Japan Gets Its First _Snoozing with Women_ Specialty Business

Akihabara is ground zero for Japanese manga, anime, and video games. No wonder the place caters to every nerd fantasy imaginable, such as maid cafes for guys (butler cafes for gals) as well as more adult services. The latest business to make a splash สล็อตฟรี in Japan’s nerdom is always patrons to sleep with ladies. That’s it, apparently. Just sleep. Um. Located in Akihabara, it’s called Soine-ya; “soine” (添い寝) means “sleeping together”, and “ya” (屋) means “shop”. The business’s concept, however, isn’t originally Japanese as website IT Media claims the idea was based on a similar business in New York. It’s apparently the first of its kind in Japan.cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({"playerId":"e3616d04-4972-4839-a63a-c6975e2e9731","settings":{"advertising":{"macros":{"AD_UNIT":"/23178111854/od.kotaku.com/article","CHILD_UNIT":"article","POST_ID":"5947212","POST_TYPE":"post","CHANNEL":"kotaku-east","SECTION":"","SUBSECTION":"","CATEGORIES":"kotaku-east","TAGS":"","NOP":"0"},"timeBeforeFirstAd":0}}}).render("cnx-player-main")}); Soine-ya is not cheap. After สล็อตฟรี shelling ทดลองเล่นสล็อตฟรี out ¥3,000 (US$39) in membership charges, 20 minutes of “together” sleep costs another ¥3,000, while six hours can reach ¥30,000 (US$386). That’s not even a full night’s rest! The nickel-and-diming, though, is mind-boggling. For example, customers must pay ¥1,000 ($13) to have the lady resting her hand on their arm for three minutes, while gazing at each other for one minute costs another ¥1,000. If you want to put your head on the lady’s lap, it’s three minutes for, well, ¥1,000. Online in Japan, the reaction to Soine-ya has been one largely of bewilderment. Many Japanese net users have no idea why someone would spend all this money on such a service. “Geez, this is creepy,” wrote one. “Yep, this shop is targeting stupid nerds,” wrote another. Others were quick to say that those interested in Soine-ya should just visit an adult entertainment establishment, instead. This place of business is zeroing in on emotional needs, instead of merely carnal ones. Maid cafes work in much the same way, allowing otaku the chance to chat up girls in frilly maid outfits—which is why they have often been compared to hostess bars for geeks. https://kotaku.com/hang-out-in-nerd-paradise-with-maids-5751634 Sleeping in the otaku subculture already has its own bedtime companions, those anime covered dakimakura (hug pillows). Soine-ya seems to be for those who are tired of their pillows—or just being alone. Soine-ya is selling companionship, but just not during every waking minute. 秋葉原に「添い寝専門店」オープン　添い寝20分3000円、腕枕3分1000円など [IT Media] (Top photo: Payless Images | Shutterstock) Culture Smash is a regular dose of things topical, interesting and sometimes even awesome—game related and beyond. Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.