Wonderful school festival / cultural festival

[Cafe × ____] Recommended cafe concept ideas for a school cultural festival

[Cafe × ____] Recommended cafe concept ideas for a school cultural festival

Last updated:2025/7/11

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

When setting up a booth at a school or cultural festival, a café is highly recommended.

It’s popular and you can create originality by combining various concepts.

However, when you actually start discussing what kind of café to make, you might find it surprisingly hard to come up with ideas—or you might end up with too many to choose from.

So in this article, we’ll introduce a whole range of café concepts perfect for cultural festivals.

Try launching a café with a concept that no other class or group is doing, and make sure to delight all your visitors!

[Cafe × ____] Recommended cafe concept ideas for a school culture festival (1–10)

Ghibli Café

The quality is insane! A café straight out of Hayao Miyazaki’s world. Super impactful. A must-try spot for Ghibli fans!! Go check it out.

Ghibli Café

Studio Ghibli films are loved by everyone.

From My Neighbor Totoro, which contains no depictions of conflict, to Kiki’s Delivery Service, which evokes the feel of a coming-of-age film, there’s no end to the masterpieces you could name.

How about a concept cafe themed around Ghibli films? Ponyo and Totoro cookies, a No-Face cake, drinks reminiscent of the characters from Laputa—just creating the menu would be so much fun.

Kiki’s outfit from Kiki’s Delivery Service is relatively easy to cosplay, so it’d be great if everyone could wear matching items.

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Board game cafe

In recent years, board game cafés have been skyrocketing in popularity.

Their appeal lies in the ability to choose from a wide range of board games—from two-player titles like Battle Line to party games for larger groups like One Night Werewolf—that fit the vibe of a school festival.

It might be even better to run a survey beforehand to find out what kinds of games everyone wants to play! Of course, famous games are great, but intentionally picking some lesser-known titles could be a hit too!

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Maid café

A maid café where staff members serve customers while fully acting as maids.

In Japan, especially around Akihabara, maid cafés with a variety of concepts are popular.

It could be fun to boldly try running a maid café at your school festival.

Having authentic maid outfits would be ideal, but even just adding frilly hair accessories, aprons, or bunny and cat ears can create a maid-like atmosphere.

It might also be fun to give the menu items maid café-style names like “For the Master: ___” or “Kyunkyun ___.”

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Sleep Café

It goes without saying that sleep is essential for a healthy life.

In recent years, some companies have even adopted “napping policies” that allow employees to sleep during work hours.

With that in mind, how about opening a sleep-themed cafe? Dim the room a bit, add indirect lighting, and offer relaxing beverages.

Create the quietest space possible so customers can enjoy a soothing moment… It’s a boldly experimental cafe concept that stands in striking contrast to its healing effects!

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Dagashi Cafe

In recent years, retro items have become popular, haven’t they? How about opening a dagashi cafe? A dagashi cafe is, literally, a cafe where you can enjoy dagashi—traditional Japanese penny candies and snacks.

Since each item is inexpensive, one of the appeals is that you can offer a wide variety.

Try stocking everything from classic dagashi everyone knows to lesser-known, rare finds.

To let customers enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of an old-fashioned candy shop, it could also be fun to provide games like lotteries and raffles.

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Planetarium Cafe

Japan’s first! A full-fledged planetarium opens inside an airport: “Starry Café.”

Planetarium Cafe

Why are the night skies in Hokkaido and Okinawa so beautiful, I wonder? Is it because smog gathers over big cities? If it’s a class where people who love stars get together, a planetarium café could be great.

With blackout curtains and a planetarium machine, it’s actually pretty easy to set up.

You can make the café menu star-themed, too.

For example, star-shaped cookies, crescent moon ice pops, Milky Way chiffon cake, and a “star drink” that uses tapioca pearls as little stars—anything star-related is fair game! A planetarium in an air-conditioned room is perfect for summer!

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Outdoor Cafe

Outdoor activities have now become a classic hobby.

Under the blue sky, enjoying delicious food and drinks while taking in beautiful scenery… just imagining it is amazing.

So let’s try an outdoor-themed café! Actually setting up seats outside is great, but even indoors, simply using a camping stove to boil water and serving with a Sierra cup or stainless steel mug can create a nice atmosphere.

Adding a small tent as decoration might make the concept even clearer.

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