Step into a manga at Japan’s 2-D cafes in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto

https://ift.tt/ajHBSY1 Oona McGee

Magical cafes whisk you away from the harsh realities of 3-D living. 

In Japan, where you can get family support benefits for your 2-D crush and send Valentine’s Day chocolates to your favourite illustrated character, the boundaries between the real world and the world of 2-D have been known to blur.

For those wanting to break through the barrier and dine in a 2-D environment, there’s a place in Japan where you can do that as well, and it’s called the “2D Cafe“.

Located in Tokyo’s Shin-Okubo district, the unique cafe first opened its doors to the public in 2019. However, it recently came to everyone’s attention again when new photos of the space, taken by photographer @auki999, went viral in Japan, introducing a whole new generation of customers to the remarkable 2-D atmosphere.

The interior has been cleverly designed to look like a flat black-and-white manga illustration, but once you step inside, you can see that the furniture is all real, as are the lights and lampshades, which play a fantastic role in creating the optical illusion.

▼ From this angle, it looks like even the world outside the front entrance may not be real.

While the interior sticks to a black-and-white colour scheme, the food and drinks served inside the cafe are brightly coloured, adding vibrant pops of colour to the space while you eat.

▼ Auki’s photos of Tokyo’s 2D Cafe have received over 124,000 likes on Twitter.

これ、イラストではなく
東京にある素敵なカフェ屋さんなのです pic.twitter.com/xp7oQD1ZMX

— あゆ (@auki999) February 5, 2022

People were amazed to discover that the cafe that looked like an illustration was actually a real space where people can sit and eat. Those yearning for a taste of the 2-D life outside of Tokyo will be pleased to know there’s a similar cafe in Osaka called Yona Cartoon, and one in Kyoto, called “Ink Cafe“.

▼ Ink Cafe opened in Kyoto in March 2021.

The photos above and below, taken by Twitter user Kuritaku (@kuritaku1219), show the Kyoto cafe is just as impressive as the one in Tokyo.

映えカフェ来た。誰もいなかった。あけおめ。 pic.twitter.com/MYqdDr6rVH

— くりたく | 旅行の写真 (@kuritaku1219) January 2, 2022

▼ Plus, it really boggles the mind when you see a person sitting inside the dining area.

So next time you’re looking for a place to escape the hardships of the 3-D world, you might want to head for the comforting haven of a 2-D cafe in Japan.

They’re great places to snap a photo for the ‘Gram, and they’ll also make your manga fantasies come true, especially if you bring some of your 2-D mates along for the occasion!

Cafe information
2D Cafe / 2Dカフェ
Address: Tokyo-to, Shinjuku-ku, Hyakunin-cho 1-7-5
東京都新宿区百人町1‐7‐5
Open 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. (last orders 8:30 p.m.)
Website

Yona Cartoon / ヨナ カートゥーン
Address: Osaka-fu, Osaka-shi, Ikuno-ku, Momodani 2-9-12
大阪府大阪市生野区桃谷2-9-12
Open 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. (last orders 6:30 p.m.) Closed Tuesdays
Website

Ink Cafe / Inkカフェ
Address: Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Nakagyo-ku, Shirakabecho 442, FSS Building 2F
京都府京都市中京区白壁町 442 FSSビル 2F
Open 12:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. (weekdays); 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. (weekends) Last orders 6:30 p.m.
Website

Source: Twitter/@auki999, Twitter/@kuritaku1219 via Net Lab
Featured image: Twitter/@auki999
Insert images: Twitter/@auki999, Twitter/@kuritaku1219
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