Housed on the third floor of a Nakano multi-use building, the Reptiles Café and Bar is open at noon to 9 pm on Tuesdays, Fridays, and weekends. You can access it either through a 15-minute walk from JR Chuo-line Nakano station or an 8-minute walk from Seibu Shinjuku-line Araiyakushi-mae station.

The Reptiles Café and Bar is home to a slithering collection of reptiles, all very well trained and non-poisonous. Pay 1,000 JPY (8.90 USD) at the counter for entrance and one drink, and you will be granted the right to hang with the reptile of your choice. Just peer around from your counter seat and your gaze will be met with the sight of cages upon glass cases that house an extraordinary range of reptiles. With the central bearded lizard playing centre stage, there are over 15 varieties of reptiles, half of which belong to the lizard species, including the northern curly-tailed lizard and green iguana. Frogs and snakes are included.

Order your “full-time attendance service,” and you will have a reptile brought to your table. Visitors particularly love the central bearded lizard for its energetic crawling across your table. Although many cages also hold tiny baby lizards, these will grow to a full 40 cm length at maturation! One extra-special feature of the café is its tatami room, which is home to the green iguana by the name of Akai-san. Due to the extraordinary size of Akai-san, you are unable to have him brought over to your counter table, but can order a seat in the room. Although Akai-san is capable of maintaining a still pose to the point that you can even mistake him for a doll, bring him his meal, and snap! His movements are as swift as a viper’s.

As well as being a reptile café, the Reptiles Café and Bar places equal emphasis on its café and bar menu. Each course comes with a choice of one-drink or free-drink menu, the latter of which you have the option of choosing iced coffee, iced tea, cola, as well as green tea. At a special price, you can also purchase special options such as tapioca milk and crushed ice drink. Meals include a plate of pancakes modeled after the central bearded lizard.

Just as in a dog café, you can bring your own pet reptiles to the reptile café. They also provide accommodations for reptiles in need of care when their owners are away on a long holiday. As all of the staff are reptilian specialists, there is no need to worry that your reptile will be neglected during your absence!