Inside the bizarre world of renting a ‘girlfriend or boyfriend’ in Japan – and the surprising rules on fake dates

By ESTHER MARSHALL

Published: 08:17 BST, 24 April 2025 | Updated: 08:17 BST, 24 April 2025

From heated toilets to the world’s smallest escalator, Japan is known for quirky innovations. 

But perhaps one of its most bizarre offerings is its girlfriend-rental service. 

Residents and holidaymakers can pay a fee to rent a girlfriend for a date – with an equivalent boyfriend service also available. 

On Tokyo Rent-Kano.net, which describes itself as the ‘No.1 girlfriend rental’ service in Japan, there are more than 300 girls available to book. 

The website states that all of the girlfriends available can speak English. 

One of the girls listed is described as a ‘wonderful beauty’ who ‘laughs a lot’ and is ‘fun to talk to’. 

But keen daters do need to follow some rules if they use the service. The site warns that it is only offering a ‘rental girlfriend’ experience and explains that it is not a ‘dating site’ with no real romance involved. 

It adds that if any ‘attempt at kissing’ is made on the date, the meeting will be cancelled immediately. 

On Tokyo Rent-Kano.net , which describes itself as the ‘No.1 girlfriend rental’ service in Japan , there are more than 300 girls available to book

The website states that all of the girlfriends available can speak English. One of the girls listed is described as a ‘wonderful beauty’ who ‘laughs a lot’ and is ‘fun to talk to’

Dates aren’t allowed to take place in internet cafes or hotel rooms while dates in a car require prior permission. 

And the service doesn’t come cheap. The minimum length of time for a date is two hours with prices starting at 12,000 yen/£63/$84. 

Optional extras include a ferris wheel ride which costs 3,000 yen/£15/$21 or the ability to hold hands with the date which costs 5,000 yen/£26/$35.

Renters can also request that their date wears a miniskirt for 5,000 yen/£26/$35 or makes them a lunch box (5,000 yen/£26/$35). 

However, those that go for the hand-holding option will need to be aware they are only allowed to do so while walking.  

TikToker @harryjaggardtravel shared his experience of renting a $400/£301 girlfriend on his account. 

Harry picks a girl named Eri to date. Her bio explains that she’s ‘shallow’ and ‘always smiles’ and adds that most of her conversations ‘end in laughter’. 

While Harry isn’t sure about Eri describing herself as ‘shallow’, he opts to book the date anyway. 

The girlfriend and boyfriend rental services are popular in Japan where renters can pay extra to hold hands, go in a car or ride a ferris wheel

The minimum length of time for a date is two hours with prices starting at 12,000 yen/£63/$84

On the date, Eri explains that she’s been offering the girlfriend service for three years and is studying for her Masters. 

The pair visit an animal cafe together where they’re able to hold guinea pigs and rabbits. 

They later go out to eat a waygu steak restaurant and Eri asks Harry to give her an English name. He chooses the name ‘Emily’. 

At the end of their date, Harry asks Eri if she would go on a second date with him without him paying her. 

She reveals that she would go on a second date with him without needing payment.  

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Inside the bizarre world of renting a ‘girlfriend or boyfriend’ in Japan – and the surprising rules on fake dates

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