The Rise of Study Spots: From Family Restaurants to Study Cafés
Earlier this year, Emi had an Eiken test on the horizon, also known as STEP (Society for Testing English Proficiency). At home, with four other family members coming and going, it was impossible to focus. Every morning, she went to a family restaurant just after it opened at 7 a.m. After eating her usual toast and boiled egg, she spread her books across the table, opened her iPad, and began her study routine: listening, reading, and writing. For about four hours, Emi studied as much as she could. Luckily, she had her own internet connection and could refill her coffee while she worked. Because other customers sat nearby, she could only practice her speaking silently.
As time passed, more people entered the restaurant. Soon, customers were waiting near the door. Emi felt a knot in her stomach. Should she give up her seat to someone else? Though no one said anything, she always felt tolerated but not truly welcome.
In the evenings, Emi went to a study café. This was a completely different experience. The café had reliable internet, plenty of charging points, and chairs designed for long study sessions. Adjustable lighting, semi-private booths, and long communal tables created the perfect environment. Even after finishing her drink, Emi felt no pressure to leave. At the study café, she was not just tolerated. She felt welcome.
Environmental Scanning
In the business world, environmental scanning is an important idea. It means watching and analyzing trends, behaviors, and signals that could affect business. Foreign residents who have lived in Japan for over twenty years may remember how hard it once was to find restaurants with English menus. As more people from different countries came to Japan, both tourists and long-term residents, restaurants adapted by offering English menus. Similarly, many coffee shops and restaurants have noticed that people come not only to eat or drink but also to study or work. As a result, some have added internet access and charging facilities.
Students and Remote Workers
In large Japanese cities, apartments are often very small. Many high school and university students prefer to study in cafés, where they can enjoy a quiet, focused atmosphere, affordable drinks, and the ability to stay connected. In recent years, freelancers, startup employees, and company workers have also discovered study cafés as spaces to concentrate, attend online meetings, or work on personal projects outside the home.
What’s in It for the Café?
Some customers may wonder why a café allows people to sit for hours with only one drink. A single cup of coffee still brings profit, especially when many seats are empty. Having customers inside also makes the café look appealing. People are more likely to enter a shop that already has customers than one that looks empty. Another key point is repeat business. One cup of coffee may not mean much, but if the same customer returns again and again, it adds up. A regular customer may also recommend the café to friends and family, which is free advertising.
Tolerant versus Welcoming
The difference between Emi’s family restaurant experience and her study café experience shows two sides of modern Japan. In one, she felt tolerated. In the other, she felt welcomed. Both reflect the mood of the times. Japan is changing, adapting to new lifestyles, and slowly becoming a place where study cafés are not just a trend but part of everyday life.
Written by Everett Ofori