Cat Cafes in Japan

Matsuyama, Ehime

Hinata ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​⁠no Mado is a cat cafe on the second floor of a building in the Dogo shopping arcade, a few minutes on foot from Dogo Onsen tram station and the Dogo Onsen bathhouse, which makes it an easy stop during a sightseeing visit. Most of its many cats are rescues taken in by volunteers, and they roam freely across the cat tower, cushions and play areas; some bring toys to visitors to ask for a game. The first 30 minutes are charged with one drink included, and after that time is added in 15-minute blocks; cat treats are available as an extra. Visitors disinfect their hands and wear slippers or socks inside. The cafe is open every day, with longer hours on weekends.

Matsuyama, Ehime

Nyawanken ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​⁠is a rescue cat cafe and pet goods shop in Hinodemachi, Matsuyama, a minute on foot from the Hinode-Kaminomachi bus stop, with free parking. The owner has taken in around twenty cats, some rescued as kittens and others as adults, and all have been spayed or neutered; the aim is to find them permanent homes. The cat room is booked as a private session, so each group has the cats to itself, and there is also a separate cafe space. The shop stocks carefully chosen dog and cat goods and sample sizes of pet food, and a qualified veterinary nurse on the staff can advise on feeding. Bookings are taken online, by phone or through Instagram, and opening days are announced on Instagram.

• Adoptable cats
• Booking recommended

Kochi

moco ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌⁠moco is an adoption-focused rescue cat cafe in central Kochi, on the third floor of the building with a Sukiya restaurant, about a minute on foot from Horizume tram stop. It was set up as a place where families thinking of adopting can meet rescued cats, and visitors who simply want to spend time with cats are also welcome. Around eight or nine cats live there, from friendly ones to shy ones, and staff explain each cat's personality. Visits are charged by the hour with one drink, with a student rate, and no cat treats are sold. Up to eight people can be in the room at once. Socks are required, strong perfume or tobacco smells may mean entry is refused, preschool children cannot enter, and there is no elevator. Last entry is an hour before closing, and the cafe is closed on Mondays and Thursdays.

• Adoptable cats

Kochi

Nyanko ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​⁠To is a small adoption-type rescue cat cafe on the second floor of the Nakamura Building in Sanbashidori, Kochi, about two minutes on foot from Sanbashidori 1-chome tram stop. Opened in January 2025, it welcomes both people hoping to adopt and those who just want to spend time with cats. About eight rescued cats live there, including a calm resident 'manager' cat, a trio of black cats and, at times, kittens. Visits are charged per hour with a drink chosen from the fridge, with a student rate and 30-minute extensions; preschool children cannot enter, socks are required and strong scents should be avoided. A mezzanine sells cat goods and accessories, and baked goods are sold on some days, with sales supporting the cats' care. Last entry is at 5 PM, and the cafe is closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

• Adoptable cats

Hidaka, Kochi

Nyanko ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​⁠Merry is an adoption-focused rescue cat cafe in the countryside of Hidaka village, west of Kochi City. The owner works as a milk volunteer, raising unweaned kittens from the public health center that would otherwise be euthanized, so most cats here were hand-reared from a very young age, and around twenty cats are cared for at a time. The cafe feels like a home, and many of the cats will settle on visitors' laps. Visits can be booked for 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes, with self-service drinks taken outside the cat room, and up to six guests at a time. Visitors on an adoption trial enter free. Bento, cookies and cat goods are also sold. Booking by phone or LINE is recommended, especially on Saturdays and holidays. It is closed on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

• Adoptable cats

Kami, Kochi

Higana ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​​​​‌‌​⁠Neko is an adoption-type rescue cat cafe in an old-style house in Kahoku, Kami, near the Anpanman Museum. The building is split between a cat room, Higana Neko, where rescued cats wait for new families, and a cafe space, Petit Petit Neko Neko, where visitors can sit with a drink without entering the cat room. The cats have a relaxed, independent manner, napping and playing as they please, and several have gone on to adoption trials. The cafe sells snacks made without eggs, dairy or white sugar, scones and cookies, drinks and takeout, along with local fruit, and there are discounts for children and free parking. It is closed on Wednesdays and on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, with occasional extra closures.

• Adoptable cats

Imabari, Ehime

Kissaten ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌⁠&. is a coffee shop in Miyashitacho, Imabari, about 12 minutes on foot from JR Imabari Station, with parking. Known for its house-roasted coffee, home-baked bread, morning sets and lunches, it added a cat room in 2025, the first cat cafe in Imabari. The cat room is fully separated from the dining area by glass and walls, so people with allergies or who prefer not to be around cats can use the cafe as usual. About five cats live there, all rescues or cats taken in from local adoption events, and profile sheets on the wall describe each one. Cat room time is free with a food or drink order and charged in 15-minute blocks otherwise. The cat room closes earlier than the cafe, and evening opening has been added; days off are irregular and announced on Instagram.

Ozu, Ehime

Shoraku ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​⁠Ryokan is a small budget inn in the old town of Ozu, about 15 minutes on foot from Iyo-Ozu Station, known as a cat inn because about a dozen resident cats, many of them rescues, have the run of the building. Guests stay in simple Japanese-style rooms, and many room doors have a small cat flap so the cats can wander in; rooms without a flap are also available. The cats roam the lobby, corridors and rooms in the afternoon and early evening and again in the early morning, and spend the night in their own room. Staff hand out treats at the front desk at set times, and guests may not bring their own. A few guests each night can have a cat sleep in their room, chosen by lottery. No meals are served, baths are shared, and there is parking. The building has a noticeable animal smell.

Saga

Myao ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌⁠in Hyogo-Minami, Saga, is a rescue cat cafe that shares a building with Flat Plus, a new-car subscription shop run by the local fuel company Kidera Sekiyu. The cat room takes up most of the floor, and up to about 30 cats live there, from two-month-old kittens to calm adults. All of them are taken in from the prefectural health centres through the company's rescue programme, and the cafe describes itself as an adoption facility in cafe style. Visitors register at a ticket machine, pick a drink and then spend one hour with the cats on weekdays or 40 minutes on weekends and holidays, paying a contribution that goes to the cats' care. Children under elementary school age cannot enter the cat room, but can watch through the glass walls. Adoption requires at least two visits before a trial. It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

• Adoptable cats

Saga

ANELLA ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌⁠CAFE Saga is a rescue dog and cat cafe in Nakanokoji in central Saga, about 24 minutes on foot from JR Saga Station. Part of the nationwide ANELLA chain, it has separate areas for rescued cats and dogs, so visitors can start with the cats and move to the dogs on request. The animals are waiting for new homes, and the cafe also holds regular adoption events. Visits are charged per 30 minutes with optional extensions, with lower rates for elementary school children, seniors and visitors with disabilities, and preschoolers enter free. The cafe is open every day. It is also a welfare workplace where staff with disabilities help care for the animals, and it offers dog grooming. There is no dedicated parking, so visitors use nearby coin parking.

• Adoptable cats
• Walk-ins welcome

Saga

Cat ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​⁠Cafe Coron is a rescue cat cafe on the second floor of a building in Chuohonmachi, central Saga. It opened in 2009 and is run by a certified veterinary nurse. Around ten cats live in the room, all of them rescued strays or abandoned cats who are socialised there while they wait for adopters, and the cafe posts kittens and adult cats looking for homes. Visits are charged by time course, and groups of three or more get cat treats. Children are welcome from elementary school age, with an adult up to junior high school, and socks are required. Coron also runs a cat-only hotel, home cat-sitting visits and cat therapy. It is closed on Mondays and opens earlier on weekends and holidays.

• Adoptable cats

Tosu, Saga

Yui ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​⁠Cafe is a cat cafe and diner in Todorokimachi, Tosu, in the Shin-Tosu Station area. It opened in May 2015 as the first cat cafe of Star Dogs, a pet shop chain whose Shin-Tosu store is next door. The cafe has a separate dining room and cat room, so guests can come just for a meal, just for the cats or for both, and some tables look into the cat room. Around ten cats live there, including British Shorthairs and mixed breeds. Cat room visits are charged per 30 or 60 minutes with a drink included, and children up to junior high school age need an adult with them. The menu covers curry, sandwiches, waffles and Saga's Sicilian rice. Booking is recommended on weekends and holidays. The cafe is closed on Tuesdays.