Sleeping in mangakissa, still possible?

Hi,
I came to japan already 5 times in the past for travelling, and some nights I slept in manga-kissa (internet cafe). I tried many of them: Manboo, Gran Cyber Cafe B@gus, Gera Gera, Popeye, New New etc.

Recently somebody told me that now to stay there for the night gaijin need to prove they live in Japan (resident) and it's not enough to show the passport with a tourist visa.

Is it true? Can you give me more informations about it?
Thank you!
MaTita

I'm not seeing any restrictions like that mentioned anywhere, so unless shown otherwise I would say that the person you heard from was either incorrect or it was some isolated incident or misunderstanding.

Recently did you have to show your ID in the mangakissa to stay there for the night?
Last time I'have been in a mangakissa I didn't need to show my ID.
Thank you!!

I believe they are supposed to ask foreigners for their passport, but that is standard practice for accommodations in Japan.

Mangakissa are not "accomodations". If I buy a package for the night it doesn't mean that I am using it to sleep.
Have you slept in mangakissa recently?

I agree with yllwsmrf: I have been in a mangakissa one month ago to spend the night (without sleeping, only using pc and getting a coffee) and the guy at the desk asked for my passport in order to buy shop's card.

Thank you geordie986!! :-)
Yes, passport is needed to buy a membership card, of course.
I have a couple of questions for you geordie986, if you can help me:

- where are you from? I mean, which passport do you have? (Uk, USA, France...)
- do you have your home address written on passport? I don't mean just city, I mean complete address including street.

Thank you very much.

Do you have an problem about letting a Cafe take a copy of your passport?

(I am MaTita)

Of course NO!! I didn't mean this. I just want to understand better what they need, because there is a law (the "#64") from Tokyo Government about internet cafe.
Do you need to have your complete address (including street) on the passport?

In order to prevent internet related crimes (like child porn and business cons), they need the ID with the address when they have an internet booth. I'm not sure whether you need the address on your passport, especially if you are a foreigner.

Governments can never restrict people from taking a nap. Of course you can sleep at internet cafes, if you like.

My passport does not have my address on it, because it is a 10 year passport and peopke move house, so having the address printed on it would lead to a lot of paperwork.

But obviously, if I commit a crime and you have my passport number, the police can trace me through the British government. Even if I had moved house I would be traceable through tax records, driving licence/insurance etc.

So I don't think your address needs to be on your passport though you may be asked for it separately.

Mangakissa are not "accomodations". If I buy a package for the night it doesn't mean that I am using it to sleep.

Sorry, I didn't word that well. I meant that you will already be showing your passport for regular hotels and such, so it shouldn't seem out of the ordinary to also show it at a mangakissa (especially if you plan to stay the night).

Anyway, I understand there is a law that says that mangakissa must get the passport info of foreign users, but I haven't seen anything about them requiring proof of address or residency.

Do you have a good reason to believe that things have changed, because all evidence is that they haven't.

Sounds a bit odd.
Addresses aren't usually printed in passports, so I don't see how this is possible.

I think all users might need to show ID for prevention of computer crime purposes and for non-resident foreigners (who are required to carry one with them at all times anyway), a passport is likely the only acceptable form of ID in Japan. As pointed out above, have a copy of your passport details is far more powerful than just an address.

Non-resident foreigners are also required to submit their passport when staying overnight in a lodging place and the business must keep a copy of all guest's passports for collection by the police (what they do with them is anyone's guess). It is possible that an overnight stay at a mangakissa is now included in the scope of this law.

Residents (Japanese and foreigners) do not need to have ID copied for overnight stays, but they must provide an address in Japan - there doesn't seem to be any requirement to prove it or show ID, but you may be asked anyway - your address is on your ARC (for foreign residents only), health insurance card or Japanese driving licence, or juki card (available also for foreign residents after July).

Neither on my passport address isn't printed: I just filled all the fields of the form to obtain the shop card, including my home address.