05/Apr/2012

Cat cafes in Nagoya, Japan | nihonshock

My trip to a cat cafe

Dec 10 2009

The other day I finally got around to visiting a place that Ive wanted to check out for some time: a cat cafe. No, theres no relationship to maid cafes or anything like that. Its not even really a place to get a cup of coffee (though they do offer a small selection food and drinks). Its a cafe more in the sense of an internet cafe and the usage system is almost identical, except instead of a room full of computers you buy time to go into a room full of cats. Meow, as a cat lover this was purrfectly right up my alley (sorry, but I wanted to get all the puns out of the way early), so I went to check it out one morning. Everyone gets an introductory tour on their first visit, so I guess that would be a good place for me to start the blog too. Reception Area (left). Private rooms (right).

Hand-wash area.

This is the first floor. You enter the cat cafe, take off your shoes and put on slippers, then you get your time slip that records when you entered the cafe and whether you asked for any of the hourly package plans (you can get a special deal for 1 or 2 hour blocks). Then, you proceed to the handwash area (so you dont give your germs to kitty). Right next to the handwash room are all the private rooms. If you choose to pay for a private room you get to choose your room/cat and you have them all to yourself for as long as you are in the room. Not sure if all that includes a guarantee that the cat will be playful/awake or not Anyway, I didnt elect for a private session so lets go upstairs toward the play room.

nihonshock.com//my-trip-to-a-cat-ca

1/6

05/Apr/2012

Cat cafes in Nagoya, Japan | nihonshock

Stairwell (left). Relaxation area for drink ing and readinghumans only (right).

The cafe has a really nice atmosphere, that stairwell especially makes you feel like youre in someones house rather than at a business. In fact, Im pretty sure this place IS a renovated part of the owners house. At last! The playroom (careful, the cats dont miss a chance to run out the room when you open the door)!

Kitteh!!!
I got here right as the cafe opened, and it looks like some of the staff were just recovering from a hard night of whatever it is cats do at night. Yawning (left). Hung over (middle). Sleeping in (right).

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnddddd!!!!!

nihonshock.com//my-trip-to-a-cat-ca

What? Okay well

heres more pictures of cats!

2/6

05/Apr/2012

What? Okay, well here s more pictures of cats! Cats in their natural habitat (left). Tom (right).

Cat cafes in Nagoya, Japan | nihonshock

I was at the cafe for around 50 minutes and payed just under 1000 yen when I left. I didnt order any drinks or snacks or anything but I did get a soda from the drink bar (which you are required to pay for even if you dont use). All in all it was a refreshing and relaxing time and a new experience. The cats were rather subdued (in all fairness however, cats are almost always very calm) but there was some ball chasing action in the play room. Im sure the cats would be very excited if you brought them one of the treats which are sold in the (gachapon : coin operated capsule toy machines) outside the play room and downstairs.

Verdict
I will probably go back and may even go for a 2 hour pack! I love cats, and apparently the boy cat team and girl cat team take turns in the play room every hour or so, so if I went back I could see even more adorable little critters. If you love cats, you might enjoy a cat cafe too! There are actually four cat cafes altogether in Nagoya (see links at the bottom of the post), but judging by the websites I have seen, the one I visited (Neko Manma) seems to be the best put together (I havent tried any of the others, so I dont know for sure though), and its in a more residential area so its not crowded with people. Their website claims that they are Nagoyas (saidaik yuu) cat cafe, which means the largest. More pictures

Storefront (left). Cat-related reading materials (middle). The secret cat area (right).

Lolcats!
And now, to fulfill my lifelong dream of authoring my very own lolcats! Tada!

nihonshock.com//my-trip-to-a-cat-ca

3/6

05/Apr/2012

Cat cafes in Nagoya, Japan | nihonshock

Neko Manma Cafe

If youre in Nagoya and you like cats, go check this place out! Its about a 10 minute walk from Gokiso station (kind of in the Seiyu direction, for those of you who know where that is already). Be sure to check out Neko Manma Cafes official website too. Heres a google map for anyone interested.

2012 Google Map data 2012 Google, ZENRIN -

View Larger Map

Links to Cat Cafes in Nagoya

(Neko Manma). Station: /Gokiso (Na-go Na-go). Station: /Gokiso (Cat Street). Station: /Sakae (Neko no Mahou). Station: /Fushimi
Share this Article!

nihonshock.com//my-trip-to-a-cat-ca

4/6

05/Apr/2012
Like 160

Cat cafes in Nagoya, Japan | nihonshock

More posts (tagged) like this...

October 7, 2009 -- A few random shots animals cafes nagoya sightseeing Posted under Living & Enjoying Japan, Most Popular Posts by Lloyd Vincent

9 Responses

Trackbacks + Pingbacks

1. Japundit says: December 10, 2009 at 7:11 am Story added Your story has been featured on Japundit! Here is the link: http://www.japundit.com/Miscellaneous/A_trip_to_a_cat_cafe...

Comments

There are two very close to me and I have been meaning to go for the last six months. I really must go. by: Jon Allen, Dec 10th at 10:14 am

You seem to be just our kind of person! You love Japan AND cats! Thanks again for letting me use your proverb a day thing for a present for my husband. If youd like a copy of the book I made, its available on Blurb.com. Ill send you an invite. by: Rachel@IdahoCheneys, Dec 10th at 1:01 pm

@ Jon : Yeah, it took me a while to get around to it too for some reason. Glad I finally did, though. Hope you find a good cafe! @ Rachel : Thanks, I look forward to seeing it. by: Lloyd Vincent, Dec 13th at 11:37 pm

I live in Hungary and im learning Japanese for 4 weeks now in a session with a very good teacher. I found your blog a couple of weeks ago and i loved your Cheet sheet everything! Gergely This Nekomanma is incredible!!! Anyhow.. Thanks for I love it!! I sooo would like to go to Japan and live there for just a week or two

nihonshock.com//my-trip-to-a-cat-ca

5/6

05/Apr/2012

everything!

Gergely.

Cat cafes in Nagoya, Japan | nihonshock

by: Hannibal, Dec 14th at 1:57 pm

I saw a big poster for this cat cafe! I think it was in Gokiso station, which would make sense. by: Jeannette, Dec 16th at 1:01 am

Hi there! At our local cat cafe you can get normal cafe stuff, food and drinks, and the cats are just lounging around while you sip your latte or munch on what-not. And you pay only for your order, playing with cats is free. heres the link to my blog post about neko cafe: http://www.budgettrouble.com/blog/2009/08/cat-cafes-why-not.html by: AnnaI, Dec 18th at 7:58 am

@ Hannibal : Thanks for the compliments! Hope you can get to Japan sometime. @ Jeannette : I dont usually go into the station so I havent seen the poster, but remember theres not just one but TWO cat cafes at Gokiso! (see the links in the post) @ AnnaI : I see Im not the first to blog about cat cafes. Nice post, and yeah, the place you visited is more of a cafe cafe than the ones here in Nagoya. I wonder if the cats try to stick their nose in your drinks? by: Lloyd Vincent, Dec 20th at 10:48 pm

I love this postthe best thing about cat cafes is making your own lolcats with your pics. by: Maya, Dec 28th at 9:52 pm

nihonshock.com//my-trip-to-a-cat-ca

6/6