KAULA Rescue Cat Cafe & Hotel

Ginowan, Okinawa · 2.5 mi / 4.1 km

Nouvelle Vague is a rescue cat cafe and shop on the fourth floor of the Believer Building in Uchidomari, Ginowan, near the Ojana intersection on Route 58. Around 20 rescued Okinawan cats live here, and all of them are looking for adoptive families; adoption consultations are possible on any opening day. The cafe presents itself as a model room for living with cats, where visitors spend time with the cats in a home-like space with hammocks and toys. Visits are charged per 30 minutes, with lower weekday rates, and include a drink that can be swapped for cat treats; a limited number of treat sets are sold each day. Sales from the cafe and shop help pay for the cats' food and care. It also offers cat boarding. The cafe is closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays except public holidays.

• Adoptable cats

Yonabaru, Okinawa · 2.6 mi / 4.2 km

Cafe & Bar PATRA is a cafe and bar in Yonabaru, in the south of Okinawa Island, where five resident rescued cats named Patra, Mitarashi, Jiji, Debi and Anko roam among the guests. The cats are used to people and can be stroked up close, and there is no separate entry charge; visitors simply order food or drinks. Lunch is served until mid-afternoon, with plates of small side dishes and a choice of main such as shrimp, fish, hamburg steak or pineapple pork, followed by a cafe time with sweets such as pancakes and a bar menu in the evening until midnight. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays, and Thursdays are by reservation only. There are three parking spaces beside the building.

Ginowan, Okinawa · 2.7 mi / 4.3 km

Wannyan 58 is a rescue cat and Chihuahua cafe on the seventh floor of a building on Route 58 in Mashiki, Ginowan, with views of the sea. It is run by the Okinawa branch of the NPO Nyaild Heart as a donation-supported shelter cafe, and is home to around 40 rescued cats and six Chihuahuas rescued from a breeder that closed down. Cats are split between a room of livelier young cats and a room of calmer adults, and staff stay nearby to explain each animal's character. The animals are looking for new homes, but visitors who are not planning to adopt are welcome. Visits are charged per 30 minutes plus a one-drink order, and desserts are served. Socks are required and are sold on site. Take the elevator to the seventh floor; there are three parking spaces on the second floor.

• Adoptable cats

Urasoe, Okinawa · 2.7 mi / 4.4 km

NyanderLand is a small rescue cat cafe and cat hotel in a renovated detached house in the residential Gusukuma area of Urasoe. Opened in May 2024 with the aim of ending the culling of cats, it feels like visiting a relative's home, and every opening day doubles as an adoption session for its rescued cats. To keep things calm, it admits only six or seven visitors and around ten cats at a time, so booking by Instagram message or phone is recommended. Visits are charged by time from 30 minutes, and drinks and shaved ice are served. Socks are required and are sold at the door. Children are welcome with a guardian, but chasing or forcing cats into a hug is not allowed. The house is barrier-free and accessible by wheelchair, and there are four parking spaces. Hours can change when cats are unwell.

• Adoptable cats

Nanjo, Okinawa · 3.5 mi / 5.7 km

Cafe Surin, located at 527-1 Furutaka, Ōzato, Nanjo City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, is a distinctive cat cafe where visitors can enjoy meals and drinks while observing two majestic serval cats, Joka and Rurusu, in a custom-built glass enclosure. Unlike typical cat cafes, Surin focuses on these exotic African servals, known for their striking spotted coats and agility, offering a rare up-close experience without direct interaction due to their wild nature. The cafe is housed in a former storage garage transformed through a year-long DIY effort by its cat-loving staff, and boasts a modern, cozy interior. The menu features homemade dishes like simmered hamburgers and garlic shrimp, alongside seasonal bento boxes and special hors d'oeuvres. Surin also offers farm-fresh eggs from its on-site Surin Farm, adding a unique local touch to this feline-focused retreat.

• Booking recommended

Naha, Okinawa · 4.1 mi / 6.6 km

Nekomaru Chaya is a rescue cat cafe on the fifth floor of a building on Kokusai-dori in Makishi, Naha, about 4 minutes on foot from Makishi Station on the Yui Rail. Running since 2017, it is home to a large group of rescued Okinawan cats, many of them looking for adoptive families, and it works to improve conditions for the island's stray cats. Visits are charged by length of stay, from 30 minutes up to 90 minutes, with daytime and all-day packs for longer stays; prices are higher on weekends and holidays. Socks are required and can be bought on site, and hands are washed and disinfected before entering. Young elementary school children need an accompanying adult. The cafe also serves sweets such as cat-shaped pancakes, and it can be booked for private parties. Last entry is one hour before closing, and closing days are irregular.

• Adoptable cats