Train Cafe in Akihabara

[bill937ca]

This is aimed at an general audience and a little goofy, yet the layout is a good size.  I don't think they mention location or food. Just trains.  

 

 

Here is the blog that accompanies the video.

 

http://www.japantrends.com/third-spaces-in-japan-n-star-akiba-train-cafe/

 

http://akiba.geocities.jp/n_star_akiba/

 

http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?lat=35.70153918757194&lon=139.7704175058&z=18&mode=map&pointer=on&datum=wgs&fa=bs&home=on&hlat=35.701539187572&hlon=139.7704175058&ei=UTF-8&s=1257993542

[ToniBabelony]

How about a Train themed Izakaya? (Drinking parlour)

 

http://littletgv.com/

 

Looks like they've unfortunately 'moefied' the whole thing. At first it looked like a real Izakaya and not some maid-cafe rip-off... Ah, well. Going with the trend lets them survive in the harsh Akiba environment. Looks a bit cheap on the inside, but IMO it's still worth a visit and it has very reasonable prices :9

[Bernard]

Bill - I've said this many times but I have to say it again, you find the most interesting videos!

What I like about this one is that it seems to be a young person's travel guide to what you can do when visiting Japan. There are some questions it brings to mind, I'd like to know on an average day how many people come to the cafe to run trains. Also with all the work involved with making that huge layout, why didn't they make it permanent? And last looking it as a business stand point, the layout seems to take up a lot of space at the cafe meaning you have limited seating, does the cost of renting time on the track plus the beverages makes it profitable?

[to2leo]

I will try to find out the answers to some of these questions for you if I have a chance to stop by.

 

I am aiming to go to Hobbista at Amagasaki.

[bill937ca]

Bill - I've said this many times but I have to say it again, you find the most interesting videos!

What I like about this one is that it seems to be a young person's travel guide to what you can do when visiting Japan. There are some questions it brings to mind, I'd like to know on an average day how many people come to the cafe to run trains. Also with all the work involved with making that huge layout, why didn't they make it permanent? And last looking it as a business stand point, the layout seems to take up a lot of space at the cafe meaning you have limited seating, does the cost of renting time on the track plus the beverages makes it profitable?

 

 

Thanks, Bernard. The cost of renting (a train--I think) is 350 Yen to 800 Yen for 60 minutes depending on the type and size of the train and whether it is a weekday or weekend.  Many Japanese food operations use very little space.  Here' a railway related example.

 

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=44813746&postcount=445

 

In these cafes, I think most of the seating is along the layout--where the train controls are.  As for profit that depends on market penetration, overhead and operator business skill.  If I read there web site right, they have already made one move and are very busy on weekends.  A move early in a business is usually to  larger premises.

[to2leo]

Interesting article Bill, I think Bernard is talking about train layout cafe not train station cafe.  Or I might be wrong...

[Bernard]

Interesting article Bill, I think Bernard is talking about train layout cafe not train station cafe.  Or I might be wrong...

Leo you're right, I was talking about the train layout cafe.

This interests me because my LHS had a similar set up but with battery powered RC cars and people, mostly adults, could rent/race time on the track, it was the entire basement. It was always crowded and looked very profitable but to my surprise it wasn't.

The owners tore down the RC racetrack and replaced it with a large Lionel train layout, slot cars, etc. and rent the room out for children's birthday parties.

They told me they are solidly booked for the next 3 months.

http://www.willishobbies.com/party_room/

[bill937ca]

Interesting article Bill, I think Bernard is talking about train layout cafe not train station cafe.  Or I might be wrong...

 

I suspect there is not too much difference in the menu. Probably a limited menu focusing on Japanese fast food (which I regard as not being junk food).  Often you order food by buying a ticket at a machine. Its interesting that they're web site does not offer a menu.

 

Here's another place in Ginza, Bar Ginza which has a model railroad.

 

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/gmOayhWx-0s/Model+Train+Bars+Attract+Railway+Buffs+Japan/0gTQKAgX5_G

[Guest ___]

The train cafe seems normal almost compared to the cat cafe's in Osaka (and Tokyo).

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erBilK6G8to

[bc6]

Nice video bill. Shashinka thats an awful video. I would have immediate break out in hives an most likely die in a place like that. What does it cost to rent a cat (Im joking).

[to2leo]

Well I wouldn't drink for that soda fountain for sure....the cafe looks like someone's home and is boring to look at.  I think the cats will agree with me too!

[Bernard]

Just think if someone tried to combine the 2 cafes, either all the cats would be hiding under the layout table or there wouldn't be a train left running on a track. :cat:

[grumbeast]

Likely the second option Bernard!  Cats and trains just don't mix well!

 

G

[Guest ___]

I'll tell you what doesn't mix, cats and most anything. My cat is always getting in to things.

[grumbeast]

Oh I don't know cats get on fine with sunbeams, hotwater radiators and pieces of string :)

 

g

[bill937ca]

This is aimed at an general audience and a little goofy, yet the layout is a good size.  I don't think they mention location or food. Just trains.  

 

 

Here is the blog that accompanies the video.

 

http://www.japantrends.com/third-spaces-in-japan-n-star-akiba-train-cafe/

 

 

 

That place didn't  last long.  It closed 2009/12/19 according to this list of rental layouts.  In fact at least 10 rental layouts closed in 2008 and 2009, many when stores closed.

 

Here is a Japanese language rental layout list that is updated regularly.

 

http://mm05.fc2web.com/art/begin/rental.html

[Guest ___]

This is aimed at an general audience and a little goofy, yet the layout is a good size.  I don't think they mention location or food. Just trains.  

 

 

Here is the blog that accompanies the video.

 

http://www.japantrends.com/third-spaces-in-japan-n-star-akiba-train-cafe/

 

 

That place didn't  last long.  It closed 2009/12/19 according to this list of rental layouts.  In fact at least 10 rental layouts closed in 2008 and 2009, many when stores closed.

 

Here is a Japanese language rental layout list that is updated regularly.

 

http://mm05.fc2web.com/art/begin/rental.html

 

 

Added to lsit of business ideas I'm not going to invest in trying to start. Back to alpaca farming for me then.

[to2leo]

I think the train rental concept is only successful as an addition to hobby shops.  Even when I was in Hobbista in Amagasaki (Osaka), the train cafe, the diorama layouts and HO scale layout were deserted.  Only a little kid was playing the Cassiopeia set by the layout beside TamTam.

http://www.hobbista.jp/

[Mudkip Orange]

I think it'd work as an adjunct to a different business model.

 

The thing is trains are space-intensive. So suppose you have a restaurant. If you take out four booths to put in a medium-sized layout, the income you get from the layout might be substantially less then the income lost from those four tables at peak times.

 

But if you have a shopping mall where there's already large pedestrian promenades, a layout makes a lot of sense.

 

There's a Japanese restaurant not far from my girl's place called simply OSAKA. I always think I need to go in there, claim a six-person booth, and set up some Unitrack and a bright-orange 201 series...