Have you heard of the famous Manga Kissa? In this article, we will talk about manga cafes or internet cafes and how they can be one of the best options for cheap accommodation in Japan.
Manga Kissa [漫画喫茶] are places where you pay by the hour to stay in an environment that provides a space with a computer and access to a huge collection of mangas, books, and free drinks.
In this article, we will randomly use the terms manga kissa, manga café, and internet café, but I want to make it clear that they are all the same thing, there is no difference.
It is often called Manga Café or Internet Café, but both usually provide the same things. Others go further and offer karaoke rooms, billiards, and even some arcade machines, making it a cheaper entertainment option than a Karaoke Box or Spocha.
The word Manga Kissa [漫画喫茶] is translated as Manga Café, but its ideograms [喫茶] also mean tea house. The place offers tea, coffee, and soft drinks, and sometimes alcoholic beverages. Kissa is the abbreviation of kissaten [喫茶店].
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How does a Manga Kissa or Internet Café work?
As soon as you enter the place for the first time, you will need to register. After that, you receive a point card that also serves to access other manga cafes in the same network or franchise.
There are various types of rooms and private seats. If you plan to stay in a Manga Kissa, we recommend asking for the furatto [フラット], which is a closed space with a cushioned floor (tatami) and a computer with enough space that feels like a bed.
There are public chairs like in a Cyber Café or private ones, some with massage chairs or recliners. You can also read in other spaces of the place or simply grab a blanket and pillow to sleep. Some spaces are exclusive for women.
The prices for spending a night (12 hours) in an Internet Café or Manga Café range from 2,000 yen to 3,000 yen depending on the location or service offered.
After registering and choosing the type of accommodation you want, you receive a token that indicates the number of the place you will stay. In that place, you have access to a computer with very good internet and headphones.
You can leave the room whenever you want, grab any manga or book, drink as much as you like, sometimes even have ice cream. The food is paid for, you can order from the computer, and they bring it to your space.
Manga Cafés also offer showers, washing machines, lockers, VR, video games, television, free Wi-Fi, and much more. Not all Manga Kissa offer everything, so it’s necessary to research images of the place on Google Maps.
How is a Manga Kissa or Manga Café charged?
When choosing your seat, some places ask how long you wish to stay. You can exceed that time, but you will be charged an additional fee if you go over. On your computer and on the token you receive, you will find details about price and time. Manga cafés usually follow this average:
| 30 minutes. | 200 yen |
| 1 hour. | 400 yen |
| 3 hours. | 1,000 yen |
| 5 hours. | 1,400 yen |
| 6 hours. | 1,200 yen |
| 8 hours. | 1,500 yen |
| 12 hours. | 2,000 yen |
You can use the drink machines as much as you want, but instant snacks, showers, and other amenities may be charged separately. Some places offer a simple breakfast for free.
On weekends, the price is usually about 300 yen more expensive. Be careful not to exceed the time; they may charge 100 to 150 yen for every additional 15 minutes you stay.
You can find the ideal manga kissa using Google Maps and searching for the terms: manga kissa [マンガ喫茶], intaanetto kafe [インターネットカフェ] or by the name of the network you want to find.
The best Manga Kissa in Japan
There are various franchises of Manga Kissa as well as some individual manga cafes and locations. Below I will list some of the most popular internet café and manga café franchises in Japan:
- Kaikatsu Club;
- Gera Gera;
- Manboo;
- Aprecio;
- Space Create;
- Customa;
- Gran Cyber Café;
- Popeye Media Café;
Unfortunately, I only had the chance to try Kaikatsu Club, which is my highest recommendation. My friend said that the second best is Aprecio. Of course, this depends on personal taste; I think it’s worth trying each one, especially the unique ones that are not part of a franchise or chain of manga kissa.
In large cities like Osaka and Tokyo, you can find various different and unique Manga Cafés. There are innovative manga kissa that sometimes even have onsen, beds, or that look more like a hostel than a manga café.
It is believed that the first Manga Kissa or Manga Café appeared in the 1960s in Nagoya and Tokyo.
My experience at Kaikatsu Club – Comic Internet
When I was in Japan, I stayed three times at a Kaikatsu Club. The first time I slept in a karaoke room while my friend stayed in the furatto [フラット]. The good thing about the karaoke room is the long bench that allowed me to stretch out completely.
Fortunately, the second time I went to Kaikatsu Club, the furatto I got was quite large and allowed me to stretch out completely, even being 1.80 tall. This time I had the chance to test the internet and watch 4k videos loaded instantly.
It was an amazing experience, much cheaper than hostels that usually cost more than 3,000 yen, and sometimes didn’t even have decent Wi-Fi. The only disadvantage I had at Kaikatsu Club was the issue of luggage, but I didn’t look for details about that since I wasn’t with my bags.
To this day, I keep my card from Manga Kissa Kaikatsu Club [快活CLUB], my friend only referred to this place as komikko intaanetto [コミック＆インターネット], and only later did I understand that these ideograms were kaikatsu, which means lively, cheerful, and rest.
I hope you enjoyed the article! If you liked it, share it with your friends and leave your comments… If you have any questions, just leave them in the comments. It is essential to visit an Internet Café or Manga Kissa when you are in Japan! I recommend it!
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