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Being the very heart of the anime and consumer electronics scene in Japan, it’s no surprise that Tokyo’s Akihabara neighborhood has Internet cafes where you can also read comics from a massive in-house manga library. But as nice as it can be to immerse yourself in all of the extremely important information available online, or to gorge yourself on a year’s worth of manga at a fraction of the price you’d pay to buy it, you might find yourself wanting to do so in relaxing, even traditional surroundings.

If so, a visit to the Nagomi-Style Cafe Akiba is in order, as it’s the only manga and Internet cafe in Akihabara designed with the look and atmosphere of a Japanese ryokan inn.

The Sakai Suehiro Building is located at the intersection of the Chuo-dori and Kuramaebashi-dori streets. Head down the stairs to basement level one, and you’ll find a ponderous door that wouldn’t be out-of-place as the entrance to a storehouse on the grounds of a samurai estate.

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You won’t find stockpiles of rice or gold inside, though. Step through the entrance, and you’ll be greeted by paper umbrellas, water jugs, and kimono-clad staff, all of which belie the fact that there are 53-Internet equipped rooms inside.

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▼ There’s also a corner stocked with goodies such as umaibo, one of Japan’s favorite snacks/building materials.

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Prices start at 300 yen (US$2.55) for 30 minutes on weekdays, and there are discounted multi-hour packages available too. The Nagomi-Style Cafe even serves breakfast and lunch, making it a popular spot for businesspeople who work in the area and want a side of manga with their midday meal.

▼ Although calling the collection of comics a side order doesn’t really do justice to its size.

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The facility has eight different types of rooms, many with traditional tatami-style reed flooring. The sofa rooms are popular with couples, and if you’re in the mood to stretch out by yourself, there are single-occupancy booths with recliners and ottomans.

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As a matter of fact, the Nagomi-Style Cafe is so comfortable that it gets used as a hotel substitute by late-night revellers who missed the last train home and thrifty anime fans coming into Tokyo from other regions of Japan for industry events in and around the neighborhood. At a maximum of 3,980 yen for a 12-hour stay, the Nagomi-Style Cafe is cheaper than hotel accommodation or a taxi ride back home to the suburbs, and 420 yen gets you 30 minutes in the on-site shower, with soap, shampoo, conditioner, towels, and even razors provided.

Just make sure you remember to get some sleep, instead of staying up all night reading manga…

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Cafe information
Nagomi-Style Cafe Akiba / 和style.cafe AKIBA
Address: Tokyo-to, Chiyoda-ku, Soto Kanda 6-14-2, Sakai Suehiro Building basement level 1
東京都千代田区外神田6-14-2サカイ末広ビル地下1階
Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Website

Photos © RocketNews24
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