@home Maid Cafe+JPN Mid-80s Onwards Arcade VHS Footage Hunt:

[JAPJAC]

We've never been to one but I think it is about time we did. Just once in a lifetime.

We always wanted to go to the ''The Backstreet Boys one" from their video years ago but I just found out that it just closed in January of this year! Gutted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UOoNZWZyKQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqVKmi9wjBI

Our criteria is:

1) Somewhere open of an evening.
2) Somewhere that the staff wear proper tradition maid outfits.
3) Somewhere that serves alcohol too would be a bonus.
4) Somewhere where the staff are not absolute munters and/or look like children. Attractive birds would be nice.
5) Somewhere clean and doesn't smell of Akiba rank.
6) Somewhere suitable to go with a female.
7) Somewhere that does all the cliche "Welcome home master" and Janken games etc.

Basically a 'Disneyfied' Maid Cafe experience would be the best.

Any ideas?

I know it's difficult as I suspect they are opening and closing every other week these days.

Thank you in advance.

Cheers!

[Cuilan]

It sounds like Schatzkiste is what you're looking for. They don't serve alcohol though.

http://schatz-kiste.net/

[JAPJAC]

It sounds like Schatzkiste is what you're looking for. They don't serve alcohol though.

http://schatz-kiste.net/

That place looks fantastic and just the job. Thank you so much Cuilan!

Any more for any more?

[CIT]

Had a good time at @home Cafe couple of weeks ago. They are really big on the interaction/games and some of the maids speak English - or so they think.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Had a good time at @home Cafe couple of weeks ago. They are really big on the interaction/games and some of the maids speak English - or so they think.

The maid on the right in her red dress attire at the Hana location looks mighty fine & easy on the eyes. Would look even better in her birthday suit.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[JAPJAC]

Had a good time at @home Cafe couple of weeks ago. They are really big on the interaction/games and some of the maids speak English - or so they think.

Thank you CIT, that's the famous one at the moment but I've never seen the website so cheers.

[JAPJAC]

Had a good time at @home Cafe couple of weeks ago. They are really big on the interaction/games and some of the maids speak English - or so they think.

The maid on the right in her red dress attire at the Hana location looks mighty fine & easy on the eyes. Would look even better in her birthday suit.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Gor blimey, well spotted, you don't get many of them to the pound. They can't be her real top bollocks surely.

[JAPJAC]

With the 2 mentioned thus far is:

Smoking OK?
Photo OK?
Video OK?

[system11]

I wish these existed in the UK.

[brentsg]

I wish these existed in the UK.

If they did, what would they be wearing?

[system11]

I wish these existed in the UK.

If they did, what would they be wearing?

I mean Japanese maid ones. I'd go there all day.

[JAPJAC]

I wish these existed in the UK.

If they did, what would they be wearing?

Maid in Japan.

Probably saucy French maid's uniforms funnily enough. Le Royaume-Uni is closer to France than it is to Japon after all.

[Skykid]

I wish these existed in the UK.

If they did, what would they be wearing?

I mean Japanese maid ones. I'd go there all day.

I wouldn't. I found it extremely embarrassing to sit with other grown men and be courted by mostly unattractive girls behaving like preteens. Would not spend money on again.

There's an alternative here that's more tolerable: it's a manga cafe with maid girls (who happen to be exceptionally attractive) who do little more than invite you in and serve drinks etc. You get to chill and read manga and drink tea/coffee and no-one tries to play children's games with you, and the sofas are low enough that you occasionally get a flash of thigh high stockings. That's really all I need to chill out.

[system11]

There's an alternative here that's more tolerable: it's a manga cafe with maid girls (who happen to be exceptionally attractive) who do little more than invite you in and serve drinks etc. You get to chill and read manga and drink tea/coffee and no-one tries to play children's games with you, and the sofas are low enough that you occasionally get a flash of thigh high stockings. That's really all I need to chill out.

How it was written.

I live in paradise, and you live in the UK. Sucker.

Reality.

[Skykid]

I live in paradise, and you live in the UK. Sucker.

Reality.

Hey I did my time in the grey island prison, thanks very much!

Paradise it isn't: no such thing. The novelty of everything wears off eventually, it's just a case of finding a habitat that butt fucks you less than the other. And somewhere with arcades, of course.

[Monty Wideanus]

With the 2 mentioned thus far is:

Smoking OK?
Photo OK?
Video OK?

Few if any maid cafes will permit photo or video--if you could take your own, how would they be able to sell you Polaroids or permit photos in exchange for enough point cards? As for Schatz, it meets 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 of your criteria, but Maidreamin' or @home would meet all of them.

[JAPJAC]

With the 2 mentioned thus far is:

Smoking OK?
Photo OK?
Video OK?

Few if any maid cafes will permit photo or video--if you could take your own, how would they be able to sell you Polaroids or permit photos in exchange for enough point cards? As for Schatz, it meets 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 of your criteria, but Maidreamin' or @home would meet all of them.

Understood and thank you for the 3rd suggestion of Maidreamin' Monty Wideanus.

Hart and Meguro-ku are both wonderful places. Every country has good and bad parts, just depends where one is lucky to be from and lucky to end up.

The arcades are still amazing in Tokyo but a shadow of themselves compared to a decade ago unfortunately. Try Amusement Tower circa 2001 compared to now is a good example. Back then it was the best arcade outside of North America surely?

[Skykid]

I love the way the thread title states "Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan", like we don't know where Akihabara is.

May as well put grid coordinates on there too.

[JAPJAC]

I love the way the thread title states "Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan", like we don't know where Akihabara is.

May as well put grid coordinates on there too.

"It doesn't state that." said 'JAPJAC' outloud whilst reading the above.

[JAPJAC]

I love the way the thread title states "Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan", like we don't know where Akihabara is.

May as well put grid coordinates on there too.

"It doesn't state that." said 'JAPJAC' outloud whilst reading the above.

'Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan' is currently-GMT (centre of the planet time-wise) + 8 hours for those not sure of it's location.

[Skykid]

I love the way the thread title states "Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan", like we don't know where Akihabara is.

May as well put grid coordinates on there too.

"It doesn't state that." said 'JAPJAC' outloud whilst reading the above.

Wut?

[adversity1]

[AntiFritz]

I love the way the thread title states "Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan", like we don't know where Akihabara is.

May as well put grid coordinates on there too.

"It doesn't state that." said 'JAPJAC' outloud whilst reading the above.

'Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan' is currently-GMT (centre of the planet time-wise) + 8 hours for those not sure of it's location.

what....

why did you quote yourself?

[KAI]

I would like to visit a real maid cafe. You know, poor/lower class girls with sad faces serving you coffee.
Happy moe time my ass.

[Rob]

'Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan' is currently-GMT (centre of the planet time-wise) + 8 hours for those not sure of it's location.

what....

why did you quote yourself?

He's desperate to inform you that "the centre of the planet (time-wise)" is in GREENWICH, LONDON, ENGLAND.

[Skykid]

'Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan' is currently-GMT (centre of the planet time-wise) + 8 hours for those not sure of it's location.

That's a time zone, not a location. GMT +8 is the time zone for:

Brunei Darussalam, China (includes Hong Kong), Indonesia (Bali, Nusa Tenggara, South & East Kalimantan, Sulawesi only), Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Western Australia.


...Tokyo is GMT +9.


Grid coordinates for Akihabara, in case you're lost, only have a compass and are in desperate need of a maid cafe:

35.6984° N, 139.7722° E

Have a great time feeling like real men.

[JAPJAC]

'Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan' is currently-GMT (centre of the planet time-wise) + 8 hours for those not sure of it's location.

That's a time zone, not a location. GMT +8 is the time zone for:

Brunei Darussalam, China (includes Hong Kong), Indonesia (Bali, Nusa Tenggara, South & East Kalimantan, Sulawesi only), Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Western Australia.


...Tokyo is GMT +9.


Grid coordinates for Akihabara, in case you're lost, only have a compass and are in desperate need of a maid cafe:

35.6984° N, 139.7722° E

Have a great time feeling like real men.

Tokyo is currently setting its time to whatever time it is in London +8 hours.

But I'm going "...with a lady." as 'David Brent' said, 'The Office', Christmas Special, Part 1, 21:33 GMT.

[JAPJAC]

We visited @home 4th Floor on Saturday night pre-going out a proper as the first stage of my 10 year Japaniversary celebrations.

We were pleasantly surprised by the whole experience. We both didn't actually really want to go because of our negative preconceptions and zero interest in this sub-culture.

However, none of the maids had squeaky kimoi voices and none were complete munters, a couple were actually alright for 100% blooded Japanese girls.

The venue was clean and odourless.

2 drinks (one with a live illustration for our entertainment), 2 goes on their gachapon (a file and a sweetie gets), 2 membership plastic cards, 1 table game and 2 polaroids came to 4.5 grand.

The place was nice and busy but we were were the only boy/girl couple, the rest of the punters were male as to be expected.

Conversation with our maids was surprisingly witty and intelligent, I imagine they were pleasantly surprised to serve a 'normal' couple for a change. The girls were excellent with their charm and complimenting skills (easy to understand how the cliche punter laps it up) which made us wonder why some work there for peanuts talking to losers all day when some could quite easily work as hostesses earning infinitely more. Actually felt a bit sorry for them, they must get some perverse thrill out of it was our only explaination.

All in all an enjoyable experience that should be done by all once only for a laugh.

Thank you to all those that helped us decide the best one.

Expect a YouTube vid soon.

Cheers.

[GaijinPunch]

The arcades are still amazing in Tokyo but a shadow of themselves compared to a decade ago unfortunately. Try Amusement Tower circa 2001 compared to now is a good example. Back then it was the best arcade outside of North America surely?

Depending on what you wanted to play. If you were into Virtua Fighter, the most competitive arcade on the planet was Sega Sportsland Shinjuku (Nishiguchi). Fucking crazy. Every Friday night was packed to the gills w/ top players. Even the "casual" arcades around Shibuya/Tokyo had some nice 90's stuff, even though the types of games most of us like here were few and far between.

If you go back to 1991, you're probably in Try's hay day. This was before HEY, and is where the latest and greatest were usually put on loke test. After all, we have Try to thank for Batsugun Special Version.

Tokyo is currently setting its time to whatever time it is in London +8 hours.

It's always GMT +9, unless GMT observers DST (which I would assume it doesn't as it's used as the global constant). Maybe Londond is GMT +1?

[JAPJAC]

It's miday in Tokyo now and I promise you it's 04:00 at home. Anyway.

You are my Tokyo arcade senpai so it's before my time. All I know is that it's severely gone down hill over the last 14 years.

I've seen footage of Space Invader Cafes a million times (I just know that 100 Yen doc. will have that predictable footage in there somewhere lol) but where is the footage of Japanese arcades from the heyday? Internet and Google is definitely not ones friend. It's shocking really. JAPJAC kindly put up footage of Try Amusement Tower from 2001 but that's about it.