Manga Cafe's
I love Manga Cafe's!
Why? Because they the all purpose rest spot for any busy body, salaryman,
traveller in Tokyo.
Kinda like a Tim Hortons or "rest-stop" along the 401 is for truckers in back hom in Canada. Actually very similar, lemme explain.
You see,
Tokyo's so big and the trains so convenient that the vast majority of people working in Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Tokyo or any one of the dozen major train stations actually live about an hour away from the city, perhaps more!
Unlike western cities, where about 50% of the "white collar workers" drive into work from the "burbs" everyday. I'd say 90% of all Japanese living in Tokyo only use the train during the week. Car's are usually reserved for week-end trips out of Tokyo,
going to Grandma's house in Tochigi and what-not.
This means that most Tokyo-ites are "stuck down-town" from about 10am
to 7 or 8 or even 10pm. Most of the time their in the office, BUT;
But what happens when you have a lot of free time between jobs?
Or you're handing out resumes downtown and need a break?
Or you've finished work, its 6pm and your waiting for your buddies to meet you at Shibuya Station on a Friday night...You have 2 or 3 hours to kill.....but don't want to go all the way back home. What should you do?
More importantly what are you going to do, if you were stuck downtown and had a little to much to drink in "Golden Gae"? Missed the last train home?
No problem! If you were a (Canadian) trucker, you'd pull over to your local "truck stop" park the rig, take a shower grab some fries and sleep in the cabin until about 4am or so. Right? Well....same thing in Tokyo!
I'm no trucker, but I can tell you living in Tokyo - I've put more than couple of miles on these shoes!
This is where "Manga Cafe's" come in handy!
You see - I view them as a sort of "Twilight Zone" an "In-Between' transient sort of place.
Need to take a shower?
Go ahead - thats a buck! 100 Yen if you can get in and get out quick enough!
Need a nap? Go for it!
Pay the 3 hours, ask for a "sleep kit" face mask and ear plugs included, perhaps you prefer streaming "ambient beats" to your "booth" from the computer and get nappin!
Need a small cheap meal and something to drink, Manga Kissa all the way Dude!
Are you stinky? Take a show, find a meal AND find someplace cheap to sleep in Tokyo, sounds like you've just missed the last train home buddy!
Well, I suggest FIRST calling you wife or girlfreind or room-mate,
to explain the situation first, then get searching for anyone of the thousands
upon thousands of Manga-Cafe's in Tokyo!
There are other reasons which I personally use Maga-Cafe's for.
You see, I love watching the "UFC"! I love watching the UFC LIVE, even more so!
But, my computers a MAC - so It wont "stream" anyone of the pay-per-view fights from the states. But a PC will!
And so what I do is grab a couple of cold ones and a sandwich from the convenient store, throw them into my back pack and head off for my favorite Manga-Cafe in Tokyo, This one's staked with private booths and large high definition monitors in all their computers.
"Walla" just like the "The Library Square Bar" back home in Vancouver!
(minus the drunks, profuse usage of curse words and excitement of course).
Well, not exactly, But still.....gotta make do with what you have.
This is what I'm saying,
Manga Cafe's can and most likely WILL serve as your very own personal "rest-stop" should you be truckin in and around around Tokyo for any length of time.
And if you're here for more than a week, I'm sure they'll prove useful to you.
They are the cheapest of cheap and everyone should find something of use in them. Here's a list of things common found in any Manga-Cafe.
1). Private booth all equipped with your very own PC to use -
Tatami style (sit on the floor) bean bag styles seats or "fake leather chair" style.
All are comfortable. All are private. (feel free to check out your favourite "naughty sites" to your hearts content - no ones gonna bug you!)
2). Food - Every Manga-Cafe serves food. It may not be healthy, but its cheap and
delicious (well sometimes). You can usually get; Curry Rice, Ramen or Japanese Noodles, Cup a Noodle, Curry Rice, Japanese noodles, or Ramen or like 15 different types of Pop, sometimes Coffee or Tea. You might even find water.
Take you pic. I'd go with the noodles or curry myself, sometimes even a pop or cofee and sometimes with another bowl of curry or noodles.
Did I happen to mention that Manga-Cafe's "specialize" in curry or noodles?
3). Showers - Most, I'd say like...75% of all Manga-Cafe's in Tokyo are equipped with a shower. If they have a shower, they will also provide you with a "shower-pack". This includes, soap, shampoo a towel and a razor. Sometimes a comb.
Um, actually usually a comb as well.
4). Night-Kits - These "kits" are designed for you party-people stuck in Shibuya.
I can't say that you're going to get the best sleep you've ever had, but its cheaper than a cab ride home. You'll get earplugs and a blanket, and some times even a "shower-pack".
5). A million Manga (Japanese style comic books). If you can read Japanese,
all three; Katagana, hiragana and Kanji - go for it!
But from what I understand most Japanese who visit "Manga Cafe's" can't read Kanji either - so don't feel bad! Sorry - bad joke, I know...
Well everyone, that's it for this month,
Good luck and keep truckin!
Yours,
Matt
