenta HasegawaBest Design: Eco Laundry (Shizuoka Prefecture)For best design, the award went to Eco Laundry, which is a chain of laundromats.