Cat Cafes in Japan

Niigata

Cat ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌⁠Cafe Chigura is a cat cafe on the ground floor of the Orange House building in Kobari, Nishi Ward, Niigata, about five minutes on foot from Hirashima Station on the JR Echigo Line, with parking in front of the shop and along the Nishi River. It describes itself as a cat-first cafe: visitors register before touching the cats, and children below the fourth grade of elementary school are not admitted. Cats have included a Russian Blue and a Somali. Visits are charged by time and paid on leaving, with one- and two-hour courses that include a self-service drink, plus weekday-only four-hour and free-time courses. Cat treats are sold for feeding while seated, and the shop sells badges and charms featuring its cats. It is open every day except Friday, opening an hour earlier at weekends and on holidays, with last entry at 7 PM.

Nagaoka, Niigata

Neko ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​⁠Cafe & Neko Sakaba Latte is a cat cafe and bar on the fourth floor of a building at the Otedori crossing, about five minutes on foot from the west exit of JR Nagaoka Station. The cats like to sit at the large windows and watch the street. Around a dozen cats live here, a mix of breeds that have been with the cafe since it opened and rescued cats taken in through rehoming, including a family of white cats. Instead of a timed charge, entry works on a free-time basis with one drink order, though stays may be limited to two hours when it is busy at weekends. It was set up to feel like an ordinary coffee shop with cats, serving drinks, light meals and alcohol. It is often run by one member of staff, so phoning ahead is advisable. There is no dedicated parking.

Niigata

Cat ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌​⁠Cafe Coorikuya Niigata Higashi is a branch of the Coorikuya cat cafe chain attached to the Coo&RIKU pet shop in Hanamizuki, Higashi Ward, Niigata, about seven minutes by car from Higashi-Niigata Station. The cat room is a Japanese-style tatami space with cat towers, where a group of friendly cats, often including young cats, wander among visitors, and cushions are handed out to sit on. Visits are charged per 30 minutes with unlimited drinks included, cat treats are sold for feeding, and the pet shop next door sells kittens and puppies. Children can visit with a parent or guardian. The cafe is open every day, opening an hour earlier at weekends and on holidays, and last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

Niigata

Cat ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​⁠Cafe Coorikuya Niigata Nishi is a branch of the Coorikuya cat cafe chain attached to the Coo&RIKU pet shop in Aoyama, Nishi Ward, Niigata, right next to AEON Niigata Aoyama and about nine minutes on foot from Aoyama Station on the JR Echigo Line. The cat room is small, with space for about six visitors, and is home to six to eight cats of different breeds and temperaments; some come over for treats and toys while others prefer to watch. Visits are charged per 30 minutes with unlimited drinks included, cat treats are sold for feeding, and the pet shop next door sells kittens and puppies. It is rarely crowded, and visitors waiting for a place can look around the pet shop. The cafe is open every day, opening an hour earlier at weekends and on holidays, and last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

Shibata, Niigata

Cat ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​​​‌​​‌​⁠Cafe Coorikuya AEON Mall Shibata is a branch of the Coorikuya cat cafe chain attached to the Coo&RIKU pet shop on the ground floor of AEON Mall Shibata, about five minutes on foot from the north exit of Nishi-Shibata Station. A staircase-style catwalk runs right around the room, so the cats can be watched climbing and crossing overhead as well as at floor level, and many of them are friendly and come to sit on laps. Visits are charged per 30 minutes with unlimited drinks included, cat treats are sold for feeding, and the pet shop next door sells kittens and puppies. The Coo&RIKU shop also has grooming, a pet hotel and an animal clinic. The cafe is open from 10 AM to 8 PM every day, with last entry 30 minutes before closing, and visitors can use the mall car park.

Nagaoka, Niigata

Cat ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌⁠Cafe Coorikuya Nagaoka is a branch of the Coorikuya cat cafe chain attached to the Coo&RIKU pet shop in Kitamachi, on the west side of Nagaoka, about 15 minutes by car from JR Nagaoka Station. Opened in 2022, it has a bright, open room where a group of friendly cats of various breeds relax, play and often roll over for attention. Visits are charged per 30 minutes with unlimited drinks included, cat treats are sold for feeding, and the pet shop next door sells kittens and puppies. The cafe is open every day, opening an hour earlier at weekends and on holidays, and last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

Sanjo, Niigata

Rakkuraya ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​⁠is a rescue cat cafe tucked into a street of bars and restaurants in Ijima, central Sanjo. Its name comes from a Niigata dialect word for feeling at ease, and it describes itself as a shelter where rescued cats can live calmly while visitors get a feel for life with cats. Around a dozen cats live here, including resident staff cats, and the cafe looks for adopters for its rescues; adoption involves screening, conditions and a fee, and kittens under two months are not shown. It runs as a simple self-service cafe with packaged drinks and snacks rather than a kitchen. Opening days and hours change each month and are announced on its website and social media, and bookings are given priority, so reserving by phone or direct message is advisable. There is no dedicated parking; use the paid car parks nearby.

• Adoptable cats
• Booking recommended

Tagami, Niigata

Aoneko ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌⁠is an adoption cat cafe on National Route 403 in Tagami, between Niitsu and Kamo, marked by a blue sign with a cat silhouette. Opened in April 2023 by an owner who left her job to work with rescue cats, it houses up to about 11 rescued cats, all neutered, vaccinated and tested, and every one is looking for a new home through a screening and trial process. The cat room holds about five visitors at a time and is charged per 30 minutes plus a drink, with a lower rate for elementary school children; younger children are welcome with a parent. A large glass window separates the cat room from the cafe, so food is eaten outside the room while lidded drinks can be taken in. Closing days are irregular and posted at the start of each month, and bookings are given priority.

• Adoptable cats

Mitsuke, Niigata

Nekomachi ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌⁠is a rescue cat cafe on the second floor of a building in Imamachi, Mitsuke, recognisable by the large cat illustration on its shutter. It takes in cats from the Niigata Prefecture animal protection centre and other rescues and looks for adopters for them, and visitors who cannot adopt support the cats simply by coming. The room is quiet and calm, with some shy cats as well as friendly ones, so it is not suited to children looking for a play space; children of elementary school age and under must come with a guardian. Visits are charged for 60 minutes, 90 minutes or free time, with drinks extra, and visitors are asked to wear socks. Closing days are irregular and shown on the cafe's online calendar, and it may close for vet visits. Free parking for three cars is opposite the shop.

• Adoptable cats

Gosen, Niigata

TOM'N ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​⁠CHI is a cat cafe in Sanbongi, Gosen and was the first cat cafe in the city when it opened in December 2019. Around 22 cats live here, led by the signature cat Tom, and many belong to a family of short-legged Munchkins, alongside breeds such as Russian Blues and Maine Coons. The pale blue room is clean and bright, and visits are charged by the hour with one drink included, with a slightly higher rate at weekends; cat treats can be bought, and the cafe also serves crepes and sweets. Children of any age are welcome, though those of elementary school age and under need a guardian of high school age or older, and socks must be worn. It is closed on Tuesdays and on some other days announced on Instagram, and last entry is an hour before closing.

Shibata, Niigata

ANELLA ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌⁠CAFE Niigata Shibata is a rescue dog and cat cafe in Yutakacho, Shibata, about ten minutes on foot from JR Shibata Station. Opened on 8 August 2026 as the ANELLA chain's first branch in Niigata Prefecture, it has separate floors for dogs and cats, and all the animals are waiting for new families through ANELLA's own adoption process. Some of the rescued cats are still shy and stay near their cages, though they are used to people and can be stroked. Visits are charged for the first 30 minutes and then in 15-minute extensions, with lower rates for elementary school children, seniors and visitors with disabilities, and preschoolers enter free; unlimited drinks from a vending machine are an optional extra and there is no food menu. The cafe is open every day, opens an hour earlier at weekends and doubles as a welfare workplace for staff with disabilities.

• Adoptable cats
• Walk-ins welcome

Niigata

Exotic ⁠‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌⁠Animal Cafe Ricky Niigata is a multi-animal cafe on the second floor of a building in the Furumachi 5 shopping arcade in central Niigata, part of the Ricky pet shop chain from Tohoku. Visitors can meet owls, including a barn owl at the entrance, hedgehogs, hamsters, reptiles, small dogs in a pen and cats, including young pedigree cats such as Scottish Folds. All the animals are for sale, and kittens and puppies are sold directly from the cafe. Entry is charged by the hour or as free time, with higher rates at weekends and on holidays, lower prices for children aged 3 to 12, and free entry for those aged 2 and under. Last entry is an hour before closing. It is closed on Tuesdays and Fridays.