Cat Cafes in Japan

Kumamoto

Neko ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌⁠Cafe MICO is a cat cafe in Nishibaru, Higashi Ward, Kumamoto, a short walk from the Shin-Nabe-iriguchi bus stop and about five minutes by car from the Kumamoto interchange. Its cats are pedigree breeds, including Scottish Folds, Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest Cats, Russian Blues, Ragdolls, American Curls, Persians, Munchkins, Somalis, LaPerms and British Shorthairs. The building is open through three floors, giving the cats plenty of climbing space. Visits are charged per 30 minutes plus one drink order, with 10-minute extensions, and there are longer packages that include a drink, sweets or pasta. Elementary school children and visitors over 65 get a discount, and preschoolers can visit only during a kids' hour in the late morning, booked by phone. Visitors must wear socks, booking is recommended, and payment is cash only. The cafe stays open later on Fridays, Saturdays and evenings before holidays, and closes on Thursdays.

• Booking recommended

Kumamoto

Nyanko ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​​‌⁠Chaya Nyandamari is a small cat cafe in Tatsuda, Kita Ward, in the northeast of Kumamoto, run by Parva Angeli, a Maine Coon breeder. Most of the resident cats are Maine Coons, joined by a few rescued cats, and the cafe introduces each cat by name and personality. Visits are charged per 45 minutes with one drink included and extended in 15-minute steps, with lower rates for junior high and high school students and elementary school children, and preschoolers enter free. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. The owners ask parents to keep a close eye on small children, not to chase or pick up cats against their will, and to let sleeping kittens rest. Kittens from the cattery are sold separately. Parking is limited, so public transport is recommended. The cafe is normally closed midweek and sometimes closes at short notice.

Kumamoto

Kotatsu ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌‌‌⁠Beya Myaan is a rescue cat adoption salon in Minamitsuboimachi, Chuo Ward, in the Kaminoura area near the Kamitori arcade in central Kumamoto. It is run by a local volunteer who also leads street-cat neutering work in the city, and it presents itself as an adoption event held every day. Visitors can sit at a kotatsu table, drink tea and play with or hold the cats, which range from young kittens to calm adult cats. There is no set fee; visitors pay what they wish as a donation to the rescue work. All cats are looking for homes, and the salon also welcomes volunteers. Opening hours vary and are posted on Instagram, often in the afternoon with longer weekend sessions, so it is best to check or call before visiting.

• Adoptable cats

Kumamoto

N ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​⁠cat is an evening cat cafe and bar on Ginza-dori in the Shimotori shopping district of central Kumamoto. Opening at 6 PM, it has a quiet bar-like interior decorated with dried flowers chosen to be safe for cats, and visitors can have a drink, including alcohol, while spending time with the resident cats. The cats are mostly young, around a year old, and very used to people; many climb onto laps and fall asleep there, and holding them is allowed. Visits are charged by time with a set first period, and the rate differs for men and women. The space is small, with lint rollers provided. It reopened in a refreshed form in April 2026 and is registered as an animal exhibition business. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Kikuchi, Kumamoto

Yururi ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​⁠Cafe is a rural cat cafe in Kyokushi Kawabe, Kikuchi, about 30 minutes by car from the Ueki interchange and a 7-minute walk from the Hoikuen-mae bus stop. The ground floor is a cafe serving set meals, sweets and drinks, and the upstairs is given over to around 20 cats, many of them rescues, kept in several rooms grouped by health and temperament. The cats range from playful to plump and laid-back, and most are friendly with visitors. Entry includes one drink with no time limit, and there is also a package with a set meal. The owner runs the cafe alone, so food can take a while, especially on busy weekends. Small children must be accompanied by a parent. Cats are available for adoption, but the cafe does not take in cats from the public. It is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays and has parking.

• Adoptable cats

Kikuyo, Kumamoto

Coorikuya ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌⁠Carino Kikuyo is a branch of the Coorikuya cat cafe chain in the Sunly Carino Kikuyo shopping centre in Tsukure, Kikuyo, about five minutes on foot from Sanrigi Station on the JR Hohi Line. It is attached to the Coo&RIKU pet shop in the same building, which sells kittens and puppies. The room has a wood-toned interior with large and small climbing steps, and the cats are friendly pedigree breeds such as Minuets. Visits are charged by time and include free soft drinks, and cat treats are sold at the counter. The cafe suits a short stop during shopping at the centre. It is open every day, with last entry 30 minutes before closing.

Kikuyo, Kumamoto

Inu ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌⁠Neko Cafe Rio Youme Town Hikarinomori is a dog and cat cafe on the first floor of the south building of the Youme Town Hikarinomori shopping mall in Kikuyo, less than five minutes on foot from Hikarinomori Station. Opened in April 2026 as the Kumamoto branch of the Tokyo-based Rio chain, it keeps a large group of small dogs that roam freely and climb onto visitors' laps, along with a smaller group of cats that visitors can play with using toys. Visits are charged per 10 minutes, with an all-you-can-drink option and paid snacks for the animals, and timed packages and discount tickets are sold online. No booking is needed. Children under three must be registered at reception. The cafe is open every day, with last entry 15 minutes before closing.

Kumamoto

Nekokai ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌⁠is a cat cafe on the second floor of the purpose-built Neko Building in Kokaihonmachi, Chuo Ward, near the Kokai shopping street northeast of central Kumamoto. Its owner began trapping street cats around the Suizenji area and ended up with more than 40, and the cafe was opened so that the cats could help pay for their own food and vet bills. About half of them are former strays that remain wary of people, so visitors are warned they may be scratched, while kittens born at the cafe are relaxed and affectionate. The cats are not offered for adoption. Visits are charged per 10 minutes with no drink order required, drinks are sold at the counter, and payment is cash only. Children must be of elementary school age or older and come with an adult. Socks are required. It is closed on Sundays, Mondays and most public holidays.

Oita

ANELLA ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​⁠CAFE Oita is a rescue dog and cat cafe in Kei, in the south-east of Oita City, a minute's walk from the Kei bus stop and about 14 minutes by car from Nakahanda Station. Opened in November 2025 as the first Oita branch of the ANELLA chain, it houses rescued dogs and cats waiting for new families, with separate areas for the dogs and the cats. Anyone can visit, whether or not they are thinking of adopting, and no booking is needed. Visits are charged per 30 minutes with 15-minute extensions, with lower rates for elementary school children, seniors and visitors with disabilities, and preschoolers enter free. Adoptions are arranged through ANELLA's own process. The cafe is open every day, has free parking for ten cars, offers dog grooming, and also runs as a welfare workplace for staff with disabilities.

• Adoptable cats
• Walk-ins welcome

Oita

Hogo ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​⁠Neko Curry-ya 299 (read "nikukyu", paw pad) is a soup curry restaurant and adoption-style rescue cat cafe in Oshino, Oita City, about five minutes on foot from JR Shikido Station. Opened in April 2024, it serves soup curry with cat-shaped rice, desserts and drinks on the ground floor, alongside a corner of cat goods, and some of the cats often wander through. Upstairs is the cat room, where rescued cats waiting for adoption live and visitors can stroke and hold them; many are very used to people. The cat room is charged in short timed blocks, with extra time for diners. The shop also hosts adoption events. It is open Thursday to Sunday and on public holidays, and payment is cash only. Parking in front is very tight, so staff can point visitors to nearby spaces.

• Adoptable cats

Nakatsu, Oita

Cat ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌⁠Cafe C.F.D is a rescue cat cafe in the Shinhakatamachi shopping street in central Nakatsu, about 10 minutes on foot from JR Nakatsu Station. Opened in January 2018 by a former airport fire chief, it is home to a large group of locally rescued cats in a playful interior themed on a fire station and police station, and many of the cats are happy to sit on laps. Visits are charged in 15-minute steps, with 30- and 60-minute options, a free-time plan, discounts for children and students, and sets that include a drink. Socks are required in the cat room and are sold on site, along with treats and toys. Booking by phone or LINE is recommended, and same-day bookings are accepted. Cafe C.P.S on the ground floor serves lunch without a cat room charge. The cafe is closed on Mondays.

Yufu, Oita

Yufuin ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​⁠Hogoneko Forest, known as Neko-Fore, is a rescue cat complex in a large oak wood inside Aso-Kuju National Park in Kawanishi, Yufuin, about 10 minutes by car from the Yufuin interchange. Opened in June 2024, it combines the rescue cat cafe Catete, cottages where guests can stay overnight with a rescue cat, a restaurant, a cat goods and jewellery shop and a camping and barbecue area. In the cafe, visitors spend time with rescued cats who are all looking for new homes, and adoption can be arranged on site. Visits are priced by length, from 30 minutes to four hours, each with a drink, and a free-time plan includes lunch. Young children need an accompanying adult. Car navigation does not show the forest road, so the facility advises searching for "Yuyu Life no Mori". The cafe opens Friday to Sunday and on public holidays.

• Adoptable cats