A quick guide to Japan’s rental romance agencies

Koikano’s angle is soft and gentle, like something built for people who want to breathe a little. Their answers make it clear they’re not pushing some dramatic ‘fall in love’ fantasy. It’s more like: you’re tired, you want a calm day, you want conversation that doesn’t come with expectations.

First-timers are encouraged to keep it simple (café, walk, low-stakes plans), and they’re big on the idea that you don’t need to be good at talking to benefit from the service.

Koikano also gets used a lot by travellers, not as a tour guide thing, but as a ‘someone to explore Japan with’, especially if you’re nervous about language or being alone. They frame it as a safe, rules-first service, and they really lean into matching based on the kind of time you want, not just looks.

Cast pick: Alice Onizuka 
We went out with Alice, and she was exactly what you’d want for a first experience. Honestly, she looked exactly like the idea of a ‘cute girlfriend’ turned into a person. Sweet, a little shy, but with this excited, bouncy energy that keeps the whole date feeling light. Her English is fluent, and the vibe wasn’t awkward or overly performed. Alice isn’t her legal name, but she didn’t hide behind a character either. It felt like she was bringing her real energy into a clearly defined role, which is kind of the whole point when people think these services must be fake or with some ulterior up-selling motive. She’s been doing rental girlfriend work for about a year, and she came across as warm and easy to spend time with. If you’re curious about rental romance, she’s a solid recommendation for first timers.

WarmRelation has a broader idea of what ‘rental boyfriend’ can mean. Their answers don’t lock you into one fantasy. For one person, it’s a boyfriend-style date. For someone else, it’s a friend, a listener, a confidence reset, or even someone with life experience who can give actual advice. They also push the ‘let’s go places you wouldn’t go alone’ use case hard, and they’re one of the only agencies that really talks about building plans around a cast member’s strengths.

The vibe is less idol-style perfection, more personality and human warmth. They also mention tour-guide style support and local area hosting, so it can double as a companion service for travel days. And unlike some agencies that keep it vague, they address misconceptions head-on and keep things framed as a rules-based, respectful service.

Cast pick: Kento Okura
Kento Okura is the kind of rental boyfriend who makes you understand why this industry exists. He usually wears a kimono as his professional uniform, and the energy matches: confident, fun, well-spoken, and he speaks English too. He told us straight up that he’ll do almost anything someone asks – in case anyone wants to go sky diving. He’s climbed a mountain for a date, and his dream rental date is getting invited overseas. 

He’s been doing rental boyfriend work for four months, and it’s secondary to his main job in education (he used to be a pilot, too). Kento is genuinely worried people are replacing real connection with AI relationships, and he sees this work as a way to help people feel like they have someone to talk to, especially in Japan where opening up can feel harder without a ‘social role’ setting the tone. He’s also fully comfortable being an LGBTQ+ partner if that’s what someone wants, and he gives a ‘real deal’ experience.

Cattleya reads like the quiet ‘high-standard’ option. Their whole emphasis is on comfort: no forced excitement, no big theatrics, just a date where conversation and even silence can feel normal. They talk about the service as something people use when they want to step out of their usual roles (work stress, social pressure, that constant need to perform), and they also point out how it overlaps with modern oshi culture for some clients, where choosing your favourite cast member becomes part of the enjoyment.

Their recommended first date plans are simple and spacious (café, walking, light activities), because the goal isn’t to distract you – it’s to make it easy to exist with someone for a few hours. They also stress boundaries clearly, and position the service as a ‘safe option’ for people who want connection without the mess of real-life expectations.

Rent-Kano is the industry heavyweight. Big network, nationwide reach, standardised system, quick support and a clear promise that even beginners won’t get lost. Their most common use cases are super practical: your plus-one cancels on a concert or event, you want someone to come with you to a place that feels awkward solo, you’re travelling and want a companion to explore with, or you’re on a business trip and you’re tired of eating alone.

They even mention people using their service for dating practice and relationship advice, which is a recurring theme across these offerings. Casting-wise, they don’t pretend it’s an actor roster, and they say most of their cast is not trained performers, which makes the dates feel more like normal hangouts. Also, they’re extremely strict about what this is and isn’t: it’s a date companion service, and anything physical (even hugs/kisses) is off the table. Also worth noting: the Rent-Kano world isn’t only girlfriends – there’s a linked rental boyfriend side too.