A unique French pastry cafe in Memuro town, Hokkaido, is offering a free overnight service to support mothers struggling with crying babies. From 9 PM on Sunday until 6 AM the following morning, the cafe opens its doors to welcome mothers with infants who cry persistently. Owner Madoka Nozawa, 28, named this space Oyako no Koya (Parents and Children's Home). She and volunteers provide overnight childcare support and listen to mothers' concerns.

Nozawa's personal experience inspired the initiative, which the cafe launched in late October 2025. She recalled having to comfort her crying baby alone all night so her husband could sleep and be rested for work.

Inside a cafe in Tokyo. Photo: Reuters

"I wanted to create a sanctuary where mothers wouldn't feel alone", Nozawa stated.

The cafe is designed with mothers and babies in mind, offering practical amenities and a supportive environment. It features crawling mats for babies, a sleeping area, and private spaces for diaper changes and breastfeeding. A 34-year-old mother on maternity leave shared that this service helps her connect with others and reduce psychological pressure.

This innovative concept draws parallels to the online manga series "Yonakigoya" (Night Crying House), which began serialization on Japanese social media in 2023. In the manga, a cafe that only opens at night becomes a refuge for mothers exhausted from childcare. Many readers commented they would feel much more relieved if such a space existed in real life.

The manga's author, also a mother, first shared the idea on social media in 2017. The post quickly gained attention, and its creators later developed it into a serialized story. She said she still receives many sympathetic responses, indicating that the feeling of isolation during child-rearing in Japan has remained largely unchanged.

Similar cafe models to the one in Hokkaido have also appeared elsewhere. In Tokushima prefecture, a childcare support group operates two cafes. During monthly gatherings, childcare staff temporarily look after children so mothers can rest. A group representative hopes these places can become a support for families.

In Niigata, a women's community development group has also maintained a similar model once a week since July last year.

However, sustaining these overnight childcare cafe models remains a challenge. Most facilities currently operate on donations from individuals, businesses, and volunteer support. Operating costs and staffing pressure from working overnight are significant barriers.

Kaori Ichikawa, a professor specializing in postnatal care at Tokyo University of Information Sciences, believes more support is needed for these models to continue existing.

"Government support is often limited at night, on weekends, or during holidays", Ichikawa said, "public and private sectors need to collaborate to create places like night crying cafes where people can seek help whenever needed".

Mai Phuong (According to Kyodo, SCMP)