Why Manga Cafes in Japan Are Becoming the New Budget Hotels

Japanese pop culture news edited by Patrick Macias

• Once seen as dingy, manga cafes in Japan are now clean, quiet, and a true alternative to capsule hotels

• Business hotel prices now often top 10,000 yen ($67) per night

• Upgraded manga cafes offer private rooms for around 3,000 yen ($20), making them a budget friendly alternative.

  

Why Travelers Are Paying Attention

Back in the 2000s, manga cafes were known for all night survivors who missed the last train. They offered cheap internet, comics, and a spot to crash, but the image was noisy and smoky. Today, Kaikatsu CLUB has rebranded the experience with lockable private rooms, free showers, and 24 hour service.

With hotel prices surging past 10,000 yen ($67), manga cafes look like a bargain. For around 3,000 yen ($20), visitors get a clean room, air conditioning, and access to amenities. Capsule hotels once owned this niche, but many guests now find manga cafes more comfortable and better equipped.

Kaikatsu CLUB is owned by AOKI Holdings, a company better known for business suits. As of mid 2025 it operates nearly 500 locations across Japan, giving it a near monopoly. The days when manga cafes were small independent shops are over. Today one company dominates the market.

A Private Room Like a Mini Hotel

The new style rooms are small but fully enclosed. Each has adjustable lighting, air conditioning, and full soundproof walls. Guests can stretch out on a padded mat, borrow blankets, and adjust the environment like in a hotel. The sense of privacy is a big change from the old partition booths.

Shower rooms are stocked with free shampoo, body soap, and towels. Guests can grab drinks and soft serve from the self service bar. Games, darts, billiards, and karaoke are available at some locations. It is a full entertainment complex that doubles as a hotel alternative.

Night packs run about 2,500 ($17) to 3,000 yen ($20) depending on location. Even with weekend surcharges the total is still under a third of a standard business hotel. Guests leave feeling they scored a deal, even if sleep quality is a little lower than a real bed.

A Cultural Shift for Manga Cafes

As summer in Japan continues to hit record temperatures, more people are now using Kaikatsu CLUB not just for overnight stays but as daytime cooling spots. For under 500 yen ($3.37), you can spend an hour with air conditioning, unlimited drinks, and snacks. It is affordable comfort that fits into Japanese urban life in unexpected ways.

Once stigmatized as shelters of last resort, manga cafes are now seen as flexible lifestyle spaces. Travelers use them when trains stop, office workers crash after overtime, and even tourists explore them as a quirky cultural experience. The image has shifted from desperation to practicality.