At a Japanese maid cafe, customers pay good money to be pampered by cute, young girls in frilly costumes.
The role-play goes pretty far. Waitresses will get on hand and knees to take orders from "Master." Some even offer ear-cleaning and spoon-feeding. *SEE PHOTOS BELOW*
There are dozens of cosplay cafes in Tokyo's Akihabara district. On weekends, lonely boys line up for a plate of ketchup-rice decorated by their favorite maid.
These eateries are an odd but harmless fantasy -- a space where nerdy "otaku" can get attention from anime and manga heroines. Some develop warm "moe" crushes on their favorite maid. For a few hundred yen, customers can buy decorated Polaroids, or capsule toys from "gashapon" machines.
Japanese maids are elusive creatures. Most of these cafes ban photography, since they cash in by selling photos of the girls. Try to take a photo of a maid handing out flyers in the street, and she'll cover her face and walk away.
However, I've had special access: I often bring TV shows to maid cafes, and photographed several for my Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo book.
Here's a selection of my photos from various Japanese maid cafes. Which girl would you like to play rock-paper-scissors with?
Melty Cure
3F, 4-6-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Nearest station: Akihabara or Suehirocho
Open: Mon-Fri (1-9pm), Sat-Sun (12-10pm)
Tel: 03-3254-7557
MIA Cafe
Riverside Seven Bldg. 3F, 2-7-9, Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Nearest station: Akihabara or Suehirocho
Open: Mon-Fri (12-10pm), Sat-Sun (11am-10pm)
Tel: 03-6804-3771
Cafe Mai:lish
FH Kyowa Square Bldg. 2F, 3-6-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Nearest station: Akihabara or Suehirocho
Open: Daily (11am-10pm)
Tel: 03-5289-7310
Cos-Cha Cafe
Isamiya Dai 8 Bldg. 2F, 3-7-12, Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Nearest station: Akihabara or Suehirocho
Open: Daily (5-10pm)
Tel: 03-3253-4560
A peek inside Tokyo's maid cafes
Cos-Cha customers get schooled(01 of11)
Open Image Modal"Welcome, Master!"(02 of11)
Open Image ModalAngels and demons(03 of11)
Open Image ModalAt Cafe Bar Pray, half of the servers are innocent seraphs, and the rest are devilishly cute temptresses. Which side of the counter would you sit on? (credit:La Carmina)
Let's play a game(04 of11)
Open Image ModalEach maid has a heavenly nickname such as "Raphael." This little devil entertains a customer with a lucky draw. (credit:La Carmina)
Magical Shinto temple girls(05 of11)
Open Image ModalMiko-san Cafe featured girls dressed as Shinto temple maidens. The spirits were not pleased. This theme cafe barely lasted a year. (credit:La Carmina)
In the changing room(06 of11)
Open Image ModalRacks of cute dresses and toy purses to choose from. (credit:La Carmina)
This maid cafe's a drag(07 of11)
Open Image ModalHibari-tei is one of the most popular maid cafes in Tokyo. Look closely. All of the servers are cross-dressed men. (credit:La Carmina)
Say "ahhh"(08 of11)
Open Image ModalAt Mai:lish, the French maid blows on a spoonful of hot food... and hand-feeds the customer. (credit:La Carmina)
2D love(09 of11)
Open Image ModalEach maid has an anime doppleganger. Customers buy merchandise, such as keychains and towels, with their favorite server's image. (credit:La Carmina)
The lure of the French maid(10 of11)
Open Image Modal"Meidos" stand in the streets of Akihabara, handing out flyers to potential clients. (credit:La Carmina)
A cure for any ailment(11 of11)
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