220 yen. That was the total 利用料金 (riyou ryoukin – usage fee) for 28 minutes at a net café in Ikebukuro—curry, rice, and drinks included. No tricks. No hidden charges. Just 220 yen.
The place? A net café called カスタマカフェ (Kasutama Kafe), located at the entrance of Romance Street near Ikebukuro’s west exit. A sign outside boldly advertises カレー食べ放題 (karē tabehoudai – all-you-can-eat curry). But look closely, and you’ll notice something shocking: in theory, you can enjoy unlimited curry for just 220 yen.
That sounds too cheap to be true. So the writer decided to find out whether it was real—or some kind of 罠 (wana – trap).
The “220 Yen All-You-Can-Eat” Theory
Here’s how the math works.
The sign outside explains that if you use a private room for 30 minutes (330 yen), you can enjoy the curry 食べ放題 (tabehoudai). That alone is already inexpensive.
But inside the building, a poster reveals something even more surprising: you can also use the open seating area for 30 minutes—and that costs only 220 yen.
That means:
- Open seat (30 minutes): 220 yen
- Curry: included
- Drinks: included
So, if you enter, eat, and leave within 30 minutes, it follows that—理論上220円になるわけだ (rironjou 220-en ni naru wake da)—the total comes to 220 yen.
But could it really be that simple?
Is There a Catch?
When something is this cheap, you naturally wonder whether there’s a catch.
Maybe there’s a required 会員登録 (kaiin touroku – membership registration) fee? After all, it’s a net café. Or perhaps there’s a service charge. Maybe the plates are tiny. Maybe the curry runs out quickly so you can only eat one serving in 30 minutes.
These are the kinds of doubts that make you question whether or not something is really a good deal.
In Japanese, this “whether or not” idea is often expressed with 〜かどうか (ka dou ka).
For example:
- 本当に220円で済むかどうか？ Hontou ni 220-en de sumu ka dou ka? “Whether it really ends up costing only 220 yen?”
To find out, the writer went inside.
No Membership Required
The interior was clean and organized, similar in atmosphere to the well-known chain 快活CLUB. It didn’t feel like a cluttered manga café.
At the entrance, the staff asked, “Are you a member?” But when told “no,” they allowed entry to the open seating area without any 会員登録 (kaiin touroku). The price was confirmed: 30 minutes for 220 yen.
And yes—open seating customers can use the curry buffet.
The open seat itself is compact, similar to a fast-food counter space. It’s not meant for relaxing, but if your goal is simply to eat, it’s perfectly sufficient.
The Curry Buffet
The buffet setup was familiar: a large rice cooker and a big pot filled with curry. There was seasoned mixed rice (炊き込みご飯) ready, and while white rice wasn’t available at first, it appeared later.
The first bowl? Mixed rice topped with curry.
The plate wasn’t oversized, but it wasn’t suspiciously small either—so no “tiny plate” 罠 (wana) here.
The curry itself was surprisingly rich. There were no large chunks of meat or vegetables, but the seasoned rice had ingredients, so the overall flavor worked well. Later, with freshly prepared white rice available, the writer tried a more traditional Japanese curry style for the second bowl.
Then came the realization:
This is a net café.
Which means the drink bar is also unlimited.
Orange juice, cola, tea, Calpis, coffee—everything included. After three servings of curry, there were still about 15 minutes left, enough time to relax with a coffee.
Entry at 12:00. Exit at 12:28.
Total: 220 yen.
Even with the receipt in hand, it felt unbelievable.
One Important Warning
There is one thing to watch out for: the 延長料金 (enchou ryoukin – extension fee).
An extra 10 minutes costs 130 yen, which is relatively expensive compared to the base rate. If you want to relax longer, choosing a 60-minute course might be smarter. Even then, the open seat is only 440 yen—and you still get power outlets, manga access, curry, and drinks.
That level of コスパ (kosupa – cost performance, value for money*) is almost shocking.
The chain operates multiple locations in Tokyo, Saitama, and Chiba, with this particular store open 24 hours a day.
For now, it may be one of the most attention-grabbing net cafés in Ikebukuro.
Cultural Context: Net Cafés in Japan
Japanese net cafés (ネットカフェ) are more than places to use a computer. They often include:
- Private booths
- Manga libraries
- Drink bars
- Showers (in some locations)
They serve as affordable rest spots, especially in busy areas like Ikebukuro. The idea that you can eat a full meal there for 220 yen challenges modern inflation trends in Japan, which is partly why this story feels so shocking.
Also, the article mentions that the seasoned mixed rice is available for a limited time, though the end date hasn’t been announced.
Learn Japanese from This Article
Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 食べ放題 | tabehoudai | all-you-can-eat |
| 利用料金 | riyou ryoukin | usage fee |
| 会員登録 | kaiin touroku | membership registration |
| 延長料金 | enchou ryoukin | extension fee |
| コスパ | kosupa | cost performance; value for money |
| 出くわす | dekawasu | to come across unexpectedly |
| 罠 | wana | trap |
Example from daily life:
- 街で面白い店に出くわした。 Machi de omoshiroi mise ni dekawashita. “I came across an interesting shop in town.”
Grammar Spotlight
1️⃣ 〜わけだ (wake da)
Used to show logical conclusion: “that means…” or “no wonder…”
Structure:
- Short form + わけだ
Example:
- 30分で出れば220円になるわけだ。 Sanjuppun de dereba 220-en ni naru wake da. “That means if you leave within 30 minutes, it becomes 220 yen.”
It’s very common in conversation when realizing something.
2️⃣ 〜かどうか (ka dou ka)
Used to express “whether or not.”
Structure:
- Short form + かどうか
Example:
- 本当に安いかどうか確認した。 Hontou ni yasui ka dou ka kakunin shita. “I checked whether or not it was really cheap.”
Useful Expression
- 嘘だろ？ Uso daro? “No way!” / “You’ve got to be kidding!”
A very casual reaction when something feels unbelievable.
Continue Learning
📚 Want to understand the verb forms used here? Check out Masu Form: Mastering Polite Everyday Speech.
📚 Ready to dive deeper? Our lesson on Greetings and Self-Introductions: Authentic Entry Phrases will help you master these concepts.
📚 Want to learn more about lifestyle? Check out our lesson on Basic Vocabulary Building: Embracing Words Without Latin Ties.
Basic Vocabulary Building: Embracing Words Without Latin Ties
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