Long touted by Care Bears as an emotional cure-all, a hug can be a delightful day brightener. And in Tokyo there are plenty of men willing to pay for a quality hug or cuddle—to the tune of $75 an hour (and you thought lap dances were expensive). At Soineya, which literally translates to “sleep-together shop,” cuddle-deprived men can pay for the privilege of snuggling and sleeping next to an attractive woman. The café contains six cubicles stocked with queen beds, where customers can select a woman to sleep next to for up to 10 hours. Tempted to stroke the woman’s hair? That’ll cost you an extra $13. And a minute-long hug will set you back $125. If the sting of a stranger’s palm is more your thing, you can select a slap from the menu (a bargain at $13 a whack). Who ever would have thought the hug and slap industry could be so profitable? And here you've been giving away hugs for free like a chump.
*Court Burback is the author of A Coupla Shades of Taupe, a parody that has Fifty Shades of Grey fans reaching for Xanax.
