The Complete Guide to Staying Overnight at a Japanese Manga Cafe

Traditionally, when travelers think of cheap accommodation, they think of hostels. Although there are cheap hostels all across Japan, manga cafes, also called internet cafes, are the cheapest accommodations in the country. They are even more accessible, too, as they are located in some of the country’s most remote corners.

You might be apprehensive at first to stay overnight in a manga/internet cafe. You might think staying in an internet cafe means laying across chairs in a Starbucks. However, that is not the case in Japan. There is a large network of these cafes across the country with great amenities.

In this article, I will share why you should stay at a manga cafe and explain how to check into one. I will tell you how to find these cafes and how you can stay at one without knowing Japanese. Also, I will share how staying at Manga cafes makes buying a rail pass cost-effective.

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What are Manga Cafes?

Manga cafes are places to read manga (Japanese comics) and access the internet. Some people refer to manga cafes as internet cafes. The term manga cafe does not fully represent these spaces, as some cafes also offer karaoke, pool, darts, and even laundry services.

If you stay at a manga cafe, you can typically access an unlimited drink bar and soft-serve ice cream. You can take a shower here as well and buy food. So, manga cafes are attractive places for travelers to stay once the trains in Japan stop running at midnight.

Why Should I Stay at a Manga Cafe in Japan?

I primarily stay at manga/internet cafes because of the cost. Manga cafes are not as private as hotel rooms or as social as hostels. However, manga cafes are the cheapest place in the country to get some sleep.

Besides the cost, you should stay at a manga cafe because they are convenient and can be found nationwide, even in rural areas. Manga cafes eliminate spending days researching where to stay. 

There are locally owned manga cafes in larger cities, but the Japanese internet cafe industry leader is Kaikatsu Club. They operate hundreds of internet cafes across the country, even in the most remote areas. 

Staying at a Kaikatsu Club is typically slightly more expensive than staying at locally operated manga cafes, but they have great amenities, like laundry machines and free towels. They are also typically in better shape than local cafes. 

How Do You Find Manga Cafes?

1. Open Google Maps.
2. Zoom into the area where you want to stay.
3. Search for Kaikatsu Club.

If you want to stay at a cheaper local manga cafe, search “internet cafe.” I generally only stay at local manga cafes if there are no Kaikatsu Clubs in the area, which is rare. I have found that Kaikatsu Clubs are cleaner and have better amenities than local cafes. 

4. Stay at the Kaikatsu Club, which fits your itinerary best.

For example, if you are coming to Hiroshima from Fukuoka, you will want to stay at the Kaikatsu Club closest to Hiroshima Station since Hiroshima Station is a stop on the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Fukuoka. 

How Do You Check Into a Manga Cafe?

The first time you visit a manga cafe is somewhat complicated. You will have to follow a similar process as checking into a hotel. You will present an identification and usually need to write down your contact information. Once you are registered in their system, you will receive a card that can be used each time you come into that cafe.

At Kaikatsu Club, once you have this card, you can get into any of the hundreds of locations across Japan. If you are staying at a local internet cafe, you will have to register each time you visit one since they are not connected to a large network. 

You might need to write your name in Katakana to register to stay at a manga cafe. Katakana is the Japanese writing system for writing foreign loan words. Just use this Katakana name converter site. 

Do I Need to Speak Japanese to Stay at a Manga Cafe in Japan?

You don’t need to speak Japanese to stay at a manga cafe, but you do need access to a good translation app. You can normally expect Japanese staff to speak English at hostels and hotels because they have many foreign customers, but this is not usually the case at manga cafes.

Since few clients are foreign visitors, you should not expect the staff to speak English fluently. You can normally get by without much Japanese after registering during your first stay. 

At many Kaikatsu Club locations, you check in on a computer monitor, and there is an English language option. If there is not a computer check-in, go to the front desk. On the front desk, they will have a menu with the prices. Just point to the package you want and say, “Kore wa, onegaishimasu,” which just means, “This one, please.”

If you forget this phrase, chances are the staff will try very hard to understand your English. Most likely, someone on the staff will understand. They will pull out their phones and use a translator app if they don’t.

One time, I had trouble checking an internet cafe because of the language barrier. This was in a very rural prefecture. However, once I showed the staff I could communicate using Google translate, they were very friendly and let me stay. 

How Much Does It Cost to Stay at a Manga Cafe in Japan?

Manga cafes charge based on how many hours you stay. So, you always pay when you leave the cafe. Normally, you can stay anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours. Typically, cafes in bigger cities and near major train stations will be a few hundred yen more expensive than cafes in more suburban areas.

Manga cafes are also priced based on the package (the type of seating) you choose. The cheapest rates are for seats only. Typically, you get a little cubicle with a chair. These are more meant for travelers who want to read manga and sit for a few hours. 

If you want to stay overnight at a manga cafe, you should get a semi-private booth with a flat mat and PC. These booths are ideal for sleeping, but they fill up the fastest. If you cannot get a flat mat, some internet cafes have semi-private rooms with reclining chairs that can also be used for sleeping.

I call these rooms semi-private because there are walls on each side of the cubicle, but they do not reach the ceiling. So, you can hear your neighbors next to you, especially if they are moving around or sleeping.

For 6 hours or less, you should expect around 1,500 yen for a semi-private booth. For 8 hours, the best deals fall under 2,000 yen. For 10 hours or more, anywhere up to 3,000 yen is common. You pay about 200 yen more on weekends for each package price. 

Do Manga Cafes Have Completely Private Rooms?

If you want more privacy than the semi-private booth, some Kaikatsu Clubs have private rooms that come with a lock key. The private rooms are about the same size as the booth, but the door locks and the walls extend to the ceiling. Private room rates are typically 500 yen more than a semi-private booth. 

How Can I Check the Price of a Manga Cafe in Japan?

It is very easy to check the price of a Kaikatsu Club, and it is important to do so if you want to save the most money.

To check the price of a specific Kaikatsu Club location, follow the steps above for “How do you find manga cafes.” Once you have found a Kaikatsu Club, click the link to kaikatsu.jp for the pricing table. The site will be in Japanese, so you might need to download the Google Translate extension.

Also, I like to check the price beforehand because it affects which Kaikatsu Club I visit. For example, in Hiroshima, there are two Kaikatsu Clubs, only 4 minutes away from each other, but they have different prices and packages.

When Should I Stay in a Manga Cafe Over a Hostel?

You should stay in a manga cafe when you want to maximize savings using a JR Pass. JR passes allow unlimited train rides for a set period in a specific region of the country. Rail passes are expensive and only cost-effective if you want to go long distances.

I love staying at manga cafes because they help me save hundreds of dollars with my rail pass. I would spend the day sightseeing or hiking, and then at night, I would take the train to my next destination and find a Kaikatsu Club nearby to rest quickly.

An example of maximizing your rail pass is taking the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nikko National Park for the day. Then, around 7 or 8 pm, take the Shinkansen to Koriyama. Once in Koriyama, you can stay at a manga cafe for 8 hours before going to the stunning Goshikinuma Ponds the next day.

When Should I Stay at a Hostel Over a Manga Cafe?

Visiting Japan? Read: How to Spend 48 Hours in Tokyo With Only $100 and The five best hostels for solo travelers

I did not always stay at manga cafes during my travels to every prefecture in Japan. Sometimes, it is more convenient and cost-effective to stay at a hostel. When visiting a large city over multiple days, I recommend staying at a hostel, not a manga cafe.

For instance, you are taking a 3-day trip to Kyoto, one of the most idealistic cities in the country. If you stay at a manga cafe, you cannot leave your luggage there once you check out for the day. You would have to rent a locker at the train station, which would eat away at your savings.

If you are staying in the same city during your trip, it is more convenient to have a place where you can store your luggage.  You will also probably sleep longer if you stay at a hostel since hostels do not have any hourly fees like manga cafes do.

If you instead decide to stay at a hostel during your trip to Japan, here are 5 hostels I highly recommend. From the Yuzan Guesthouse in the dreamy city of Nara to the social Backpackers Hostel K’s House Kyoto.