The facility uses a filtration system to clean the water after each wash, allowing one load's worth of water to be used multiple times.
The idea came from artist Muroyama Miyabi, 23, who lives in the city and whose home was damaged in the disaster.
After posting a call on a social network service, he received donations of filtration equipment and tanks which he turned into a laundromat. It opened on a trial basis on February 12.
One of the early users said, "I used to wash my clothes in cold river water, so this is a big help."
The laundromat has two tanks that can hold one ton of water. Muroyama is currently monitoring how many cycles it can last before fresh water must be added.
"I'm glad the locals are happy with the project," he says. "But we can't keep replacing the water indefinitely, so we're really hoping to get some support from the government and volunteers."
