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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

TOKYO – First there were cafés that allowed pets. Then came cat cafés, where lattes took second place to feline interaction. The latest craze in Japan: The pig café. “It was wonderful. Very relaxing ...

For anyone too shy to speak with other humans, Japan has invented another way to find friends. Cat cafés, yes you read that correctly, are springing up in Japan as havens for cat lovers looking to ...