Pig cafes are the latest craze pulling in tourists in Japan. The surprisingly quiet, clean and companionable animals have been bringing a smile to people’s faces at Tokyo’s Mipig Café. “It was ...

Kissaten—retro-style cafés—are a beloved part of Japanese dining culture, with a dedicated following. Step into any kissaten—Japanese retro-style cafes—and you're immediately hit with the strong smell ...

Cafes are a great place to have a cup of coffee, talk, and relax. Sofas are nice and all, but the world’s cafes really need to take a lesson from a handful of Japanese cafes: Hammocks. In Japan, there ...

Japan is familiar with foreign franchises. McDonald’s arrived in 1971 (PDF) and began like many chains as a high-end fad (in Ginza, nonetheless) before becoming a ubiquitous part of local culture. One ...

"Master, mistress -- welcome home!" At-Home Cafe, one of the leading chains, says that women now make up 57 percent of the ...

People relax with cats at a "neko cafe" in Tokyo. As Japan introduces stricter rules on animal rights this year, "cat cafes" -- where customers can stroke fluffy felines -- complain it could destroy ...

Mothers in Japan have found a refuge and an outlet to share their concerns when their babies cry non-stop at night. Nighttime ...