Category Archive for Fims + Videos
CAPSULE HOTEL, TOKYO JAPAN: COFFIN-SIZED ROOM FOR BUSINESSMEN TO SLEEP. PHOTOS OF JAPANESE CAPSULES.
Quick: name a place in Tokyo where ladies are not allowed. Did you know… almost all Japanese capsule hotels are for men only? These stacked, coffin-like accommodations are mainly for businessmen who miss the last train.
I’ve never been allowed inside a capsule hotel… until I got the chance to visit one for the NRK Norway TV show. Some cool news — the program just won the Gullruten, the Norwegian Grammy award!
Naturally, Naomi and I used this opportunity to take as many artistic (aka silly) photos as possible.
The capsule rooms are as tiny as you’d imagine. For US$25-50 a night, you get a pillow, sheets, and tiny TV nailed to the ceiling.
Naomi made arrangements with the Green Plaza Capsule Hotel in Shinjuku, so that we were able to film during the daytime, before the spaces filled up with customers. (It’s what we do as Pirates; you can find out more about our Tokyo consulting, TV fixing and hosting business here.)
The Norwegians, Ari and Per, put on Asian robes and crawled into the upper cubby-holes.
I couldn’t understand the Norwegian dialogue, but it sounded pretty funny!
With shared bathrooms and too-close-for-comfort coffins, I’m not sure I’d stay in one of these capsules (even if I were allowed to).
How about you? Have you ever spent the night in a Japanese capsule hotel? Share your stories and thoughts in the comments!
PS: I will post clips of my appearance in the Norway TV show about Tokyo ASAP.
Song of the Day: Girugamesh – Owari to mirai
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BEST MAID CAFE IN TOKYO, JAPAN: AKIHABARA ANGEL & DEMONS. JAPANESE SUBCULTURES, OTAKU ANIME MANGA BAR.
When you’re shooting a travel TV show, you work long hours and run around to several locations a day. Naomi took a few quick snaps of me in front of Shinjuku Temple on our way to meet the Norwegian crew. I’m wearing a flower headband gifted from MyVelcroe.
We brought them to Cafe Pray, an Angel and Demons themed maid cafe in Akihabara. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll recall that we also took the Dutch Pepsi crew to this maid cafe/bar. Why go back?
Because the orange-haired owner is fabulous, and created this spooky paper ghost with his bare hands!
I showed Ari and Per how to order drinks. First, you call over a cute maid, dressed either as an angel or demon. She tells you her seraphic name and stirs up her signature cocktail. Finally, she’ll serve it with a cute pose and a “nyan nyan.”
I explained to Ari and Per that contrary to popular belief, maid cafes aren’t creepy. Everyone’s here for harmless fun and roleplay.
I walked the TV crew through maid cafe culture. Such as taking Polaroid photos and decorating them with cute designs.
The nails, the angel-kitty-cigarette statue… words fail me.
Unlike most maid cafes, customers are allowed to take photos of the maids inside Cafe Bar Pray.
The maids are delightful, and will play games with you.
I have more photos of the cute Japanese girls in this post. My blog is a behemoth, so if you’re looking for something, try using my Google search box (on the top right sidebar).
Do you think maid cafes are frequently misunderstood, due to the master/servant fantasy play? Would you feel comfortable in an environment like this?
PS: My latest Global Gothic column for Lip Service is published. I interview Lady Aphasia about Milan’s Goth scene. Can’t wait to check out Italy’s darkest haunts.
Song of the Day: Baiser – Angel (An angelic, Visual Kei kiss.)
LA CARMINA
