Sometimes you just need a hug- Cuddle cafes

Hi Guys,

Well, after 2 months without my laptop, I finally have it back. Turns out getting an Aussie laptop repaired in Japan takes a bit of time due to the shipping in of specific parts. At least they also gave it a good cleaning, and got all the food out from under the keys (note to self- stop eating over the keyboard, nom nom nom nom) but I digress...

I was reading this morning about the latest new shop to open up in Akihabara, Tokyo- Cuddle Cafes! Basically for a fee you can pay to sleep (note: there are no quotation marks) with a beautiful stranger. The idea is something has sprung from the mind of the Japanese, and is really no surprise after all the maid cafes and various animal cafes (like cats and rabbits that you can pay to stroke). Now for a fee you can stroke a real live girl...

Prices range from 3000 for 20mins (about $38AUD) to 50,000 for about 10hrs ($620). Mind you, that is for the standard course (which I have to assume is just laying there stiff as a board (pun intended) for the allocated time). There are additional extras though, depending on how much you want to pay, such as:

Customer sleeps in girl’s arm (3 min) – 1,000 yen 
Girl pats customer on the back (3 min) – 1,000 yen 
Customer pets girl on the head (3 min) – 1,000 yen   
Customer and girl stare at each other (1 min) – 1,000 yen 
Girl changes clothes (1 time) – 1,000 yen 
Girl gives customer foot massage (3 min) – 1,000 yen   
Customer gives girl foot massage (3 min) – 2,000 yen 
Customer sleeps with head on girl’s lap (3 min) – 1,000 yen 
Girl sleeps with head on customer’s lap (3 min) – 2,000 yen

Personally, I'm not sure that paying $12AUD to stare at someone for a minute would be quite the bargain, considering you can do that on a train for free. However, I suppose if it brings a bit of comfort to a lonely Otaku, then who are we to judge...though, paying money to pet a high school girl does fall into the realm of the shudder.