What is the Purpose of Animal Cafes in Japan?
An animal cafe, also known as a pet cafe, became a popular place lately around the world and especially more so in Japan. Japan is a town of countless animal cafe! It is the place where customers will be able to enjoy not only drinking delicious beverages but also watching or playing with adorable animals in the cafe as well.
The first animal cafe was originally created in Taiwan in 1998, and they were initially popularized in Japan. The first animal cafe in Japan was built in Osaka in 2004. Then, the animal cafe industry has become huge in the market in the last couple of years in Tokyo, Japan.
Thus, the animal cafes became one of the landmarks the same as Tokyo tower or Seijoji shrine where visitors or foreigner tourists usually like to visit once when they come to Japan. The purpose of each animal cafes are have very little difference. The main purposes of making these sort of cafes are for customers who want to spend time with animals. In the case of Japanese people, for example, some Japanese families stay in the apartment and in these facilities pets are usually not allowed or for someone who has no time and no money to afford their own pet, but they really love animal. To have a pet in Japan costs a lot of money, especially in Tokyo.
The price for a pet starts from about 200,000 yen to 300,000 yen for pure-breed animals in the pet shop. Likewise, they also have to pay for veterinarian costs such as Filariasis (tick) medication, Rabies vaccine and health checking at least once a year. The animal cafes are, as a result, suitable places for a lot of people in Japan to have some experiences with pets. Some animal cafes have a great purpose which is that they want to help abandoned or lost animals. Those animal cafes help those animals by providing home, delicious food and opportunity to be adopted by customers who visit the cafe.
There are many types of animal cafes around Japan. The different types of animal cafes and necessary pieces of information on the animal cafe in Japan are provided in this article.
Cat Cafe
One of the most common animal cafes is the ‘Cat cafe’. There are many types of cats you will be able to find when you visit a cat cafe. Most of the cat cafe separates the play area and regular area for customers. The customers can play with the cat at the play area or feed the cats some food. In addition, the customer will be able to enjoy a beverage or have food in the regular area.
Based on my experience, cats also stay in the regular area and play with customers! It is so adorable! The cat workers take care of their customers during the opening hours. The cats love customers when they get food which you have to pay extra (around 500 yen). When customers buy food for them, most of the cat will suddenly gather in the feeding area. They will come closer to the customers and some of them will even climb the customers’ legs and beg for food. I recommend everyone to try this event, you will be such a popular person among the adorable cats! However, after you run out of food, the cats will go away as well.
Here Are Some Cat Cafes I Would Recommend Below:
*Note that the working hours could be changed due to situation of COVID-19
MoCHA
The shop has a meal time for the cats which are 10.30 AM and 7.30 PM. You will be able to see a lot of cats gathering to have a delicious meal.
Where to Find a MoCha? Plus Other Info
There are many branches for this cat cafe brand not only in Tokyo but also Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyokuto as well. Please check the place and direction from their websites.
Service Hour depends on the branches, please check it from their website below in order to make a plan to visit the adorable cats.
Costs
The price starts from 200 yen per 10 minutes up to 2,400 yen (for adult) and 1,200 yen (for Junior high school or High school students)
The beverage (all-you-can-drink) costs 350 yen.
Cat treats cost 500 yen per dish
Website http://catmocha.jp/ English and Japanese are available.
MONTA
Address
8F Satellite Fuji Building 1-5-2 Hanakawado, Taito, Tokyo
Access 1-minute walk from Asakusa station
Service Hour
11.00 AM until 9.00 PM except Sunday will be closed at 8.00 PM. Cafe is closed in every Tuesday
Cost
The price starts from 20 yen per 10 minutes up to 2,000 yen (in weekdays) and 3,000 yen (in weekends and holidays)
Cat food is 300 yen per dish
Website http://cafe-monta.jugem.jp/ English and Japanese are available.
ねころび (ne ko ro bi) Cat Cafe
Address
3rd-floor Tact T.O Building Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toyoshima-ku, Tokyo
Access 10 minutes walk from Ikebukuro Station
Service Hour
Weekday 11.00 AM until 10.00 PM, Weekends and holiday 11.00 AM until 10.00 PM
The cafe is closed in New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Holidays
Cost
The price starts from 800 yen for 30 minutes (during weekdays) and 900 yen (during weekends)
Website http://www.nekorobi.jp/ English, Japanese and Chinese are available.
てまりのおうち (te ma ri no o u chi) Cat Cafe
In this Cafe, the feeding time for cats usually starts around 6.00 PM to 7.00 PM. Please carefully plan your visiting time so you will be able to see every cat in this cafe gathering for food.
Address
Musashi Forum III 3rd floor 2-13-14 Musashino city Kichijoji, Honcho, Tokyo
Access 5 minutes walk from Kichijoji Station North Exit
Service Hour
10.00 AM until 9.00 PM
Cost
Cat snack costs 320 yen
Website http://www.temarinoouchi.com/ Only Japanese is available.
Jalala Cat Cafe
Address
1st Floor 3-5-5 Soto Kanda, Chiyoda , Tokyo
Access 10 minutes walk from Akihabara Station
Service Time
Hosu 11.00 AM until 8.00 PM Last order 7.30 PM
Cost
The price starts from 550 yen for 30 minutes (during weekdays) and 650 yen (during weekends and holidays)
Website http://www.nekojalala.com/ Only Japanese is available.
Cateriam
Address
Mont Blanc Building 2-6-6 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Access 1 minute from Shimo-Kitazawa Station South exit
Service Hours
11.00 AM until 9.00 PM during weekdays and 10.00 AM until 9.30 PM during weekends. The cafe is closed every Monday.
Cost
The price starts from 300 yen for 15 minutes
The beverage (all-you-can-drink) costs 200 yen (during weekdays) and 250 yen (during weekends and national holidays)
Website Only https://www.cateriam.com/ Japanese is available.
Dog Cafe
Dog cafe is another common animal cafe which can be easily found. There are many species of dogs that you will be able to find when you visit a dog cafe. The characteristic of dogs is different from cats. Thus, dog cafe is more clamorous, more lively and high energetic.
Cafe+Bar A+
Address
3-4-10 Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo
Access 8 minutes walk from Asakusa Station and 15 minutes walk from Tokyo Sky Tree
Service Hour
3.00 pm until Midnight. The cafe is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday.
Costs
Meal’s prices start from 820 yen
Dog food costs 150 yen
Website http://cafebar-a-plus.com/ Only Japanese is available.
Cafe Russ Kich
Address
6-24-11 Fukasawa, Setagaya, Tokyo
Service Hour
8.30 AM until 7.00 PM. The cafe is closed every Tuesday.
Cost
Beverages start from 400 yen and 400 yen is a starting price for a light meal in this cafe.
Dog food costs 420 yen
Website https://russ-kich.wixsite.com/russ-kich Only Japanese is available.
Rabbit Cafe
Rabbit, one of the most fluffy pet there is, generally is not a wandering animal same as cats or dogs. If you want a place for reading a book or taking a rest in a quiet place and in addition want to enjoy this with an animal, I recommend you to visit a rabbit cafe.
Ms.Bunny
Address
Iwabori Building 3F 6-7-2, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Access 1 minute walk from Roppongi station
Service Hour
11.00 AM unit 7.00 PM
Cost
The price starts at 1,400 yen per 30 minutes
Website http://harinezumi-cafe.com/msbunny/ English and Japanese are available.
Moff-Rell
Address
2F 4-8-3 Sotokanda Chiyoda-ku Tokyo
Access 4 minutes walk from Akihabara Station
Service Hour
12.00 PM until 9.00 PM The cafe is closed every Monday or Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday.
Cost
The price starts from 1,100 yen for 30 minutes (including beverages and rabbit food)
Website http://moff-rell.com/ English and Japanese are available.
Hedgehog Cafe
Hedgehog cafe is another popular animal cafe in Japan where you should visit once. Hedgehog in Japanese is ハリネズミ (Ha ri ne zu mi) Hari means needle whereas Nezumi means mouse.
HARRY
Address
There are 4 branches around Tokyo, Japan.
Roppongi 6-7-2, 3rd-floor Iwahori Building, Minato-ku Tokyo
Yokohama 103-3 M’sPort 2F Naka-ku, Yamashita-cho, Yokohama, Kanagawa
Harajuku 1-13-21 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku Tokyo
Harajuku Terrace 4-26-5 Zinguumae 426 3rd floors, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Service Hour
11.00 AM until 7.00 PM
Cost
The price starts from 1,400 yen for 30 minutes
Website http://harinezumi-cafe.com/ English and Japanese are available.
ちくちく(chi ku chi ku) Hedgehog Home and Cafe
Address
Daikyo Shibuya Building 2nd floor 1-13-5 Shibuya Shibuya-ku Tokyo
Access with a 2 minutes walk from Shibuya station
Cost
The price starts at 1,400 yen for 30 minutes
Service Hour
11.00 AM until 7.00 PM
Hedgehog’s food costs 400 yen
Website https://hedgehoghome.cafe/ English and Japanese are available.
Otter Cafe
Otter cafe is really rare pet cafe in Japan. However, I would suggest you visit it once just for the opportunity of gaining an unforgettable experience.
HARRY
Address
Zinguumae 426 3rd floor 1-13-21, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Access 2 minutes walk from Harajuku Station
Service Hour
11.00 AM until 7.00 PM
Cost
The price starts at 1,500 yen for 30 minutes
Website http://harinezumi-cafe.com/ English and Japanese are available.
Owl Cafe
Akiba Fukurou Cafe
I recommend that you make a reservation before visiting this owl cafe. This owl cafe is popular among teenagers and office lady especially during the weekends or national holidays. After entering this owl cafe, a staff member will guide you on how to play with owl and rules for the cafe. Besides, they show you every owl family in the website. Please make sure to confirm the braking time for each owl. Based on my experience, I really wanted to take photos with MR.PRESIDENT, but when I visited there it was MR.PRESIDENT’s breaking time. Thus, this cafe allows you to stay inside the cafe for 1 hour. Before you leave, they will give you a free special gift.
Address
67, Neribeicho, Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access 4 minutes walk from Akihabara station
Service Hour
12.00 PM until 7.00 PM This cafe will be closed every Tuesday.
Cost
2,000 yen for 1 hour
Website http://akiba2960.com/ Japanese and English are available.
Owl Park in Ikebukuro
Address
3-30-11 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Access 5 minutes walk from Ikebukuro station
Service hour
11.00 AM until 8.00 PM
Cost
The price starts from 1,000 yen (for Junior High School/High School Students) and 1,200 yen (for Adults)
Website https://www.owlpark.tokyo/ Only Japanese is available.
Owwl Nest Cafe
Address
Yasutomi building 3rd floor 4-5-11, Taito-ku, Ueno, Tokyo
Access 2 minutes walk from Okachimachi station, 3 minutes walk from Ueno station, 5 minutes walk from Yushima Station and 5 minutes walk from Nakaocachimachi station
Service Hour
Weekdays 1.00 PM until 7.00 PM Weekends from 12.00 PM until 8.00 PM. However, the business hour will be changed during New year, please carefully check it from their website before making a plan.
Cost
The price starts from 800 yen (children) and 1,000 yen (adult) during weekdays, 1,000 yen (children) and 1,500 yen (adult) during the weekends. This price already includes a free beverage.
Website https://owlnestcafe.com English, Japanese, and Chinese are available.
Ikefukurou Cafe
Address
1-17-1 Sakimoto Building 6th Floor Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo
Access 1-minute walk from Ikebukuro station
Service Hour
Weekdays 1.00 PM until 8.00 PM (during 5.00 PM to 6.00 PM is a break) Weekends 12.00 PM until 7.00 PM
Cost
The price starts from 1,400 yen in weekdays and 1,600 yen on the weekends.
Website https://www.ikefukuroucofe.com/ English and Japanese are available.
Tori No Iru Cafe
Address
Ooyama Building B1 floor 1-2-8, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Access 4 minutes walk from Asakusa station and 3 minutes walk from Tahara-cho station
Service Hour
11.00 AM until 7.00 PM
Cost
All day visiting costs 1,500 yen
Website https://toricafe.co.jp/ English, Japanese and Chinese is available.
Are The Animal cafes in Japan Humane?
According to my survey, I have found that almost all, if not all, the animal cafe in Japan is humane. Every staff in each cafe takes care of the animals and always keeps an eye on every animal and customers. Likewise, before customers entering the cafe, staffs clearly explained how to play with animal and important rules to customers.
Should There Be Animal Cafes in Japan? or Are they Inhumane for The Animal?
I believe that animal cafes can help both humans and animals. As I describe in the first part of this article that some cafe opens an animal cafe because they want to find an adoptive family for the animals, and also so human can have an adorable pet as their friend. Having a pet in Japan may be difficult to afford for some people because they may not have time or they may not have enough money. Thus, an animal cafe is another choice to answer these people’s prayers
Ferinmi / Thailand
