Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on November 2012

For lonely boys in search of a caring woman—yet keen to preserve spiritual or sexual purity—Akihabara’s Soineya (3F, 2-11 Sakuma-cho, Chiyoda) is a new fad in Tokyo’s “service industry.” Literally translated as “sleep-together shop,” it enables punters to do just that, in the literal, not euphemistic, sense. After paying ¥3,000 entry, sleep next to a lady for 20 minutes (¥3,000) or more (¥50,000/10 hours)—with no touching allowed. Peruse the menu for extras like having her rest her head on your arm, light consolation-type stroking (both ¥1,000/3 min), and face smacking (her to you; ¥1,000 per clout). Already dubbed a “cuddle café,” Soineya has met with such success that a new branch has just opened in Shinjuku (2F, 1-2-17 Kabukicho).