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No humans allowed at Japan’s first cafe exclusively for stuffed animals

Casey Baseel Jul 23, 2015
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There’s a new cafe that just opened up in Tokyo. Like many such establishments in Japan, it prides itself on its sumptuous sweets and delicious drinks.

Its main selling point, though, is the warm hospitality the staff provides. Really, you’d probably be tempted to say Yawarakan’s Cafe truly understands the human aspect of the restaurant business, if it wasn’t for the fact that all of the cafe’s customers are stuffed animals.

Yawarakan’s Cafe is set to open on July 28, becoming Japan’s first cafe designed exclusively for and (according to its website) operated by stuffed animals.

The restaurant’s owners claim that 85 percent of adult women in Japan own a stuffed animal, and that 60 percent of those women decorate their beds with their cuddly companions. The impetus for opening the restaurant seems to be the theory that if stuffed animal owners are willing to treat themselves to an occasional meal or snack at a cafe, might they not want to do the same for their toys?

Of course, when your clientele consists entirely of inanimate objects, you’re not going to get any walk-in visitors. Instead, Yawarakan’s Cafe is strictly for diners with a reservation, who are mailed overnight to the cafe (stuffed animals must be no larger than the size of your hand). Once there, a number of services are included in the package. Guests are led to their reserved table, and seated are served a smoothie of mixed blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries, prepared by resident chef Hebi-chan the snake.

Currently, the main course is a rice omelet, a Japanese cafe staple, cooked by restaurant owner Karei the flounder, with your stuffed animal’s name written in ketchup across the eggs.

Afterwards, Saru Hasegawa, the cheerful monkey seen below, will pour a cup of drip coffee for guests, made from the Yawarakan’s Cafe house blend of half Peruvian and half Tasmanian beans.

And for dessert, a decadent stack of 10 pancakes topped with maple syrup.

Yawarakan’s Cafe is more than just a place to eat and drink, though, After the plates are cleared, entertainment offerings include listening to one of Karei’s ghost tales and playing cards with the staff.

The basic package also includes one night’s lodging, with Karei reading a soothing bedtime story to his customers before they doze off.

Your stuffed animal will then be mailed back to you, and, as is the custom when travelling in Japan, will even bring home some souvenirs, in the form of a human-sized coaster and some of the same brown sugar the restaurant serves with its coffee.

You’ll also receive a photo album commemorating your stuffed animal’s fun time, plus access to download the photos from Yawarakan’s Cafe as well.

Finally, each visit gets you one stamp on your Yawarakan’s Cafe frequent customer card, which can eventually earn you rewards such as pins, magnets, and mugs.

Packages are priced at 4,968 yen (US$40), and reservations can be made here. Again, we emphasize that none of this food is for you to eat; it’s all for you stuffed animal. That may seem like a laughable idea, but seeing as how Yawarakan’s Cafe’s twice-monthly “seatings” are already booked solid until mid-September, Karei and his employees just might be laughing all the way to the bank.

Related: Yawarakan’s Cafe official website, Facebook
Sources: Yawarakan’s Cafe via At Press
Top image: Yawarakan’s Cafe
Insert images Yawarakan’s Cafe (1, 2) (edited by RocketNews24)
[ Read in Japanese ]