A Wild Tour Of Tokyo's Animal Cafs

As people get busier and homes get smaller, the appealing alternative to pet — animal cafés — become more and more popular. Cat cafés are beginning to spring up in Europe and North America, but Tokyo is already ahead of the game once again, innovating the industry with new ways to interact with the animals. From bunny theme parks to reptiles with lunch, tour Tokyo’s wildest animal cafés.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Temari no Ouchi

Monday – Sunday 10 AM to 9 PM

Temari no Ouchi is nestled in the popular Kichijoji neighborhood. This café is decorated like a feline fairy tale, perhaps inspired by the nearby Ghibli Museum. The cats here are well taken care of: there’s lots of room for them to roam, and safe spots for them to escape when they tire of petting.

Cover charge: ¥1,200 weekday/hour, ¥1,600 on weekends, ¥700 after 7 PM

MoCHA Shibuya

Monday – Sunday 10 AM to 10 PM

Another cat café, MoCHA Shibuya covers occupies two floors and has plenty of seating so it never feels crowded. The interior was designed with the cats in mind, so they have tons of places to run, play, and hide. In addition to snacks and drinks for people, MoCHA sells treats for patrons to feed the cats.

Cover charge: ¥200/10 minutes

Dog Heart from Aquamarine

11 AM to 7 PM daily

Near Yoyogi Park, Dog Heart is a café for dog lovers. The dogs are all friendly, small to medium-sized breeds eager for attention. In addition to quality time with the dogs indoors, Dog Heart allows visitors to rent a dog for a walk in the nearby park for an hour for a ¥3,600 fee.

Cover charge: ¥950/30 mins ¥1,550/1 hour

Kotori Cafe Omotesando

Monday – Sunday 11 AM to 7 PM (closed 3rd Monday of every month)

Kotori Cafe is more of a bird-themed café than a petting zoo. Birds are set up around the venue, but are safely tucked away in their cages – there’s no need to worry about finding a surprise in your teacup. One-on-one petting sessions are available for a small fee, however (¥500), so bird lovers can get up close and personal if they choose.

Fukurou Sabou Owl Cafe

11 AM to 5 PM Monday – Friday, 6 PM on weekends (closed Tuesdays)

Fukurou Sabou is another owl café. This small establishment allows diners to get a little closer to the animals. Patrons can choose the owl they would like to meet, and the animal is perched on their arm and shoulder over protective padding for a pet and a photo session.

Fee: ¥300 to ¥1,000, plus mandatory drink starting at ¥500

Tokyo Snake Center (or Cafe & Snake)

11 AM to 8 PM (Closed Tuesdays)

Tokyo Snake Center in Harajuku gives you the option to have a snake as your dining partner. Pay the entry fee, choose your refreshments and, of course, the snake you’d like to hang out with. The reptile is kept safe in its transparent housing for the duration of the visit, but patrons can choose to hold the snake for an additional fee.

Cover charge: ¥1,000 (incl one drink)

Sakuragaoka Cafe

11:30 AM to 4 AM (Midnight on Sundays)

This unusual café in the heart of Shibuya will have you spending the lunch hour in the company of a couple of goats. The goats, called Sakura and Chocolat, live in a pen at the front. They are outgoing and will cheerfully come to the edge of their enclosure to greet guests. The café is quite spacious besides, and a decent place for lunch even without the fuzzy mascots.