Today we present a brief overview of the most original animal cafes in the Japanese capital. In France, we're familiar with the phenomenon of cat cafes that have been popping up in major cities for the past few years, but have you ever enjoyed a coffee or tea accompanied by a small hedgehog or watched by a majestic owl with piercing eyes?
Although the practice may seem questionable and unethical on many points, it allows many Japanese people to get up close to species they have never seen before and, for a moment, to relieve the accumulated stress of the day and week.
Overview
Japan is a country with a deep connection to nature and animals. They feature in centuries-old, sometimes millennia-old, legends and serve as emblems or mascots for numerous events and cities. Despite this, a large proportion of Japanese people have never owned a pet or seen anything beyond the glass of one of the capital's many crowded zoos. This is compounded by cramped apartments and average prices that can reach several thousand euros for a dog or cat.
Dog 犬(Inu)
Appearing a few years after the first cat cafes, dog cafes, or Inu Cafes, are also enjoying great popularity. Unlike cats, which theoretically don't need to go outside and can be content with an indoor space, dogs need to be walked several times a day. But this hasn't stopped these cafes from springing up everywhere, raising numerous questions about the well-being of these animals, who are often put to "work" from the age of six months to two years.
If you're visiting Tokyo, the trendy Harajuku district will surely be on your list. Between a colorful candy shop and a store offering the latest fashions, on the 2nd floor, you'll find a dog café called RIO where more than a dozen breeds of dogs take turns at your feet asking for food or playing with you using one of the many toys in the café.
The mascot Kurara-chan might be a little elusive, but the puppies, each more adorable than the last, will win you over. For 220 yen for 10 minutes (renewable), you can enjoy the dogs' company, and if you're feeling adventurous, for an additional 550 yen you can receive little treats that the dogs adore and feed them. But watch out—they might just jump on you!
Hedgehog (Harinezum)i)
Relaxing in the company of little hedgehogs is high on the list of things to do in Tokyo for many travelers. The ChikuChiku Café, or in other words, the "spicy, spicy café," allows you to feed, pet, and take photos with the little hedgehogs. These furry, spiky friends roam around a variety of cute environments, such as mini bathrooms, classrooms, and Japanese-style tatami mats. A house not of dolls, but of hedgehogs?
Great! (Fukuro)
Next, a detour to the famous Ueno district and its impressive park of the same name. In one of the many shopping streets called Shotengai or Arcade, you'll find an owl café called Fukurounosu (Owl's Nest). For 1650 yen (approximately €12), you can enjoy unlimited time and a drink while watching the numerous owls and other related species. For an additional 500 yen, you can feed them directly from their beaks.
https://www.fukurounosucafe.com/
Reptile 爬虫類(Hachurui)
This café, straight out of an Indiana Jones movie, is located in the Kabukicho district of Shinjuku and allows you to meet—or rather, come face to face with—a number of reptiles, including various species of monitor lizards, as well as turtles, snakes, and other insects. The café boasts over 100 different species, but you can only touch and hold some of them. You can also feed some of them and take photos with them if you dare.
You can even take your favorite animal home with you. The café sells some of these species, and the staff will teach you everything you need to know about caring for a reptile.
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