The Japanese seem to love everything cute and fuzzy but apparently their tiny apartments don't usually allow pets. So they've adapted by opening cafes for cat lovers. Cat Cafes are probably one of the coolest things about living in Japan. Many Japanese apartments are also one-room large, and therefore do not have a designated living room area.
Cat cafés are trending in Japan right now. As the name suggests, these are coffee shops where cat lovers go to sip overpriced lattes and hang out with an adorable smoosh pile of kitties. In the past five years, exactly 79 such cafés have popped up all over Japan.
[youtube height=”500″ width=”800″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_PTiL6Zwfo[/youtube]
Most Japanese rental apartments prohibit pets. The only ones that allow them are condominium apartments for families. This means that young, single-dwelling workers in their 20s and 30s can’t even think about getting any pets, despite the fact that they’re stressed out and are seeking comfort and companionship of some kind
The world's first cat café, "Cat Flower Garden", opened its doors in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1998. The Taiwanese cat café eventually became a tourist destination, attracting tourists from Japan as well as all over the globe. Though the origin of cat café is in Taiwan, the concept blossomed in Japan, where the first one named "Neko no Jikan" was opened in Osaka in 2004.
Due to the Japan's land size and population, many residents live in small apartments or condominiums which do not allow pets, making a cat café a very popular destination for young workers looking for the companionship and comfort offered. Tokyo's first cat café, named "Neko no mise" (Shop of Cats), opened in 2005. After this, the popularity of cat cafés boomed in Japan. From 2005 to 2010, 79 cat cafés opened across the country.
[youtube height=”500″ width=”800″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1EddNCr4zI[/youtube]
Tokyo being home to 58 cat cafés as of 2015. The first was Cat's Store (猫の店 Neko no Mise?), by Norimasa Hanada, which opened in 2005. The popularity of cat cafés in Japan is attributed to many apartments forbidding pets, and to cats providing relaxing companionship in what may otherwise be a stressful and lonesome urban life. Other forms of pet rental, such as rabbit cafés, are also common in Japan.
There are various types of cat café in Japan. Some feature specific categories of cat such as black cats, fat cats, rare breed cats or ex-stray cats. Every cat café in Japan is required to obtain a license and comply with the strict requirements and regulations of the nation's Animal Treatment and Protection Law.
Japanese cat cafés feature strict rules to ensure cleanliness and animal welfare, in particular seeking to ensure that the cats are not disturbed by excessive and unwanted attention, such as by young children or when sleeping. Many cat cafés also seek to raise awareness of cat welfare issues, such as abandoned and stray cats and many often have cats from local animal shelters to help them lose any fear of humans and advertise them for possible adoption.
From 2012 the cats could be displayed until 8pm, but in 2016 the guidelines of the environment ministry state that they may visit and play with customers until 10pm. One café in Tokyo added goats as a way of having a unique element.
[youtube height=”500″ width=”800″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIsInb2geaQ[/youtube]
we’ve have found a list of a dozen cat cafés around Tokyo, so even if you don’t have a furry face waiting for you at home, you can still enjoy some time with kitties.
1. Nyafe Melange (ニャフェ・メランジエ）
Overlooking the bustling streets of Shibuya, this café is home to 23 cats that enjoy lounging on their specially-made wall perches.
Address: 1-7-13 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku
東京都渋谷区恵比寿1-7-13
Open 12:00 to 20:00 (Sun – Thurs), 12:00 to 21:00 (Fri – Sat)
Phone: 03-5449-4024
2. Hapi Neko (ハピ猫)
A beautiful café with a large open window and interior that makes you feel right in your own living room. This café is home to 16 cats and even has its own manga dedicated to the shop’s occupants.
Address: 2-28-3 Dōgenzaka, Shibuya-ku
東京都渋谷区道玄坂2-28-3
Open 11:00 to 22:00
Phone: 03-3770-1328
3. Cat Cafe Kyariko Shinjuku (猫カフェ きゃりこ 新宿店)
If you want to be surrounded by felines, this is the place to go. You’ll never be lonely amongst the shop’s 50 cats.
Address: 1-16-2 Kabukichō, Shinjuku-ku
新宿区歌舞伎町1-16-2
Open 10:00 to 22:00
Phone: 03-6457-6387
Website
4. Cat Cafe Nekorobi (Cat Cafe ねころび)
You’ll get to know the cats at Nekorobi really well. Each feline has their own extensive online and in-store profiles including baby pictures, head shots, and videos.
Address: 1-1 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku
東京都豊島区東池袋1-28-1
Open 11:00 to 22:00
Phone: 03-6228-0646
5. The rest area where cats are 229 (猫の居る休憩所２９９)
As the name implies, you’ll be able to relax while you pet a kitty at this café. With complementary slippers for each guest and plenty of comfy couches, your stress is sure to melt away at “The rest area where cats are.”
Address: 1-23-9 Higashi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
東京都豊島区東池袋1-23-9 5F
Open 11:00 to 22:00
Phone: 03-6914-0071
6. Neko Maru Cafe (猫まるカフェ Ueno)
This cat café near the famous Ueno Park regularly updates their shop blog so you can check in with your favorite kitties from home.
Address: 7-2-2 Ueno, Taitō-ku
東京都台東区上野7-2-2
Open 11:00 to 2:00 (Mon – Fri), 10:00 to 22:00 (Sat), 10:00 to 20:00 (Sun)
Phone: 03-5826-2501
7. Temari no Ouchi (てまりのおうち Cat Cafe)
This is undoubtedly the most whimsical cat café in Tokyo. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a fairytale starring 17 cats!
Address: 2-13-14 Kichijōji Honchō, Musashino-shi
武蔵野市吉祥寺本町2-13-14 3F
Open 10:00 to 20:00
Phone: 0422-23-5503
8. Cat Cafe Kyariko Kichijoji (猫カフェ きゃりこ 吉祥寺店)
The Kichijoji branch of Cat Cafe Kyariko is just a few seconds walk from the Kichijoji Station, allowing anyone to pop on by and pet a kitty cat.
Address: 1-5-7 Kichijōji Minamichō, Musashino-shi
武蔵野市吉祥寺南町1-5-7 雪ビル4F
Open 10:00 to 22:00
Phone: 0422-29-8353
9. Neko JaLaLa (ねこ JaLaLa)
This is one snuggly café with a very unique group of cats. From huge Maine Coons to exotic Abyssinians, this is the best place to go if you want to spend time with unusual felines.
Address: 3-5-5 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku
東京都千代田区外神田3-5-5 1F
Open 11:00 to 20:00
Phone: 03-3258-2525
10. Cat Cafe nanny (猫カフェ nanny)
This Akihabara café was made to be more of a cat house than a cat café. Enjoy this cat paradise!
Address: 4-8-3 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku
東京都千代田区外神田4-8-3
Open 11:00 to 21:00
Phone: 080-4237-5310
11. Calaugh Cafe (猫カフェきゃらふ)
You can enjoy alcoholic beverages at this cat café every day starting from 6:00pm. Just don’t get too tipsy, the cats don’t like drunkards.
Address: 2-19-13 Kaminarimon, Taitō-ku
東京都台東区雷門2-19-13 浅草駅前ビル2F
Open 11:00 to 22:00
Phone: 03-6231-6050
12. Cat Cafe Asakusa Nekoen (Cat Cafe 浅草ねこ園)
Enjoy a lovely view of Tokyo Skytree from this sixth floor cat café. The furry residents seem to enjoy the view too.
Address: 3-1-1 Asakusa, Taitō-ku
東京都台東区浅草3-1-1
Open: 11:00 to 21:00
Phone: 03-3876-3813