mashumero at Akihabara, Tokyo

Dreamy-cute concept cafe lounge in Akihabara, with colourful maid uniforms, pastel interior and 40-minute all-you-can-drink sets.

Mashumero - marshmallow - is a concept cafe lounge on the second floor of the Kamita Building at Sotokanda 1-9-11, a three-minute walk from the Electric Town North Exit of Akihabara Station. The shop is built around a dreamy-cute maid concept: cast wear colourful, original maid uniforms and serve guests in a pastel-toned interior that aims to feel like stepping into a dream. The room is small - eight counter seats and two tables - keeping the atmosphere intimate and the cast close at hand. The pricing runs on a 40-minute set system at 3,000 yen with all-you-can-drink, extensions at the same 3,000 yen per 40 minutes, and a more affordable cafe-time rate from 1,000 yen between 12:00 and 17:00. Karaoke is free, the cast-drink menu starts at 1,000 yen, and a 20 per cent service charge applies. The shop is open year-round from 12:00 to 23:30, accepting credit cards for ease of payment. For a soft, pastel take on the Akihabara con-cafe that leans into the dreamy rather than the devil, mashumero is a friendly choice. Take a counter stool, order a colourful drink, and let the marshmallow world take over for an hour.