TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Japanese internet cafe chain transforms into budget hotel for travelers

News Desk (Inquirer.net/Asia News Network)
Tue, June 6, 2017 Published on Jun. 6, 2017 Published on 2017-06-06T14:06:20+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Japanese internet cafe chain transforms into budget hotel for travelers Manboo, one of Japan's biggest Internet cafe operators, essentially turned their cafes into affordable hotels, complete with a variety of amenities that a traveller would need, such as a private room and a bath. (netroom-manboo.jp/File)

Japanese Internet cafes are styled differently than what is seen in the rest of the world.

For one thing, some Japanese treat them like cheap hotels, staying in them for days, even weeks. One Internet cafe chain recognized this tendency by customers, and thereby converted its shops into what's now called the "Net Room".

Manboo, one of Japan's biggest Internet cafe operators, essentially turned their cafes into affordable hotels, complete with a variety of amenities that a traveller would need, such as a private room and a bath.

The check-in area, as well as the private rooms, have all been overhauled to exude that "hotel feel".

And yet, staying in a Net Room can start for as low as 100 yen (US$1) an hour. An extended stay for a maximum of two weeks can go for around 12,600 to 14,000 yen (S$175) per week.

There are a variety of rooms to choose from and all of them come with a desktop PC, Blu-ray player, free Wi-Fi, and access to a wide selection of free-to-watch movies, including an adult section.\

Read also: Japan opens 2nd robot-manned hotel

There are a variety of rooms to choose from and all of them come with a desktop PC, Blu-ray player, free Wi-Fi, and access to a wide selection of free-to-watch movies, including an adult section.(netroom-manboo.jp/File)

For people who are staying longer, washing machines and dryers are available for doing the laundry. Guests will also be able to lock their rooms when stepping out.

Furthermore, Net Room provides rental lockers where valuables can be left when going out, as well as mail boxes for receiving parcels.

Internet cafes in Japan have remained popular because apart from private cubicles and internet access, they also feature a wide selection of manga and magazines for reading.

These private rooms are also utilized as cheap short-stay rooms by people who don't make it to the last train or bus home but don't want to spend too much on a hotel room or a taxi ride. Trains usually stop running for around five hours after midnight in Japanese cities.

Net Room accommodations are now available for reservation by foreigners over at Manboos' English website. Customer service is available in Chinese, English and Japanese. Locations include 17 branches spread out in Tokyo, Kanagawa and Saitama.


This article appeared on the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
 

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.