Japan - Tokyo
Cafe Mai:lish
By @giannisimone
This small cute cafe provided the inspiration for the May Queen Nyan-nyan café in the Steins;Gate visual novel (i.e. interactive-fiction game), and is therefore a favorite destination for otaku pilgrims.. Even though it’s a typical maid café, it has a diverse clientele (office workers, students, etc.) and it features “cosplay time” and other events (usually on Wednesday). You can’t take pictures of the maids, but you can photograph the food on your table (ask the staff first). When the place is particularly crowded there’s a 90-minute time limit. Otherwise you can stay as long as you want but you have to place an order at least once every 90 minutes. They even sell maid-related good (e.g. cups, towels, etc.).
Address: Japan, 〒101-0021 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Sotokanda, 3-chōme−6−2 Fh協和スクエア
About @giannisimone
I’m a writer, teacher, and tour guide from Italy, based in Japan since 1992. I help travelers make sense of Tokyo, Yokohama, and the rest of Japan with practical insights on culture, neighborhoods, walking routes, and slow travel. I also cover otaku culture, and you’ll often find me scouting cemeteries, backstreets, and local eats so your trip runs smoothly and stays curious.
