Cat Cafes in Japan

Takayama, Gifu

Neko ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌⁠no Tsuki Sakurayama is a rescue cat cafe in a 130-year-old townhouse in Takayama's preserved old town, about a minute on foot from the Hachimangu-mae stop of the town loop bus and five minutes by car from Takayama Station. About 20 cats rescued by the local NPO Mofukko Hida live here until they find permanent homes, so every opening day works as an adoption event. The cafe space has no cats and serves drinks only, including lattes made with Hida milk, so visitors who are not comfortable with cats can come in too. No reservation is needed and visitors are seated in order of arrival. Socks are required in the cat rooms, and children must be at least six, with a guardian for elementary school children. The last entry is at 4:30 PM and it is closed on Mondays. Holiday lodging is also offered in the same old house.

• Adoptable cats
• Walk-ins welcome

Takayama, Gifu

Nyan ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​⁠Living is an open rescue cat shelter in Nishinoisshiki, on the western side of Takayama, where visitors can play with cats that are waiting for adoptive families. Run with the cooperation of local animal welfare groups, it is housed in a renovated old home designed to feel like a living room, with catwalks made from reused beams, natural wood cat towers, a cat rope bridge and clear ceiling panels where paws can be seen from below. Kittens and adult cats live here, and more than 140 cats have been adopted so far. Entry is charged per 30 minutes and goes towards the cats' living costs. There is an eating area where visitors may bring their own food, and free Wi-Fi makes it usable as a workspace or a rest stop while travelling. It opens daily with occasional days off.

• Adoptable cats

Takayama, Gifu

Mofu ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​⁠Katze is the rescue cat shelter and dog and cat advice room of the NPO Mofukko Hida in Midorigaoka, Takayama. Many rescued cats waiting for permanent families live here, and the shelter is open to visitors who want to spend relaxed time with them, so every opening day works as an adoption event. Visitors can also see practical examples of how to set up a home for cats, and get advice on keeping and adopting pets, which is easier with a booking. A contribution towards running the shelter is requested. Opening hours may change at short notice because of rescue work, and visits outside the regular hours can be arranged by contacting the group. It is closed on Tuesdays and Fridays, and there is parking. The same NPO supplies the cats at the Neko no Tsuki Sakurayama cafe in the old town.

• Adoptable cats
• Booking recommended

Hida, Gifu

SAVE ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​⁠THE CAT HIDA is a Neco Republic rescue shelter in central Hida-Furukawa, close to Hida City Hall. Set up with the help of Hida's hometown tax donations, it takes in cats from the Hida region, with a hospice section for elderly and sick cats, and rehomes them. Cats that have finished quarantine live in an open free space with plenty of catwalks and steps, and visitors can go in and interact with them for a small donation per person on entry. Most of the cats are adults and the atmosphere is calm. An attached shop sells Hida souvenirs in cat packaging, such as ramen, coffee and rice crackers, with profits going to the cats. The shelter also runs Nekokura no Yado, a guest house on the same site where guests can visit the cats. It opens every afternoon, with irregular days off.

• Adoptable cats
• Booking recommended

Toki, Gifu

ANELLA ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​⁠CAFE Gifu Toki is a rescue dog and cat cafe in Hidaasano, Toki, opened in spring 2026 as part of the ANELLA group, one of Japan's largest animal rescue organisations, which funds its work through its cafes and grooming salons rather than donations. Visitors spend time with rescued dogs and cats that are waiting for new families, and adoptions are arranged through ANELLA's own process. The cafe area focuses on the dogs, but cats share the space and are friendly with visitors. Visits are charged per 30 minutes with 15-minute extensions and include free drinks, with reduced rates for children, seniors and visitors with disabilities, and preschool children enter free. No reservation is needed. The cafe is open every day and also offers grooming, pet boarding and dog day care. It doubles as a welfare workplace for people with disabilities. There is parking for about 10 cars.

• Adoptable cats

Yokkaichi

Hogo ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌⁠Neko Cafe Neko no Mori is a rescue cat cafe in Nakagawara, Yokkaichi, set up and run by a local spay and neuter clinic and Koma Animal Hospital. The building is finished in plaster and natural wood, and a cypress trunk in the middle of the room serves as a cat tower. The cats are rescues, many from trap-neuter-return work, and those looking for homes can be adopted. Visits are fully booked in advance online or by phone in the morning, in 40-minute sessions starting on the hour for up to eight people, so the cats get a 20-minute rest each hour. The entry fee is per person and includes a welcome drink from a vending machine; no food is served. Elementary school children must come with an adult, and preschool children are not admitted. The cafe is closed on Mondays and Thursdays unless they fall on a holiday.

• Adoptable cats
• Booking required

Yokkaichi

Cat ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌⁠Cafe Coorikuya Yokkaichi is a branch of the Coorikuya cat cafe chain inside the Coo&RIKU pet shop in Hinaga, Yokkaichi, about 9 minutes on foot from Hinaga Station on the Yokkaichi Asunarou Railway Utsube Line. The cat room sits in a corner of the shop floor, which also has a veterinary clinic, and is decorated in a traditional Japanese style. Around nine cats live in the room, including a Munchkin, a Siberian and an Oriental. Visits are charged per 30 minutes with free self-service drinks from a fridge in the room, and cat treats can be bought at the counter. The room is small, so it can feel busy with more than a couple of groups. The pet shop sells kittens and puppies. The cafe is open every day, with earlier opening at weekends and on holidays, and last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

Tsu

Cat ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​⁠Cafe Coorikuya Tsu Takajaya is a branch of the Coorikuya cat cafe chain attached to the Coo&RIKU pet shop on National Route 23 in Takajaya, southern Tsu, close to the Round1 amusement centre. It opened in July 2019 and has a cosy Japanese-style room with five or more friendly cats. Visits are charged by time, with a free-time option and unlimited drinks, and cat treats can be bought for the cats. The room is small and fits two or three groups at once, though it is often quiet on weekdays. The pet shop next door sells kittens and puppies. There is a car park on site, as the cafe is easiest to reach by car. It is open every day, opening an hour earlier at weekends and on holidays, with last entry 30 minutes before closing.

Tsu

Hogo ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​⁠Neko Cafe Nekoya Edobashi is a rescue cat cafe on National Route 23 in Edobashi, Tsu, a short walk from Kintetsu Edobashi Station. It is one of two cafes run by Nekoya, an animal protection group in Tsu, and many rescued cats share the room, several of them happy to sit on laps. Visits are charged in 10-minute units plus a drink, and the cafe also serves full meals such as a roast beef rice bowl, along with cat goods. Feeding time is a popular part of a visit. Elementary school children are welcome with a guardian and are asked to stay seated, and payment is cash only. The cafe is closed on Wednesdays, and temporary closures are announced on social media, so check before travelling. Parking is in a lot across the road, and the group also runs a mobile cat cafe at events.

• Adoptable cats

Tsu

Hogo ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌⁠Neko Cafe Nekoya Takajaya is a rescue cat cafe in a residential part of Takajaya in southern Tsu, the original branch of the Nekoya animal protection group, which also runs a second cafe in Edobashi. The cafe is home to a good number of friendly rescued cats that come up to visitors, with cat futons and plenty of toys around the room, and the cats are looking for adoptive homes. Alongside the cat room the cafe serves a proper food menu, so it works for a meal as well as a visit. Time with the cats is charged by time plus a drink, and payment is cash only. Elementary school children are welcome with a guardian and are asked to stay seated. The cafe is closed on Wednesdays, and temporary closures or changed hours are posted on social media.

• Adoptable cats

Tsu

Hogo ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​​‌⁠Neko Cafe 285, read as Nyago, is a rescue cat cafe on the second floor of the 285 Building in Shimazakicho, Tsu, about 15 minutes on foot from the east exit of Tsu Station. It opened in July 2018 and has around ten rescued cats, born to stray mothers or abandoned, most of them relaxed with people. All of the cats are looking for adoptive homes, and adoption is discussed in person with the staff. Visits are charged per 30 minutes or per hour with one drink order, made by the cafe downstairs, and there is also a free-time plan. Preschool children can visit on Wednesdays only. Bookings can be made online or by phone during opening hours. The cafe is closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays and closes an hour later at weekends and on holidays. Parking is available in front and behind the building.

• Adoptable cats
• Booking recommended

Tsu

Cat ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​⁠Cafe Neko no Heya ENJOY is a cat room run by Body Care & Fitness ENJOY in Takajaya, southern Tsu, which also runs a gym, a tanning salon and an RV park on the site. Around 16 cats live in the room, a mix of lap cats and shyer ones, and visitors can give them treats. A single entry fee covers as long as you like during opening hours, with free coming and going and lower rates for students, small children, gym members and salon customers. No food or drinks are served, but visitors may bring their own or use the vending machine. Children of elementary school age and younger must come with a guardian, and socks are required. The cats are not offered for adoption. The room stays open into the late evening and is closed on Sundays and national holidays, and parking for 30 cars is available.