玩偶饭友：东京“姆明咖啡屋”走红网络

Talk about creative coping mechanisms for being alone -- from the blogger who photographs selfies with his imaginary girlfriend to the company that takes your stuffed animals on vacation without you, Japan appears to be cornering the market on accommodating solo travelers.

You can now add the "anti-loneliness" Moomin House Cafe to the menagerie of "wait, what?" strokes of Japanese brilliance.

Blog posts on the cafe's concept went viral a few weeks ago. Ever since, the shop has been packed with visitors. The best time to go is a weekday morning when it's relatively quiet.

The cafe features a family of Finnish hippo-like characters called Moomins who live in Moomin Valley and embark on various adventures with their friends.

No need to scroll self-consciously on your phone while dining alone here. Moomins come around to every table, whether you're alone or in a group.

We first wrote about the Moomin House Cafe in 2017, but the cafe went viral a few weeks ago and has since been besieged with customers wanting a taste of its "anti-loneliness" magic. CNN's Yuki Arawaka paid a visit (see gallery photos) following the cafe's new surge in popularity.

To save its lone customers from the awkward perils of solo dining, the cafe kindly seats diners with stuffed animal companions called Moomins, a family of white hippo-like characters created by Finnish illustrator and writer Tove Jansson.

Moomins are brought to each table so that patrons -- solo or in groups -- can have a turn sitting with them.

Weekday mornings are the quietest time, while weekends are packed all day long.

Respecting Moomin culture

To honor the characters' heritage, Moomin House Cafe serves bread made from Finnish rye, and offers food and pastries in the form of Moomin characters.

Cafe staff say there have been long lines almost every day since its "lonely-friendly" concept went viral.

It's a long overdue turn in the spotlight -- the cafe has been open since 2003.

There are now three Moomin Cafe locations in Japan -- the Tokyo Dome location is especially popular with Dome concert goers.

Beloved for their whimsical adventures and diverse array of characters, Moomins are celebrated in their home country of Finland and anime-obsessed Japan.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of their creator, Tove Jansson, who was born in 1914 and died in 2001.

Created by Finnish illustrator and writer Tove Jansson, Moomins have developed a cult following worldwide, inspiring Moomin-themed products, shops and even a theme park in Finland. Another park is slated to open in Japan in 2017.

说到化解单身尴尬的好创意——无论是单身汉博主与虚拟女友自拍，还是旅行社带顾客的毛绒玩具去旅行，日本似乎十分重视照顾单身顾客的市场需求。

如今，日本令人惊叹的创意又多了一个——东京“姆明咖啡屋”让你不再孤独。

一个人用餐时，不必再不自然地滑动手机屏幕。餐厅贴心地在每张桌子旁摆放可爱的玩偶，无论你是单独用餐还是与一群人一起进餐。

在2017年，CNN曾报道“姆明咖啡屋”。但直到几周前，介绍咖啡屋的博客文章在网上迅速走红，这家餐厅才真正受到关注。

自那以后，慕名前往的顾客源源不断。工作日早上是去咖啡屋的最佳时段，环境相对安静些。

这家咖啡屋以芬兰卡通形象“姆明”为主题，由芬兰插画家、作家托芙·扬松（Tove Jansson）创作。外形酷似白色河马的“姆明”家族生活在姆明谷，和朋友们经历了许多奇妙历险。

尊重“姆明”文化

为了保留“姆明”文化，“姆明咖啡屋”提供用芬兰黑麦制作的面包，印有姆明图案的食物和糕点。

咖啡屋的工作人员说，自从餐厅推出的新服务在网络走红后，每天都有大量顾客排队等候。

咖啡屋在2003年开张，到了最近才一夜走红。

目前，日本共有3家“姆明咖啡店”，其中位于东京巨蛋的咖啡店特别受乐迷喜爱。

凭借天马行空的历险故事和丰富多彩的角色设计，“姆明”在芬兰和热衷动漫的日本都大受欢迎。

今年是“姆明”创作者托芙·扬松的100岁诞辰。扬松出生于1914年，于2001年去世。

“姆明”在全世界都受到热捧，拥有相关主题产品、商店，甚至在芬兰还有一家主题公园。另外一座主题公园将于2017年在日本对外开放。