The Kashiwa Mystery Cafe is a very unique place that once you eat there, you will never forget it. From what I have seen the food is quite ordinary and the place looks like a regular outdoor cafe. So what makes Kashiwa Mystery Cafe so strange? It’s actually the rules you have to follow when you order…

There are 5 basic rules you have to follow when you eat at the Kashiwa Mystery Cafe:
1. Let’s treat the next person. What to treat them with? It’s your choice.
2. Even if it’s a group of friends or a family, please form a single-file line. Also, you can’t buy twice in a row.
3. Please enjoy what you get, even if you hate it. (If you really, really hate it, let’s quietly give it to another while saying, “It’s my treat…”)
4. Let’s say “Thank You! (Gochihosama)” if you find the person with your Ogori cafe card.
5. We can’t issue a receipt.

Many questions are probably going through your head like “why do I have to treat the next person” or “why would I order something I hate (refering to rule #3)?” It all makes sense once you find out how you’re served. You actually receive what the person before you ordered and the person after you receives what you ordered. Fun idea, right?

Of course, there are a few cons like not getting your money’s worth or receiving an item you do not like. However I love this idea of getting a random food item. It sounds like fun and gives you an oppurtunity to try new food and meet new people (You can read about an experience at the Kashiwa Mystery Cafe at Cabel’s Blog; It’s quite interesting).

So what do you think about the Kashiwa Mystery Cafe? Love it? Hate it? Wanna fly over to Japan right now just to experience it? Or do you think it’s just ridiculous and should go out of business? I think a cafe like this offers us a good amount of experiences. And who knows? There could be a hot chick or guy behind you in line and you can treat them to something special and start a beautiful relationship. Hmm…I wonder if there are any restaurants or cafes in America that follow these kinds of rules….