All About Japan

4 Purrfect Kansai Cat Cafés

Cafés Pets Animals Deeper Japan Ise-Shima Summit Kobe Himeji Osaka Kyoto Hyogo Kansai

Tired of running around, trying to see all the beautiful temples and castles in the Kansai area? Then recharge your batteries at a cozy cat café. These unique Japanese cafés offer a nice place to relax and enjoy some delectable beverages while playing with some adorable kitties.

4. Neko no Jikan (Osaka)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0YcpeAf30o

Neko no Jikan opened in 2004, making it one of the longest-running cat cafés in Japan. Boasting over 22 cats and a nice selection of drinks and snacks, Neko no Jikan (or “Cat Time”) is a cozy venue that provides beautiful furniture and decor for felines and guests alike, making it a nice place to relax and get some well deserved kitten time just north of Kids Plaza Osaka.

3. Cat Café Nyanny (Kobe)

3. Cat Café Nyanny (Kobe)

http://www.eataku.com/post/77283145759/cat-cafe-nyanny-kobe-japan

This quaint cat café is a great alternative to some of the busier, more popular spots. The central feature of Nyanny is a plexiglass walkway suspended from the ceiling, with cats often spotted napping or frolicking along its length. Nyanni is just south of Motomachi Station, making it a nice intermediate stop in a walking tour between Kobe Harborland and the 19th-century foreign merchants’ residences, or Ijinkan, of Kitano-cho.

2. Nekobiyaka (Himeji)

2. Nekobiyaka (Himeji)

http://nekobiyaka.jugem.jp/?eid=935

Offering an energetic litter of all-black cats, Nekobiyaka is a unique alternative to other cat cafes. Since it’s a little difficult to tell these playful kitties apart, they wear different-colored bandanas around their necks, allowing patrons to become familiar with their favorite fuzzballs. If you want to get a little more personal, the staff can lend you a book with photos of all the cats displaying their names and birthdates as well. Nekobiyaka is an easy side-trip, just two blocks east of the main road connecting Himeji Station to Himeji Castle.

1. Cat Café Nekokaigi (Kyoto)

1. Cat Café Nekokaigi (Kyoto)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/44192178@N04/15229038433/in/album-72157626664306986/

One of the most famous cat cafés in Japan, Cat Café Nekokaigi (nekokaigi means cat meeting) is a beautifully designed spot that offers guests the chance to cuddle with up to 13 felines. There’s a time-based cover charge, but once inside you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee or tea at a very reasonable price. Located in the center of Kyoto halfway between Karasumaoike Station and the Kamo River, Cat Café Nekokaigi is a convenient place to take a break from a long day of temple trekking.