When you’re shooting a travel TV show, you work long hours and run around to several locations a day. Naomi took a few quick snaps of me in front of Shinjuku Temple on our way to meet the Norwegian crew. I’m wearing a flower headband gifted from MyVelcroe.

We brought them to Cafe Pray, an Angel and Demons themed maid cafe in Akihabara. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll recall that we also took the Dutch Pepsi crew to this maid cafe/bar. Why go back?

Because the orange-haired owner is fabulous, and created this spooky paper ghost with his bare hands!

I showed Ari and Per how to order drinks. First, you call over a cute maid, dressed either as an angel or demon. She tells you her seraphic name and stirs up her signature cocktail. Finally, she’ll serve it with a cute pose and a “nyan nyan.”

I explained to Ari and Per that contrary to popular belief, maid cafes aren’t creepy. Everyone’s here for harmless fun and roleplay.

I walked the TV crew through maid cafe culture. Such as taking Polaroid photos and decorating them with cute designs.

The nails, the angel-kitty-cigarette statue… words fail me.

Unlike most maid cafes, customers are allowed to take photos of the maids inside Cafe Bar Pray.

The maids are delightful, and will play games with you.

I have more photos of the cute Japanese girls in this post. My blog is a behemoth, so if you’re looking for something, try using my Google search box (on the top right sidebar).

Do you think maid cafes are frequently misunderstood, due to the master/servant fantasy play? Would you feel comfortable in an environment like this?

PS: My latest Global Gothic column for Lip Service is published. I interview Lady Aphasia about Milan’s Goth scene. Can’t wait to check out Italy’s darkest haunts.

Song of the Day: Baiser – Angel (An angelic, Visual Kei kiss.)