Maid Cafes / Modern Tokyo

A maid cafe is exactly what you might think it means: a pretty girl dressed in a maid costume will come and serve you. However, while this might get a rise out of you, do not go to these places expecting to fulfill one of your sexual fantasies because the main goal of the maid cafe is to have the customer experience a feeling of "Moe" (pronounced Mo-e, not like the name Moe).

Moe is difficult to explain because its meaning treads dangerously close to a sexual one, but it is not. In Japan, the people who love to watch anime and collect all the figures are called "otaku" and they are the ones who best understand "moe." "Moe" is the special feeling you get when you see your favorite anime or cartoon character doing something especially cute. Looking at someone with an adorable costume on or someone who does thing especially cute is considered to be "moe." The best way to grasp the concept is to think about it as a brother admiring something his little sister did that was particularly cute or adorable. At a maid cafe, they strive to make you feel "moe."

Example 1: That girl is so cute, look at her costume! It is so Moe!
Example 2: When your favorite idol singer sings your favorite song, it's Moe!

But let's get back to the maid cafe; they started in March 2001 in Akihabara, the electronics and animation capital of Tokyo. As it has grown, the maid cafe has been exported to cities like Soul, Bangkok, and Bali. The most important part of the cafe is to have the customers (called "master" at the Maid Cafe) feel Moe. If you have sexual feelings toward your maid, the Yakuza might come after you; probably not.

As you might expect, all the waitresses at a maid cafe wear maid costumes. Depending on what type of maid cafe you go to, the maids will wear different sorts of costumes. Some maid cafes have a more French maid look while others have a more traditional English maid look that is rather conservative. Just choose which type of cafe you want for your preferences.

Normally, when you enter a Japanese store, everyone will say "Iraashaimase" (How may I help you?) when you enter and when you leave they say "arigatou gozaimashita" (thank you very much). However, a maid cafe is different. When you enter, you will hear "Okairi nasai mase, goshujin sama" (Welcome back, master) and then when you leave, "Itterasshai mase, gosyujin sama" (please have a nice day, master). While you are there, you are their master, so take advantage of being their master. However, don't do anything absurd, because even a master is a gentleman.

You normally won't find a full meal here, but colorful desserts and smaller regular dishes. Have courage; don't be embarrassed to order the fruitiest thing on the menu. If you are really hungry, try the omelet rice (picture below), your maid will draw a cute picture on it with the ketchup. Even if you prefer black coffee, we recommend that you get coffee with sugar and milk because your maid will add them to your coffee in front of you. You like cold drinks? Better to order a hot drink because the maid will blow on your drink until it cools off. Feeling Moe yet?

Each maid cafe offers a different type of service and atmosphere. When you go there, you will definitely understand the atmosphere of each one and how they differ. In a maid cafe, you can forget your regular life and be drawn into a more cartoon and fantasy world. Also, at a maid cafe, you will be able to play rock, paper, and scissors with the maids. They will have a special time assigned to play and if you beat your maid you will get a super secret awesome amazing prize. Additionally, you can monopolize your maid for about 500 yen. Enjoy playing other cute little games with your maid. A picture with your maid usually costs extra as well.

Caution! Photography is usually prohibited at a maid cafe. Please ask the staff if you want to take a picture of maids or cafe. Also, please note that some popular maid cafes have a time restriction, such as 60 minute per a person, particularly during the most crowded times. I know you want to stay and feel as if you're a master as long as possible, but you can't.

Maid cafes are evolving every day and have expanded into other services. Maid cafes have expanded into things like Izakaya's, hair salons, and spas. The place might be different, but the service is the same.