There are not many maid cafes in other countries, but in Akihabara, the sacred place of otaku culture and anime in Tokyo, there are more than 200 maid cafes.
Therefore, many people may be interested in visiting a maid cafe when sightseeing in Tokyo.
In this article, we will tell you what to expect in maid cafes, and the rules for visiting one so that you can enjoy maid cafes to the fullest.
Introduction to maid cafes
A maid cafe is a cafe where the workers/servers are dressed as maids.
While regular coffee shops focus mainly on food and drinks, maid cafes focus mainly on service itself, so in addition to the drink and food charges, a charge fee is required, where about 3,000 yen per sitting is the norm.
Some maid cafes offer photo opportunities with maids, so if you want to take a picture with a maid, you should visit the cafe with a little extra money, since they cost additional fees.
In addition, most maid cafes have an hourly service, so you cannot stay for so long.
Enjoy communicating with maids with the limited time you have.
Cardinal rules to follow when visiting maid cafes
There are cases where customers may get a little too carried away when maids are providing their excellent service.
In this section, we will introduce the three cardinal rules of maid cafes, which you should be sure to follow when you visit.
Rule 1: Do not touch the maids
Touching maids is not allowed.
Maid cafes are different from adult entertainment establishments. Never touch the maids' shoulders or touch their bodies.
You are also not allowed to touch the maids when you take a picture as well, so please beware of these boundaries.
Rule 2: Do not ask for contact info
Even if you are interested in a maid, you are not allowed to talk about the maid's personal life.
You may not ask for her home address or ask for her cell phone number.
Many maids are on social networking services such as X, so if you find a maid you are interested in, make sure to follow her on social media.
Of course, not all of them are on social media, so don't be persistent in asking for their contact information!
Rule 3: Do not take pictures without permission
It is not allowed to take pictures without the maids' permission.
If you really want a picture of a maid, please use the store's cheki service or other services to take pictures.
Let's have fun while observing the maid cafe rules!
Let me tell you how to have fun at a maid cafe. Please refrain from being selfish and enjoy yourself so that the maids will want you to come back again.
Immerse yourself in the world
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Not only does this apply in Japan, there is also a similar saying in Japanese as well, "郷に入っては郷に従え", which the Japanese follow quite strictly.
When you go to a maid cafe, follow the rules of the cafe and immerse yourself in the world.
Especially in Akihabara, Tokyo, there are many different types of maid cafes.
Each cafe has its own unique worldview, so find one that seems to offer the kind of worldview and services you like and visit it.
In the past, people assumed that "customers of maid cafes = predominantly young males," but recently the number of women and older customers has been increasing.
If you are shy or worried about people's eyes, you will not be able to enjoy the world view you are looking for, so when you go to a maid cafe, enjoy yourself to the fullest!
Try to visit multiple maid cafes
As mentioned earlier, there are many different types of maid cafes.
Since the atmosphere and service style of maids vary greatly from store to store, it is recommended that you visit not just one, but several maid cafes.
＜Examples of maid cafe types＞
1. Standard types
Also called "maid kissa" （喫茶; traditional way of saying "cafe" in Japanese）, these are places where maids serve customers. Although you will not be able to communicate with the maids very much, this is recommended for those who want to take their time and immerse themselves in the world of maids.
2. Entertainment-oriented types
Maid cafes with a focus on "moe" (萌え; otaku slang, meaning feelings of strong affection). Maids provide services that will make you feel "moe". Some cafes offer live performances, so try searching for "moe-kei maid cafes".
3. Conversation-oriented types
There are also maid cafes where the main focus is on enjoying conversation with maids. Some cafes also serve alcoholic drinks, so they are recommended for those who want to have a more realistic and lively interaction with the maids, as opposed to a "moe" experience.
Let's enjoy maid cafes by following the rules!
In order to enjoy maid cafes, it is necessary to follow the aforementioned rules.
If you follow the rules, you will have a good time, so before visiting, check the rules and systems of each store on their SNS, official website, or Google Maps reviews.
English 
Japanese 
Korean 
Chinese