We visit the new Tomodachi ga Yatteru Cafe in Harajuku, where staff are paid to pose as your friends.
friends
Channel your favourite character on the Central Perk couch with special menu items and Japan-exclusive goods.
Extras will be on-hand to provide the image of a social life for your image-based social network.
In an age where some people have hundreds, or even thousands, of friends on social networking sites, rustling up just three of them will get you a hefty discount.
To all of our lovely women readers out there – have you ever felt betrayed by another female friend? Perhaps you were deceived and taken advantage of. Perhaps the coworker you trusted as your confidant was surreptitiously spreading scandalous rumors about you behind your back. Whatever the situation was, it was sure to have been an unpleasant experience.
A recent survey on popular Japanese site Mynavi Woman asked its female readers the same question as above. Dozens of women shed light about backstabbing friends and unbelievable scenes from the past. Have any of the following situations ever happened to you?
MOST POPULAR
Now
Swapping seats on Japan’s bullet trains is not allowed, Shinkansen operator says
Lawson convenience stores sell a mega katsu sando, and there’s a hack to get it cheap in Japan
Why are the Los Angeles Dodgers wearing the caps from Nagoya’s professional baseball team?
Japan has omurice chocolate, and the weirdest thing isn’t how it tastes
Downloads of 39-year-old Guns N’ Roses song increase 12,166 percent thanks to Gundam
Say hello to Japan’s new generation of adults, fresh from Kitakyushu’s 2023 seijinshiki ceremony
Man arrested in rural Japan on charges of leaving obscene DVDs in stores as gifts for “healthy men”
Japan has a new bar just for people thinking about quitting their jobs, and the drinks are free
Japanese balloon jellies, or “Tengu’s Treasure”, are a very unique souvenir
Jamiroquai doll from Japan lets you control your own Virtual Insanity 【Video】
Weekly
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Three beautiful places to see Japan’s plum blossoms after starting your day in downtown Tokyo
Cherry blossom forecasts map shows Japan’s OTHER sakura season is starting right now- Downloads of 39-year-old Guns N’ Roses song increase 12,166 percent thanks to Gundam
Huge Evangelion Unit-01 head appearing in lights in Japan to celebrate anime’s 30th anniversary
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
New Studio Ghibli stamps leave an impression on your stationery…and your heart
Family Mart releases huge range of cute sweets for Cat Day in Japan
Japan’s first all-matcha ramen restaurant is now open in Kyoto【Photos】
Japan’s most famous Mt. Fuji view park cancels cherry blossom festival because of overtourism
Monthly
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Japan releases first official sakura cherry blossom forecast for 2026
Archfiend Hello Kitty appears as Sanrio launches new team-up with Yu-Gi-Oh【Pics】
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning looks to be affecting tourist crowds on Miyajima
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day- Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Studio Ghibli releases new “komorebi” plush toys from Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away
Yokai are descending upon Tokyo this spring in the latest immersive art experience
Japan’s Naruto theme park now offering real-world version of Minato’s kunai ninja weapon
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Yearly
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo- Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Say hello to Japan’s new generation of adults, fresh from Kitakyushu’s 2023 seijinshiki ceremony
Man arrested in rural Japan on charges of leaving obscene DVDs in stores as gifts for “healthy men”
Japan has a new bar just for people thinking about quitting their jobs, and the drinks are free
Japanese balloon jellies, or “Tengu’s Treasure”, are a very unique souvenir
Jamiroquai doll from Japan lets you control your own Virtual Insanity 【Video】
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
You can now visit a recreation of Evangelion’s Tokyo-3 and live there in miniature form in【Pics】
These 19th-century Japanese miniature landscapes show that size isn’t everything
Japan’s first all-matcha ramen restaurant is now open in Kyoto【Photos】
How to fix damaged trading cards quickly and easily
25 different Japanese convenience store sandwiches – What’s inside them?【Photos】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
Japan manners debate: Is it OK to put a Mister Donut donut back on the shelf after taking it?
-
