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The Purr-fect solution

By on November 7, 2013

Landlords commonly say no to tenants with pets.   That’s not to say that the Japanese are indifferent to animals.  After so many years of  renting apartments in Japan, I have come to understand that properties vacated by families with pets could indeed cost the landlord a lot of money in restoration costs.   Afterall, “neko chans” (cats) are notorious for scaling walls and ripping wall paper around. The scarcity of apartments where tenants may live with pets gave rise to petting zoos and most recently, Cat cafes, where feline lovers pay an hourly fee to have a drink in the company of purring friends.   After the opening of its first shop in Osaka nine years ago, the concept has caught on in Tokyo, where there are now at least 39 cat cafes.

 

 

 

Akasaka
Kimagure Neko  (capricious cat)
Akasaka Fukutomi Building 5F
Akasaka 2-13-14,
Minato-ku
Tel. 03-3583-2856
Open 11:30 am – 8 pm
Closed 1st and 3rd Mon
30 mins ¥400 yen
¥200-¥250 per drink
¥200 per 15 min-extension

Harajuku
Cat Room Chamamo
6-5-6 Jingumae
Algorithm Complex 5F 503
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 3498-2294
http://chamamo.wilbo.jp/
Open 11 am to 10 pm  (last entry 9:30pm)
Note:  Children below elementary grade not allowed.
30 min ¥500 yen
10 min extentin ¥160

Setagaya
Cat Cafe Prince
Kitazawa 2-33-12 1st Floor,
Setagaya-ku
Tel. 03-6416-8228
Open 10 am – 10pm
1 hour ¥1,200
2 hours ¥2,000
30 min extension  ¥500
Per hour student discount ¥1,000

Shibuya
Hapi Neko
3rd floor Dogenzaka Kratos Building
2-28-3 Dogenzaka
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-3770-1328
http://hapineko.main.jp/
Open 11 am – 11 pm 7 days a week
No age limit
30 min  ¥525 + 1 drink
1 hour  ¥1,575 + 1 drink

Yokohama
Beard Cafe Cat Mew
3F Susumu Wide Building,
Totsuka Shinanomachi 550-7
Yokohama 244-0801
Open 11 am – 8 pm (last order 7pm)
Closed Thursdays
5 min walk from JR Yokosuka Line Higashi Totsuka station
Cat room rental 30 mins + one drink   ¥1,000
¥300 per 30 min extension
¥500 per 60 min extension

About Julie Wilson