Maid Cafes are not well known outside of Japan, so with that in mind some people may be unsure about what you can do there.
Here is our guide to everything you need to know about Maid Cafes in Japan...
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What is a Maid Cafe?
Maid Cafes are known in Japan as ‘meido kafe’. This simply means that this is a cafe or small restaurant where the waitresses are dressed in maid outfits and serve their customers as if they are their ‘master’ or ‘mistress’. Maid Cafes try to focus on good service for their customers and the emphasis is on the whole cafe experience rather than just the food and drinks.
Some customers may be under the impression that a Maid Cafe is a place where you can get extra services from the waitresses although this is strictly prohibited. There is no physical interaction between that waitresses and the clientele and if you try to suggest this then you will be asked to leave. It is very important that you treat the ‘maids’ here with the upmost respect as you would treat serving staff in any cafe environment
Where can I find a Maid Cafe?
Maid Cafes are dotted all over Tokyo, however the majority of these cafes are found in the famous Akihabara region of the city. This part of Tokyo is also known as ‘otaku’ or the geek district of the city.
What can I do at a Maid Cafe?
There are lots of things that you can do at a Maid Cafe, although it is mostly a similar experience to going to a normal cafe but with more services available from the servers. The point of a Maid Cafe is to have fun and spend an enjoyable afternoon or evening with the waitresses.
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The Food:
One of the reasons to go to a Maid Cafe is to eat. Most cafes serve a range of food items and these usually come in the form of set meals. You may find choices such as Japanese rice dishes with omelet, vegetables, and meat, or Western choices like steaks.
In some Maid Cafes you can pay extra for the waitresses to feed your lunch or dinner to you.
The Drinks:
You can also simply order a drink when you come to a Maid Cafe. These include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Many cafes will happily serve you a cappuccino or you can get a cocktail or a beer- it all depends on your preferences.
The Service:
The main reason why many people come to a Maid Cafe is to enjoy the service. The waitresses are meant to be more attentive here and will interact more with customers than a regular cafe where they are paid to merely serve you food and drinks.
One of the signature features of a Maid Cafe is the use of chanting which is meant to be a good luck spell to make your food or drink taste even better. The waitresses will use a chant to ‘bless’ you food and will also teach you some of the chants and you will be expected to try and participate as well.
Other features of the service at a Maid Cafe can come in the form of pictures that are added to your food or drink. If you order a coffee then the waitress may draw a picture of your choice on the top with chocolate sauce, or if you order a main dish then they may draw a picture with ketchup or another condiment. This is meant to make the food or drink more pleasing to the eye.
The Show:
Usually when you have eaten your food and before you leave you will be treated to a show by one or more of the servers. There is often a small stage in a Maid Cafe and the server will sing you a song and do a dance routine. This is meant to be a key part of the experience and sometimes you will also be invited to join in.
The Souvenirs:
As going to a Maid Cafe is something of an experience, you will be given souvenirs as part of the package to remember your trip. This is included in the price of a set meal and you can usually choose from a range of items. Some of these may include products such as bunny ears or a key ring.
The Photographs:
When you leave a Maid Cafe you will often be offered the chance to take a picture with one of the waitresses. They will also often draw some cute pictures on this photograph so that you have a sweet keepsake of your trip to a Maid Cafe.
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