Being the very heart of the anime and consumer electronics scene in Japan, it’s no surprise that Tokyo’s Akihabara neighborhood has Internet cafes where you can also read comics from a massive in-house manga library. But as nice as it can be to immerse yourself in all of the extremely important information available online, or to gorge yourself on a year’s worth of manga at a fraction of the price you’d pay to buy it, you might find yourself wanting to do so in relaxing, even traditional surroundings.
If so, a visit to the Nagomi-Style Cafe Akiba is in order, as it’s the only manga and Internet cafe in Akihabara designed with the look and atmosphere of a Japanese ryokan inn.
The Sakai Suehiro Building is located at the intersection of the Chuo-dori and Kuramaebashi-dori streets. Head down the stairs to basement level one, and you’ll find a ponderous door that wouldn’t be out-of-place as the entrance to a storehouse on the grounds of a samurai estate.
You won’t find stockpiles of rice or gold inside, though. Step through the entrance, and you’ll be greeted by paper umbrellas, water jugs, and kimono-clad staff, all of which belie the fact that there are 53-Internet equipped rooms inside.
▼ There’s also a corner stocked with goodies such as umaibo, one of Japan’s favorite snacks/building materials.
Prices start at 300 yen (US$2.55) for 30 minutes on weekdays, and there are discounted multi-hour packages available too. The Nagomi-Style Cafe even serves breakfast and lunch, making it a popular spot for businesspeople who work in the area and want a side of manga with their midday meal.
▼ Although calling the collection of comics a side order doesn’t really do justice to its size.
The facility has eight different types of rooms, many with traditional tatami-style reed flooring. The sofa rooms are popular with couples, and if you’re in the mood to stretch out by yourself, there are single-occupancy booths with recliners and ottomans.
As a matter of fact, the Nagomi-Style Cafe is so comfortable that it gets used as a hotel substitute by late-night revellers who missed the last train home and thrifty anime fans coming into Tokyo from other regions of Japan for industry events in and around the neighborhood. At a maximum of 3,980 yen for a 12-hour stay, the Nagomi-Style Cafe is cheaper than hotel accommodation or a taxi ride back home to the suburbs, and 420 yen gets you 30 minutes in the on-site shower, with soap, shampoo, conditioner, towels, and even razors provided.
Just make sure you remember to get some sleep, instead of staying up all night reading manga…
Cafe information
Nagomi-Style Cafe Akiba / 和style.cafe AKIBA
Address: Tokyo-to, Chiyoda-ku, Soto Kanda 6-14-2, Sakai Suehiro Building basement level 1
東京都千代田区外神田6-14-2サカイ末広ビル地下1階
Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Website
Photos © RocketNews24
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