Haru Cafe: How Tokyo-Style Pop-Ups Attract Global Staff

When most coffee shops stick to one location and a steady schedule, one pop-up in Singapore shows up just four times a year — and still draws crowds. But that’s not even the strangest part: last August, the mostly foreign staff were dressed in Japanese yukata robes, some of them teens speaking accented English, greeting guests at a youth centre.

Haru Cafe is a temporary Japanese-themed pop-up that appears roughly every two to three months. Since October of the previous year, it has only operated four times, including a summer-themed event on August 14th at *SCAPE’s fifth floor, where most servers — many of whom were young Westerners in yukata — drew local fans.

What Is Haru Cafe?

Haru Cafe is the brainchild of 31-year-old Singaporean businesswoman Xie Peipei, who runs a Japanese goods shop. The concept brings together around 18 servers — only one of whom is local — hailing from countries like Belgium, Britain, Sweden, Australia and Japan. The main attraction? Foreign students dressing up in yukata or other Japanese attire to entertain customers, mainly targeting local Japanophiles.

Why Do They Dress Up?

The summer event on August 14th revolved around a festival theme, encouraging both staff and customers to wear traditional Japanese dress. Many local attendees arrived in yukata and geta (Japanese wooden sandals), while foreign servers — including 16-year-olds Anthony (Belgium), Edward (Britain) and 14-year-old Jason — wore yukata throughout their shifts. Most of the teens are from the Overseas Family School. While not deeply familiar with Japanese culture, they signed up for the fun, social experience.

How Do You Get Hired?

Working at Haru Cafe isn’t as simple as walking in. Prospective servers go through interviews and photo tests to determine if they’re camera-friendly and sociable. The part-time role is relatively undemanding: the cafe is only open for about six hours per pop-up, happening once every couple of months. “It’s more like a learning experience than a job,” said Anthony. Jason and Edward are regulars; Jason was trying it for the first time.

What’s On Offer?

Patrons can enjoy a variety of Japanese snacks, fruits, noodles and green tea drinks. The menu doesn’t focus on coffee — this is a themed food and atmosphere experience. Guests are invited to take photos with the costumed staff or join in cardboard games. Entry costs 15 Singapore dollars, which can be used to purchase food or goods. Tickets must be booked in advance.

What Did Customers Think?

First-timer He Zelian, a 28-year-old technician, said he and three friends donned yukata after seeing the event on Facebook. “The concept is fun and unique. It’s a great way to interact with other Japan fans,” he noted. 15-year-old student Shen Yiting said she liked watching the foreign servers, calling them “good-looking.” However, two Indonesian students, Hao Lingxuan and Liang Huixian, criticised the service as disorganised, citing slow food service and plain decor.

Behind the Scenes

Xie Peipei, the organiser, admitted that shifting from a previous maid-cafe theme to a summer festival caused some logistical hiccups. She and her team are working to refine the concept, aiming to build a better community hub for Japanese culture fans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Haru Cafe located?

Haru Cafe is a pop-up that has appeared at locations such as *SCAPE’s fifth floor in Singapore. It does not have a permanent address, showing up roughly every two to three months.

How often does Haru Cafe open?

Since October of the previous year, Haru Cafe has operated only four times, typically every two to three months. The most recent event was on August 14th.

Who works at Haru Cafe?

Out of around 18 servers, only one is Singaporean. The rest come from countries including Belgium, Britain, Sweden, Australia and Japan. Many are young international students.

What do they serve at Haru Cafe?

Haru Cafe offers Japanese snacks, fruits, noodles and green tea drinks. It is not primarily a coffee shop, but rather a food and cultural experience pop-up.

How much does it cost to enter?

Admission is 15 Singapore dollars, which acts as a credit for food or merchandise. Entry tickets must be reserved in advance.

Do you need to wear a yukata to visit?

No, wearing a yukata is optional. Many customers wore traditional dress to match the summer festival theme, but it is not required.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Yukata-Themed Cafés

For a café like Haru Cafe, where aesthetic and taste balance is key, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera – a bright, floral Ethiopian offering notes of jasmine and citrus, ideal alongside Japanese sweets. The Yirgacheffe is another excellent choice, with delicate berry and stone fruit tones that pair well with light teas and mochi. For something richer but still clean, the FrontStreet Classic Blend provides chocolatey depth without overpowering delicate flavours. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.