Emerging in the early 2000s, Japan’s maid cafés, where waitresses in French maid’s costumes serve and chat with customers, were once seen as niche subculture hangouts for a mainly male clientele. But they have now evolved into a mainstream attraction and are increasingly drawing foreign visitors to Japan.

"Master, mistress -- welcome home!" exclaims the smiling young woman in a maid's costume, as customers pass through the looking glass into a unique Japanese world with oodles of quirkiness, cuteness and cake. These "maid cafes" -- inspired by the traditional maid outfit that has long been a motif in…