Tokyo's rainy season (梅雨, tsuyu) usually runs from early June to mid-July. In these weeks, towels, clothes and bathrooms are slow to dry. The ventilation and drying functions in your apartment keep the moisture under control.
What do the bathroom buttons mean?
| Label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 換気 | Ventilation |
| 24時間換気 | 24-hour ventilation |
| 乾燥 | Drying |
| 暖房 | Heating |
| 涼風 | Cool airflow, without heat, on many models |
Not every apartment has every function. Check your room guide, or send your apartment manager a photo of the panel if you are unsure.
After a shower
Run the ventilation. Wipe water off surfaces where you can, and do not cover the vents. Leave 24-hour ventilation on if your room instructions say so.
The right door position depends on the system. Noritz's drying advice (in Japanese) says to close the door and window and keep the air inlet open. If the door has no air inlet, leave it slightly open. Follow the instructions for your own equipment.
How to dry clothes in the bathroom
If your bathroom has a drying function:
- Spin the clothes in the washing machine first.
- Hang them on the bathroom rail, with gaps between items.
- Close the bathroom door and window as the instructions for drying mode say.
- Press 乾燥 and set the timer.
- Check that the clothes are dry before you put them away.
Do not crowd the rail or hang clothes over a vent. A basic ventilation fan is not a heated dryer, so clothes take much longer with ventilation alone.
If you have a dehumidifier
Place it as the manual says, keep its airflow clear and empty the tank when it is full. Keep it away from shower splashes. Not every apartment has one, so check the equipment list for your room.
Small things that help
Leave wet umbrellas and shoes where they will not soak the floor. Wipe up water promptly. Do not put damp clothes away in a cupboard.
Contact your apartment manager if a fan stops working, condensation does not clear or you notice mould. Send a photo so they can see the problem.
In a LOHUS home
Open the Guest Guide for your room and choose the bathroom dryer. Tap a numbered marker on the photo of the panel to read what that button does, or choose Step by step for a guided sequence. If a function is not listed, or your panel looks different, send us a photo and we will help.
The ventilation button in the LOHUS Guest Guide. This example is from one of our homes; follow the guide for your own room.
Cover photo: Atul Vinayak / Unsplash
