"9000 Won to Hug a Woman for 3 Minutes"…Controversy Over a Cafe in Japan

Lap Pillow and Hugs for 9,000 Won
"Can Soothe Loneliness" vs "Sexual Commodification"

A Japanese cafe offering services such as hugs and lap pillows. CNN

A Japanese cafe offering skinship services such as hugs and lap pillows for 9,000 won is causing controversy.

On the 12th (local time), Hong Kong media South China Morning Post (SCMP) introduced Tokyo's "Soineya Cafe," which sells such services. Soineya Cafe provides a service where staff sleep beside customers who want to sleep with someone. The cafe explains that its goal is to provide customers with a comfortable sleeping environment and high-quality sleep.

The cost of a 20-minute nap at the cafe is about 28,000 won, and sleeping overnight for 10 hours costs around 470,000 won. Additionally, for an extra fee of about 9,000 won, customers can rest their heads on a staff member's lap or receive a 3-minute hug. For the same price, customers can also receive services such as staring into a staff member's eyes for one minute or gently patting them. However, any further skinship beyond this is strictly prohibited to protect female staff.

A Japanese cafe offering services such as hugs and lap pillows. SCMP

Cafe staff member Fuki explained, "Many customers have difficulty opening their hearts to friends or colleagues." The media pointed out, "More and more people in Japan are avoiding intimate relationships," citing a study that found 45% of women and 25% of men aged 16 to 24 are uninterested in or even dislike skinship. Male customer Inoue, who used the cafe, said, "When talking to women, I really don't know what they are thinking. Even if they are smiling, they might be lying or badmouthing me behind my back," explaining his reason for visiting the cafe.

Japanese netizens showed mixed reactions to Soineya Cafe's services. Many criticized the service as clear "sexual commodification." They commented, "It's basically a brothel," "A place to have skinship with women," "So disgusting and unpleasant," "Why pay for that? Really pathetic," and "They do such things because they can't meet women outside." On the other hand, some expressed positive views, saying, "It could be a great support when you're struggling," "There are days when you want to be held by someone," "Sometimes you receive great comfort from a complete stranger," and "It might be good for people who have no chance to meet the opposite sex."