Jade’s Guide to Manga Cafes

What is a manga cafe?

Manga cafes (more commonly known as Internet cafes abroad) are places where many young (and not-so-young) Japanese people go to read manga (Japanese comics) and watch TV series or DVDs in small padded booths, while helping themselves to drinks and snacks (such as ice-cream, soups and popcorn).

You must have a membership card to enter, but they are also very cheap (about 500¥ – £3.50/$5) and enable you to visit all the branches of that particular café. The membership that I possess is for Manboo! Cafe.

Why are they popular?

They are very cheap and provide entertainment for the youth of Japan in a place other than home. Many small groups use the booths together so they can share the experience, while others prefer to go alone and escape the outside world.

They are also a popular destination for those who have missed their last train home!

Here is a shot of the available facilities at Manboo! Cafe.

As you can see, you can even freshen up by having a shower and brushing your teeth before you have to go back home (or maybe even back to work) after a night out.

How much do they cost?

At Manboo! the prices are 100¥ for the first 30 minutes, and then the prices increase a little from there. There are also package deals you can buy. See the price list below from the Manboo! website.

As you can see, the prices are insanely cheap (especially the 6-hour overnight pack!) and the facilities available make manga cafes a nice option as a second home for anyone going through a hard time.

Where can I find one?

Manga cafes are anywhere and everywhere! The one that I usually go to in Shinjuku (although there are maaaaany different branches, not only this one) is near the east exit of the station. The exact address is below for you, but there are plenty of other cafes available.

Sexual endeavours

A lot of young Japanese couples who are unable to experiment at home and too poor to afford a love hotel often go to manga cafes for sexy time.

The first time a Japanese friend of mine took me to a manga cafe (not to do anything sexual, just to hang out), I could actually hear the couple in the booth next to us getting it on, no matter how silent they were trying to be.

An unfortunate incident

Speaking of love hotels, a friend of mine came to visit from the UK last year and tried to find a love hotel so he could get it on with a friend I had paired him up with. She was Chinese-American and also fairly new to Japan herself, and the two of them wandered around Kabukicho searching for an available love hotel.

My British friend reported back the next day that they had had sex on “a mat on the floor” saying that he didn’t understand what the smeg that love hotel was all about. He added that a worker had come over and knocked on the door to the room asking them to keep it down, even though they had already paid to use the hotel.

Revelations

Well, it was only after I spoke to my Chinese-American friend a few weeks later that I understood the real situation. She had quickly figured out that the nearby love hotels were fully booked (or only had super expensive rooms left) and so had taken him to a manga cafe instead.

I can only imagine what the people in the surrounding booths trying to quietly read their manga or sleep must have thought…

I hope you enjoyed this short but sweet look into Japanese manga cafes!

Adios amigos!

Jade xxx