How Japan’s Net Cafes Reinvented Themselves to Survive

Comfort, privacy, and Wi-Fi reshape a shrinking industry

Inside a small private room at a Kaikatsu Club near Tokyo, 54 year old blogger Mio Suhara finds the quiet she cannot get at home. She comes two or three times a week, sets up in a booth, and writes for hours with free refills of coffee and soda, plus a soft serve machine a few steps away. The space functions as her office and her escape. She lives in Saitama Prefecture with family, and the cafe gives her a consistent place to focus without distractions.

Suhara usually arrives around midday and books a six hour plan. She also uses the chain during motorcycle trips, planning her routes around branches where she can stay overnight in a lockable room. The price undercuts a budget hotel, and the experience is familiar. Her routine reflects a larger story across Japan, where internet cafes, once known for smoke, neon, and rows of public PCs, have rebranded for a new era of remote work and quiet downtime.

These venues were born as manga cafes, then evolved into internet hubs, then entertainment centers with darts, karaoke, and large manga libraries. Today the leading chains promote cleaner interiors, private cubicles, and reliable Wi-Fi. The market is smaller than it was a decade ago, yet the survivors have become multipurpose spaces that double as mobile offices and low cost rest stops. The shift shows how a niche corner of Japanese urban life adapted to smartphones, changing work habits, and a long pandemic.

Suhara describes the appeal simply.

Mio Suhara, a regular at Kaikatsu Club who spends many hours each week in private booths, explained how the cafe fits into her life before offering a personal summary of why she keeps coming back.

“This is basically my second home. I mostly write blog posts here because I cannot really focus at home.”

From manga kissa to multipurpose hubs

The story begins with manga kissa, short for manga kissaten (cafe), a format that emerged in Aichi Prefecture in the 1970s. Early proprietors realized that a library of comics was a powerful draw, and customers lingered longer when they could settle in with coffee and read.

What is a manga kissa?

A manga kissa is a cafe built around a large collection of Japanese comics. Patrons choose a seat or a booth, then pay for time rather than individual items. They can read for hours, often with unlimited soft drinks included in the price. Over time, many of these cafes added amenities such as showers, printers, and small meals. The model spread nationwide, and the term manga cafe and internet cafe became almost interchangeable as computers and Wi-Fi arrived.

How time based pricing changed the model

Time based pricing encouraged longer stays and repeat visits. Customers could buy thirty minute blocks, or book packages for several hours or even overnight. When internet access became the next big draw in the 1990s, cafes added PCs and kept the billing method. By 2001, the sector had a trade group, the Japan Complex Cafe Association (JCCA), and national chains began to expand. Cafes became all night destinations that blended reading, gaming, web access, and casual dining, supported by a predictable flow of time based fees.

A market tested by safety concerns and smartphones

Growth came with difficult side effects. Anonymous terminals made it easier for bad actors to run online scams or spread illegal content. Around the same time, 24 hour operations attracted people who lacked stable housing, and the phrase net cafe refugees entered the public conversation. Fire safety also drew scrutiny after a 2008 blaze at a video booth facility in Osaka killed 16 people, a tragedy that exposed the risks of cramped, segmented spaces with complex escape routes.

The 2010s brought a different kind of shock. As smartphones and home broadband became universal, many customers no longer needed a public PC for email, games, or news. To compete, operators upgraded interiors and leaned into privacy, quiet, and comfort. Cleaner rooms with lockable doors and simple food menus replaced the smoky rooms of the past. Smaller chains struggled to keep up and closed, then the pandemic accelerated the trend. According to industry figures, the number of cafes fell from 1,916 in 2014 to 1,063 in 2024, and total sales also shrank during that decade.

How Kaikatsu Club pulled ahead

Amid the shakeout, Kaikatsu Club, run by Kaikatsu Frontier, a subsidiary of Aoki Holdings, moved quickly to refocus on private rooms and business friendly features. The company introduced lockable rooms in 2018, then saw demand spike as remote work spread. The pitch was simple. Guests could join video meetings, finish reports, or decompress between appointments in a quiet, enclosed space with stable internet and power outlets. The chain marketed itself less as an internet cafe and more as a practical work and rest lounge.

Scale also mattered. As of early autumn, Kaikatsu Club operated 496 outlets nationwide, roughly half of Japan’s internet cafe locations. Many branches added gender separated showers, laundromats, and small relaxation areas. The company is fully company owned rather than franchised, which lets managers tour high performing stores, copy what works, and roll out upgrades quickly. After achieving nationwide coverage in 2021, the chain shifted toward compact outlets near major train stations, often about 200 square meters, fitted entirely with lockable private rooms to serve commuters and solo workers.

Revenue reflected the pivot. Company figures show sales rose from 48.57 billion yen in the fiscal year ending March 2021 to 72.58 billion yen in the year ending March 2025. Growth has not erased every challenge. Kaikatsu Frontier is targeting a 60 percent occupancy rate at urban sites and wants to lift the female share of customers from 24.5 percent to 35 percent, a nod to the industry’s lingering reputation from an earlier era.

Inside a modern branch

A tour of a central Tokyo location reveals how the concept works today. Visitors check in at a reception desk or an automated kiosk. First time guests show a photo ID and create a membership, then they can use any branch in the network. Beyond the counter, rows of small booths line shelves of comics and magazines. Drink machines, a microwave, and restrooms are nearby. The lighting is soft and the rooms are tidy. Upstairs, customers find the lockable private rooms and, in some branches, a floor with darts or billiards.

Amenities and layout

Each private booth typically includes a PC, headphones, Wi-Fi, power, and a reclining chair or padded mat. Patrons can work, nap, or watch films. Many branches offer showers separated by gender, with some providing free towels and toiletries. Some stores include coin laundries for travelers. Unlimited soft drinks are standard, and many sites include free soft serve. Food from the drink bar is often restricted in private rooms due to safety rules guided by police, so meals are consumed in designated areas.

Pricing and packages

Rates vary by location and package. At a central Tokyo branch near Akihabara Station, a private room usually starts around 950 yen for the first hour, then roughly 160 yen per ten minutes, with longer plans such as six hours for about 2,970 yen or a 24 hour stay for about 7,720 yen. Across the city, typical short packages run in the 1,000 to 1,600 yen range for a few hours, while overnight bundles often fall between 3,000 and 3,500 yen. Showers can be free or cost a small fee, and some branches sell light meals or breakfast sets.

Who uses net cafes today

Customers are more varied than the stereotype suggests. Office workers drop in between meetings to prepare slides or join a quick video call. Freelancers book rooms to write, edit, or code. Students tackle group projects in larger rooms or study alone with noise kept to a minimum. On weekends, the same rooms become casual leisure spaces for manga, streaming, or games.

Remote work and business use

The remote work boom created steady demand for lockable rooms. Business travelers and sales staff use branches near major stations as mobile offices, taking advantage of reliable Wi-Fi, charging, and the ability to print or scan. A quiet, enclosed booth fits a video conference better than a crowded cafe, and the hourly pricing makes short visits easier to justify than a day pass at a premium coworking brand.

Tourists and rules

Tourists use manga and internet cafes as a backup plan when they miss the last train or want a low cost overnight option. A passport serves as ID for registration, while residents typically present a driver’s license or residence card. Staff may speak limited English, yet basic communication usually works. Foreign visitors remain a small share of customers, roughly 2 percent at some urban branches, which reflects how these spaces mainly serve local routines rather than the tourist market.

For longtime patrons like Suhara, the changes are more than cosmetic. She remembers older manga cafes as dim and not very clean. Now, brighter interiors and private rooms define the standard.

Mio Suhara, recalling the old days of dim rooms and dusty shelves, contrasted that past with the experience she finds today.

“In terms of comfort, today’s spaces are far better. Kaikatsu Club changed the image, making bright, welcoming net cafes the norm.”

Competition on price, comfort, and purpose

Net cafes now compete on two fronts. On one side are coworking brands that sell premium offices and full meeting rooms at higher prices. Those spaces serve teams and clients, offer conference facilities, and target white collar companies. On the other side are budget stays, from capsule hotels to simple business hotels, which promise real beds and quieter nights, often for a similar overnight price to a private booth. For many short visits, net cafes still win on flexibility. They are open around the clock, accept walk ins, and sell time by the hour. That mix suits solo workers, students, and travelers who need a desk for two or three hours, a place to freshen up, or a low stress overnight stop after midnight trains stop running.

Rivals inside the same category, such as DiCE, Aprecio, and Jiyu Kukan, emphasize sleek interiors, private rooms, and large manga libraries. Many offer darts, karaoke, or gaming PCs to stand out. The risk is sameness. As more chains adopt similar amenities, the most visible difference becomes location, cleanliness, and service consistency. Kaikatsu Club’s station front footprint, plus fast room turnover and a reputation for tidy spaces, has helped it stay ahead.

An image problem that refuses to fade

Perception still shapes the business. For years, internet cafes were shorthand for unsafe or seedy corners of the city, a place where online fraud or worse might hide behind anonymous terminals. Modern stores operate differently, with ID registration, surveillance cameras in common areas, and strict rules for private rooms. Safety steps include gender separated showers, clear evacuation routes, and restrictions on food or hot drinks in small rooms. Even so, the shadow of the past lingers, especially among people who have not visited since the 2000s.

Operators know that bringing in more women and casual users is key. Kaikatsu Frontier aims to raise the female share to 35 percent and to keep urban store occupancy around 60 percent. Design decisions serve that goal, from brighter lobbies to clear signage and automated check in, and from better air filtration to regular cleaning cycles. The chain also keeps testing small format stationside branches with only lockable rooms, betting that convenience and privacy can reset old assumptions.

Practical tips for first timers

People curious about trying a net cafe can expect a simple process. Walk in, register with ID, and choose a plan by time. Pick an open booth for the lowest price or a private room for more quiet. You can read manga, stream shows, or work from the in room PC or your own device on Wi-Fi. Unlimited soft drinks are usually included, and some branches offer snacks, breakfast sets, or even free extras like soft serve. Showers are available in many stores. If you plan to sleep, bring an eye mask and earplugs, since full quiet is not guaranteed. If you plan to work, request a room with extra monitors when available.

Prices are now closer to capsule hotels for overnight stays, so choose based on priorities. A capsule hotel offers a bed and a calmer night. A net cafe offers total flexibility and 24 hour access to drinks, showers, and a desk, priced by the hour. For early morning departures or late night arrivals, that flexibility can be the deciding factor.

What keeps regulars coming back

Routine and predictability play a big role. Many branches are next to major stations in Tokyo and other cities, so getting a room on short notice is straightforward. Membership brings small perks, and heavy users can reach premium tiers that add points or discounts. For Suhara, who clocks more than 10,000 yen a month in visits, that loyalty feels personal.

Before she packed up for the evening, Suhara summed up why she plans her road trips around this chain and why a private booth still beats a crowded cafe or a noisy living room.

“For me, this place is like a vacation home. I do not think I will ever stop coming here.”

Key Points

• Internet cafes in Japan evolved from manga kissa in the 1970s into multipurpose spaces with private rooms, showers, and entertainment.
• The sector contracted from 1,916 sites in 2014 to 1,063 in 2024, pressured by smartphones and the pandemic.
• Kaikatsu Club, operated by Kaikatsu Frontier, runs about half of all branches nationwide and grew revenue from 48.57 billion yen (FY2021) to 72.58 billion yen (FY2025).
• Lockable private rooms, introduced in 2018, meet demand for remote work and quiet downtime near stations.
• Typical plans range from around 1,000 to 1,600 yen for several hours, with overnight packages around 3,000 to 3,500 yen.
• Modern stores use ID registration, gender separated showers, and clear safety rules to move away from a dated image.
• Competition includes coworking brands on the premium end and capsule or business hotels for overnight stays.
• Kaikatsu Frontier targets 60 percent occupancy at urban sites and aims to raise the female customer share to 35 percent.