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Maid cafes in Tokyo in 2026: what they cost, maidreamin vs @home cafe, English, children and the house rules
A maid cafe is one of the most talked-about things to do in Akihabara, and also one of the most confusing. There is an entry fee as well as the bill for food, the stay is timed, photos have rules, and the two big chains do things differently. This guide explains how it all works in Tokyo. It compares maidreamin, which has eleven branches in Akihabara, Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and Shibuya, with @home cafe (at-home cafe), the Akihabara chain that has been open since 2004. It covers what a visit costs, with worked examples, what happens on your first visit, the house rules, English, going with children, where the branches are, queues and bookings, and how to pay. We took every fact from the two chains' own websites, in English and Japanese, on Saturday 17 October 2026, and each page we used is linked at the bottom of this guide.
Last checked · Sources
In short
A maid cafe is a themed cafe where the staff, dressed as maids, greet you as the master or princess of the house, decorate your food at the table, cast a cute spell over it and take a Polaroid photo with you if you order one. In Tokyo the two big chains are maidreamin, with seven branches in Akihabara and one each in Ikebukuro and Shibuya and two in Shinjuku, and @home cafe, with three buildings in Akihabara. Both charge an entry fee for each hour plus at least one order. At maidreamin the adult entry fee is 880 yen an hour from opening until 20:00, and the official guide says most people spend about 1,650 to 5,000 yen. At @home cafe adults pay 850 yen, and the official example is 1,600 yen for an adult with only a drink. You can usually walk in, both chains take cards and code payments, and neither adds a service charge. Children are welcome before 20:00, and you may not touch the maids.
Maid cafes in Tokyo at a glance
What is a maid cafe?
@home cafe answers the question in its English FAQ: "A Maid Cafe is a uniquely Japanese themed cafe where guests are welcomed as the Master or Princess of a mansion and treated with exceptional hospitality." When you walk in, the maids greet you together. You order food and drinks as in any cafe, but the maid who brings them stays for a moment to add something: a drawing in ketchup on your omelette rice, a short chant to make the food taste better, or your name on a cake.
The chant is the part people remember. @home cafe calls itself the cafe where "moe moe kyun" was born, and at maidreamin the same idea is a spell the maids cast over your food. maidreamin's guide for first-time visitors invites you to say it with your maid, and adds that if you are shy, just watching is fine.
The other things that make a maid cafe different from a themed cafe are the photo, the show and the entry fee. You can order a Polaroid photo with a maid, which the maid decorates by hand. maidreamin has a stage in its branches, and the maids put on live shows there every day. And there is an entry fee, which @home cafe explains like this: the cafe is "more like visiting a mini theme park", so the fee pays for the entertainment.
How much does a maid cafe in Tokyo cost?
Both chains use the same system: you pay an entry fee and you must order at least one thing. At maidreamin the fee is for each hour, and "※Entry fee (per hour) + food and beverage charges apply." At @home cafe the stay is one hour, and "Each visit requires an order of at least a drink." All the prices below include tax.
| Entry fee | maidreamin (opening to 20:00) | @home cafe |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | 880 yen an hour | 850 yen (ages 23 to 59) |
| Seniors (60 and over) | 440 yen an hour | 600 yen |
| University and college students | 660 yen an hour, with student ID | 600 yen (ages 19 to 22) |
| Secondary school students | 550 yen an hour, with student ID | 400 yen (ages 13 to 18) |
| Primary school children | 330 yen an hour | Free (ages 7 to 12) |
| Younger children | Free | Free (6 and under) |
maidreamin's entry fee is the same at every branch, and its menu page says: "※Extensions are available at the same rate." From 20:00 until closing, the branches become a maid bar called maidreamin HYPER with a different price system, so if you want the daytime prices, or are going with children, go before 20:00.
What the food costs
Example dishes and sets, October 2026
- maidreamin Plain Omelette Rice: 1,450 yen, with a ketchup drawing by your maid.
- maidreamin Animal Parfait: 1,250 yen.
- maidreamin Kumatan Curry: 1,600 yen. The Kumatan omelet rice is 2,400 yen.
- maidreamin hamburger steak: 1,800 yen.
- @home cafe DRINK SET: 1,750 yen, with a soft drink, a Polaroid with a maid and a photo holder.
- @home cafe DESSERT SET: 2,700 yen, adding a dessert to the drink set.
- @home cafe FOOD SET: 2,900 yen, adding a main dish to the drink set.
- @home cafe FULL SET: 3,930 yen, with a main dish, a dessert, a soft drink, the Polaroid and the holder.
At @home cafe the sets come on top of the entry fee: the menu says that "in addition to the admission fee, all Masters and Princesses are required to order a drink or a set." maidreamin also sells plans that put the entry fee and an order together. The Food Plan, 4,800 yen, has the entry fee, a drink, a photo, omelette rice or a hamburger steak and a headband to take home. The Sweet Plan, 4,700 yen, swaps the main dish for a parfait.
What a visit costs: worked examples
| Who | maidreamin | @home cafe |
|---|---|---|
| One adult, just a drink | About 1,650 yen, the low end of the chain's own guide | 1,600 yen, the chain's own example |
| One adult, a meal and a Polaroid | Food Plan, 4,800 yen | 850 yen entry + FOOD SET 2,900 yen = 3,750 yen |
| One adult, a parfait for an hour | 880 yen entry + Animal Parfait 1,250 yen = 2,130 yen | 850 yen entry + DESSERT SET 2,700 yen = 3,550 yen |
| Entry for two adults, an 8-year-old and a 4-year-old, one hour | 880 + 880 + 330 + 0 = 2,090 yen, plus orders | 850 + 850 + 0 + 0 = 1,700 yen, plus orders |
maidreamin's guide for first-time visitors puts a short break at 1,650 yen or more and a family meal at about 3,000 to 5,000 yen per person. Neither chain adds a table charge: "※We do not charge any service fees or table charges," says maidreamin, and @home cafe says, "There are no hidden fees or automatic renewals". There is no tipping either: maidreamin's guide for first-time visitors says there are no tips and no hidden charges, and that the price is always shown to you before you sit down.
maidreamin vs @home cafe: which maid cafe to choose
People often ask for the best maid cafe in Tokyo or in Akihabara. We have not ranked them, but the two big chains are different enough that one will usually suit you better. Here is how they compared on 17 October 2026.
maidreamin and @home cafe side by side
- maidreamin: 11 branches in Tokyo, in Akihabara, Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and Shibuya. Entry fee by the hour, so you can stay longer. Live shows on a stage every day. Strong on children: primary school pupils pay 330 yen and younger children go in free. Photos and videos are allowed, as long as the maids, the kitchen staff and other guests are not in them. Walk in, no booking needed.
- @home cafe: three buildings in Akihabara, one of them with five cafes inside. A one-hour stay with an entry fee, and sets that include a Polaroid with a maid. The maids get English lessons when they join. Children aged 12 and under go in free. Only photos of your food, after asking a maid. You usually queue, and only one branch takes bookings.
Choose maidreamin if you are staying near Shinjuku, Shibuya or Ikebukuro, if you want to see a stage show, if you want to take photos of the room, or if you want to stay for more than an hour. Its English site says: "Whether you are alone, with friends, a partner, family, colleagues, at a girls’ gathering, or a private party, maidreamin can be enjoyed in any situation."
Choose @home cafe if you want the cafe that calls itself the birthplace of the chant, if you want the Polaroid included in a fixed price, or if language worries you. Its site says: "Our maids even receive specialized English lessons to make at-home cafe your number one stop in Japan!"
Maid cafes in Akihabara
Both big chains started in Akihabara, and most of their Tokyo branches are still here. Of maidreamin's 11 Tokyo branches, seven are in Akihabara, and all of @home cafe's Tokyo cafes are here too. The maidreamin branches in Akihabara open at 10:30 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and at 11:30 on weekdays, and close at 23:00. The @home cafe branches open at 10:00 at weekends and on holidays and 11:00 on weekdays, and close at 22:00, though some floors close at 21:00.
maid cafes in Akihabara, October 2026
- @home cafe Akihabara Main Building: Sotokanda 1-11-4, Mitsuwa Building, 3F to 7F. Five cafes in one building, each with its own interior.
- @home cafe Akiba Cultures Zone: Sotokanda 1-7-6, 5F. Two cafes side by side, and the only @home cafe that takes bookings.
- @home cafe Akihabara Don Quijote: Sotokanda 4-3-3, 5F of the Don Quijote store. The chain's first cafe.
- maidreamin Akihabara Head Store: Sotokanda 3-16-17, Sumiyoshi Building 6F. 6 counter seats and 36 table seats.
- maidreamin LIVE RESTAURANT Heaven’s Gate: Sotokanda 1-15-9, Ichigo Akihabara Ekimae Building 6F. 66 seats, a stage 5 metres wide and ramps for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
- maidreamin Electric Town-exit Store and Chuo-dori Store: both in the Takarada Chuo-dori Building at Sotokanda 1-14-1, on 3F and 2F.
- maidreamin AKIBA, idol-dori Store and Sotokanda 1-Chome Store: Sotokanda 1-8-4 3F, 4-4-2 4F and 1-8-10 2F.
If you are pushing a buggy or using a wheelchair, Heaven’s Gate is the maidreamin branch whose page lists ramps. At @home cafe the FAQ says you can bring a pushchair to the table "Yes, if seats are available. During busy times, you may need to wait."
For the rest of a day in the area, see what to buy in Akihabara for the electronics, game and figure shops, and our Akihabara vs Ikebukuro guide helps you decide which anime district to spend more time in.
Maid cafes near Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ikebukuro
You do not have to go to Akihabara. maidreamin has four branches in the other big districts, and all four are open every day from 11:30 to 23:00. @home cafe has no branches outside Akihabara in Tokyo.
| Area | Branch | Address | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shinjuku | maidreamin Shinjuku Store | Pegasus Kan 7F, Shinjuku 3-31-5 | 54 |
| Shinjuku | maidreamin Shinjuku East-exit Store | Shinjuku 3-22-10 | 41, on two floors |
| Shibuya | maidreamin Shibuya | Horaiya Building B1F, Udagawacho 30-1 | 44 |
| Ikebukuro | maidreamin Ikebukuro Sunshine-dori Store | Rokka Building 7F, Higashi-Ikebukuro 1-22-14 | 44 |
The two Shinjuku branches are both in Shinjuku 3-chome, the Shibuya branch is in Udagawacho and the Ikebukuro branch is in Higashi-Ikebukuro. Every maidreamin branch lists free Wi-Fi and phone charging.
Higashi-Ikebukuro is also where you find Sunshine City and Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO, which our Pokémon Center Tokyo guide covers.
Your first visit to a maid cafe, step by step
The first few minutes are the strangest, so it helps to know what is coming. maidreamin's guide for first-time visitors breaks a visit into five steps, and a visit to @home cafe follows a similar pattern.
A first visit to a maid cafe
- Arrive: the maids greet you with welcome home, master, or welcome home, miss. At maidreamin a maid takes you to your seat. At @home cafe, wait at the entrance or tell a maid you are there, and join the end of the queue if there is one.
- Hear the system: on a first visit the maid explains the entry fee and how ordering works. At maidreamin the price is shown to you before you sit down.
- Order and watch the spell: the maid draws on your omelette rice in ketchup and casts a spell to make it taste better. Join in, or just watch.
- Photo and show: order a Polaroid with a maid if you like, and at maidreamin, catch a live show on the stage.
- Leave: pay at the end, and the maids see you off as you go.
First-time visitors to maidreamin get a card called the maidreamin Passport. @home cafe has a free membership card called the Mansion Key: "From your second visit, bring your Mansion Key to enjoy perks such as discounted admission and special rewards."
At maidreamin you do not have to stay for the full hour. Its FAQ says you can leave whenever suits you. At @home cafe, "The basic length of a stay at the cafe is one hour." If you want more time there, ask your maid when you pay. If your food has all been served and nobody is waiting for a seat, the staff may let you loop, which restarts your hour with a new entry fee. "Without this request, there will be no additional or automatic charges." At maidreamin, an extra hour costs the same entry fee again, and "Should service be delayed, no extension fee will be charged."
maidreamin's maids put on live shows on the stage every day. Its Japanese FAQ says the times are not fixed, so ask when you arrive. At @home cafe there are mini live performances, and its FAQ says: "If you encounter one, consider yourself lucky!"
Maid cafe rules: what you can and cannot do
The rules are the part to read before you go. @home cafe lists its banned acts in its English FAQ and ends the list with a warning: "Violation may result in immediate expulsion and permanent ban."
@home cafe's FAQ is clear on touching: "No. Physical contact, including handshakes, is prohibited." And on its menu page: "Please respect the maids by not engaging in any physical contact."
Photos at a maid cafe
The photo rules are where the two chains differ most.
Photo rules, October 2026
- maidreamin: photos and videos are fine, as long as no maids, kitchen staff or other guests are in them, according to the FAQ.
- @home cafe: only photos of your food, and ask a maid first. No videos and no audio recording.
- Photos with a maid: at both chains, order a Polaroid. The maid poses with you, and at @home cafe the maid decorates the print by hand.
@home cafe's FAQ puts it simply: "Only food photos are allowed, and you must first ask a maid for permission." Its menu page adds: "No video or audio recording is allowed." At maidreamin the maids do not sit with you, and no single maid looks after your table, its FAQ says. @home cafe works the same way: "Maids work on a rotating schedule", so you will meet several maids during your hour.
Is there an English-speaking maid cafe in Tokyo?
Both chains are used to guests from abroad. As well as the English lessons mentioned above, @home cafe's FAQ is honest about the limits: "While each maid’s language skills may vary, they all go above and beyond to ensure you feel welcome." maidreamin's guide for first-time visitors says English is fine, and its website has pages in English, Chinese and Korean.
You will not need much language anyway. The prices are on the menu, you can copy the spell's hand gestures, and the maids explain the system on your first visit. In Japanese the greeting is okaerinasaimase, which means welcome home.
Can you take children to a maid cafe in Tokyo?
Yes, and both chains go out of their way for families. maidreamin's FAQ says families with children are welcome, children under primary school age go in free, and children up to the sixth year of primary school get a free ice cream. It suggests table seats for families. Its English site adds: "The chicken rice in our omelets is a specially developed dish that’s easy for children to enjoy." At @home cafe, children aged 12 and under go in free, and children aged 0 to 6 get a Kids Drink as a gift.
@home cafe's Kids Card drinks are orange juice, Calpis, milk or barley tea. The chain sums up who it is for: "Whether you are a family, a couple or any interested guest, visiting us will be an experience to remember fondly!"
Do you need a reservation for a maid cafe?
Usually not. maidreamin's guide for first-time visitors says you can walk in without a booking and that one person on their own is welcome. At @home cafe you join the queue at the door. Its FAQ says: "If you enjoy lively crowds and special events, weekends are the busiest, though you might encounter longer queues." And for a quieter visit: "For a more relaxed atmosphere or to catch one of our cosplay events, weekdays may be the perfect choice."
If you want to be sure of a seat at @home cafe, one branch takes bookings: "This is our only maid cafe that offers Prioritized Entry(Reservation), which includes a Food or a Dessert Set!" That is the Akiba Cultures Zone branch. maidreamin also takes bookings on its official website. Book only through each chain's own website.
Paying at a maid cafe
Both chains take cards and the main phone payment apps, so you do not need much cash.
| maidreamin | @home cafe | |
|---|---|---|
| Cards | VISA, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UnionPay and Discover | Cards with contactless or IC chip payment, including VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX and UnionPay |
| Phone payments | PayPay, WeChat Pay, Alipay, Rakuten Pay and au PAY | PayPay, WeChat Pay, Alipay, au PAY, d Payment and Rakuten Pay |
| Cash | Yes | Yes |
| Service charge | None | None |
You pay when you leave, at both chains. maidreamin's guide for first-time visitors says the bill has no surprises, and @home cafe says: "We don’t engage in touting, have no hidden charges".
Frequently asked questions
How much money should I bring to a maid cafe?
Expect to spend about 1,600 to 5,000 yen per person. You pay an entry fee and must order at least one item. At maidreamin the adult entry fee is 880 yen an hour until 20:00, and at @home cafe it is 850 yen for a one-hour stay. A drink and the entry fee come to about 1,600 to 1,650 yen, and a meal with a Polaroid is about 3,750 to 4,800 yen. Prices include tax.
Do you need to book a maid cafe in Tokyo?
Usually not. maidreamin welcomes walk-ins, and at @home cafe you join the queue at the door. Weekends are the busiest, so go on a weekday if you can. At @home cafe only the Akiba Cultures Zone branch takes bookings, and the booking comes with a food or dessert set.
Can you take children to a maid cafe?
Yes. Children under primary school age go in free at maidreamin, and children aged 12 and under go in free at @home cafe. maidreamin gives a free ice cream to children up to the sixth year of primary school. Go before 20:00, when maidreamin changes to a maid bar with a different price system.
Do the maids speak English?
Both chains welcome visitors who speak English. @home cafe gives its maids English lessons when they join, though their level varies, and maidreamin's guide for first-time visitors says English is fine. The maids explain the system on your first visit.
Can you take photos in a maid cafe?
It depends on the chain. At maidreamin you can take photos and videos as long as no maids, staff or other guests are in them. At @home cafe you can only photograph your food, after asking a maid. For a photo with a maid, order a Polaroid at either chain.
Do you tip at a maid cafe?
No. There is no tipping, and neither chain adds a service charge or table charge. maidreamin shows you the price before you sit down.
Is there a maid cafe in Shinjuku or Shibuya?
Yes. maidreamin has two branches in Shinjuku 3-chome, one in Udagawacho in Shibuya and one in Higashi-Ikebukuro, all open from 11:30 to 23:00. @home cafe's Tokyo cafes are all in Akihabara.
How long can you stay at a maid cafe?
At @home cafe the stay is one hour. At maidreamin the entry fee is for each hour, you can stay longer by paying the same fee again, and you can leave before the hour is up.
Is a maid cafe OK for women and couples?
Yes. Both chains welcome women, couples, families and people on their own. Women are greeted as princess or mistress, and the menus, spells and photos are the same for everyone.
Sources
Official and primary sources used for this page. Checked October 17, 2026.
- maidreamin: About (English) — what happens on a visit, live shows, Polaroids and food for children
- maidreamin: Menu (English) — entry fees, plans, dishes and prices, and the no service charge rule
- maidreamin: Locations (English) — branches, addresses, hours, seats and facilities
- maidreamin: official site (Japanese) — the number of branches, maids and the history of the chain
- maidreamin: price system (Japanese) — entry fees by age and the evening price system
Show all 15 sources
- maidreamin: first visit (Japanese) — how a first visit works
- maidreamin: first visit guide (Japanese) — the five steps, walk-ins, English, payment methods and typical spending
- maidreamin: FAQ (Japanese) — children, smoking, shows, length of stay, seats, photos, gifts and payment
- at-home cafe: official English site (English) — what a maid cafe is, English lessons for maids and the chain's history
- at-home cafe: Menu (English) — entry fees, sets, prices, house rules and payment methods
- at-home cafe: Locations (English) — the Akihabara buildings, addresses and bookings at Akiba Cultures Zone
- at-home cafe: FAQ (English) — queues, length of stay, looping, banned acts, photos, gifts, children, pushchairs and birthdays
- at-home cafe: System (Japanese) — entry fees by age, the kids drink and payment methods
- at-home cafe: Cafes (Japanese) — the cafes in each building and opening hours
- at-home cafe: Rulebook (Japanese) — the house rules
Related guides
To cite or link to this page: Maid cafes in Tokyo in 2026: what they cost, maidreamin vs @home cafe, English, children and the house rules — Japan Pocket Guide, https://japanpocketguide.com/things-to-do/maid-cafe-tokyo/