Many visitors to Japan will want to find out how to rent a bike or a car. But have you ever considered renting someone to apologize for you? In fact, Japan has devised rental solutions for all sorts of predicaments, from the country’s shortage of pet-friendly apartments to the lingering cultural stigma around quitting your job. Here are 10 things you didn’t know you could rent in Japan.
5. Clothing for Travelers and Fashion
9. Someone to Quit Your Job for You
1. A Middle-Aged Man
Why, you might ask, would anyone want to rent a Japanese ossan (informal for “middle-aged man”)? The answers may surprise you. Some customers are tourists looking for a cheap personal guide. Others enjoy the idea of drinking at a Japanese bar with a native companion. Having a local by your side may even get you into some watering holes usually frequented by Japanese patrons only. What you do with your ossan is up to you.
- Price: ¥1,000 per hour.
- Website: https://ossanrental.thebase.in/
2. A Date
Money might not buy love, but it can buy you some cute arm candy, at least for a few hours. While the concept can be tricky for foreigners to understand, Japan’s rental boyfriends and girlfriends are not sex workers. Hand-holding and hugging are as far as physical contact will go. Instead, they’re there to make the date of your dreams a reality. Whether it’s a day at Disneyland or a romantic dinner for two, you can take your date anywhere as long as you’re prepared to foot the bill!
- Price: ¥15,000 for two hours, including transportation fees.
- Rental Girlfriend: https://tokyo.rent-kano.net/english.html
- Rental Boyfriend: https://warmrelation.com/
3. A Robot Dog
Many Japanese apartments have strict rules against keeping pets. This is one reason for the boom in adorable robot companions. Popular models include the all-singing-all-dancing “Robohon,” and the cuddly, wide-eyed “Lovot.” Developments in AI mean their behavior is endearingly life-like, so it’s easy to fall in love. However, these robo-pets can be extremely expensive to buy. If you want to experience the robo-love for yourself, you can rent one for shorter bursts of joy.
- Price: ¥6,000 – ¥35,000 per week, depending on model.
- Website: https://www.rentio.jp/t/genre/robo
4. A Real Dog
Buying or adopting a dog is often an unrealistic commitment for those working high-pressured full-time jobs in Japan. Luckily, it’s still possible to spend some time with a canine cutie on a short-term basis. Services like Wanpaku Land in Adachi, Tokyo, allow members to rent a furry friend for anything from a three-hour walk to a three-week stay. Members pay a small annual fee and can choose either to build a relationship with their favorite dog or spend time with pups of a variety of breeds and personalities.
- Price: ¥3,500 – ¥44,000, plus ¥2,200 annual membership fee.
- Website: http://www.wanpakuland.com/
5. Clothing for Travelers and Fashion
Have you ever wished you could travel to the other side of the world but leave the suitcase at home? If so, Japan Airlines has a service available to its customers that can help. Any Wear, Anywhere delivers a personalized capsule wardrobe to travelers’ hotels, saving both user effort and CO2 emissions. All of the clothes supplied are taken from surplus retail stock, making it a doubly environmental option.
Moreover, the fashion rental service AirCloset, based in Tokyo, has been keeping women stylish with minimal effort thanks to its innovative “wear and return” subscriber model. You’ll receive a number of fashion boxes curated by stylists who pick the pieces based on the preferences that you entered on registration. If you like something, you can buy it; the rest can be returned after you’ve worn it. Genius!
- Price: ¥10,000 for seven days.
- Website: https://anywearanywhere.store/
- Website: https://www.air-closet.com/
6. Lolita Fashion
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- External Link
- https://gaijinpot.com/
2 Comments
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Negative Nancy
On the contrary, I knew all of these because they are CONSTANTLY being reported in the popular press. A more interesting topic would be things we WISH we could rent.
Desert Tortoise
If you want to spend time with "canine cuties" volunteer at an animal shelter or rescue organization and do some good for these gentle creatures at the same time.