Here's a recently broadcast segment from Japanese news that takes a look inside what Internet cafes in Japan are like. Thanks to the Japanese blogosphere, you can check out what the setup inside one of these places is like.
The video includes stuff like the cost of staying there for full day as opposed to a regular hotel or a capsule hotel, as well as the cost of meals. I find this really fascinating, seeing what the places look like -- from the size of the personal rooms to the fact that there are showers available there. I think I'll definitely have to check this out when I go to Japan.
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Yeah, Japanese internet cafes are insanely posh compared to the West. The privacy of the cubicles, the comfy chairs, and the ability to order food are very nice. I've never showered at one, so can't comment on that. About the only thing that a visitor needs to be wary of is the smoking. There are non-smoking sections in most cafes, but I've found them hit and miss in terms of providing a smoke free environment. Regardless, those cafes are leaps and bounds above what one can find on the opposite side of the Pacific.
It's more of a stigma thing. Some of these people are talking about when they've stayed there for 2-3 days in a row.
Yeah i went to an awesome innernet cafe when I was there. Huge manga book stands, my booth had all the latest consoles, i had unlimited games to choose from, food and drinks (free refills), it was AWESOME :D I loved it.
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Just like Floating Sakura, I almost cried when they talked about the girl as well. It's sad that the Japanese actually have a term for these kinds of people who work but no real place to live - "Walking Poor." I suppose the positive note is that, despite their bad situation, they have a clean and relatively inexpensive place to stay as hopefully a temporary base of operation. And expanding further, I wonder if this situation happens in Korea and China where both countries have a large number of 24 Hour internet cafés.
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