Originally published in January 2017.
Confession: I’d never been to a cat cafe… until a few months ago.
As someone who loves to travel and who loves cats (just follow my Instagram for pictures of Jiji and Lihue), that seemed almost blasphemous to me. If not quite blasphemous, it seemed at least cruel that I had never encountered one on my journeys. I longed to be part of that club of stylish IG bloggers, sipping coffee while surrounded by cats in some far-away country (only mild sarcasm here).
But finally, on my most recent trip to Japan, I made it happen.
The opportunity presented itself while walking through Harajuku after Sunday brunch. On the corner of the main shopping street (about a block down from Takeshita Street, across from the park) my boyfriend and I spotted a window full of wide-eyed cats. It was time.
Cat Cafe Mocha is on the 4th floor of the building, with windows looking down on the busy street. It’s a great spot, and although it requires a reservation, we managed to walk right in (I would reserve ahead of time if visiting in high season). It was something like $20-30 USD for both of us to enter for 30 minutes, and that included hot beverages from the tea/coffee maker. Treats for the cats were extra, which we skipped.
While the inside was gorgeous, Cat Cafe Mocha was not the experience I expected.
The first thing to disappoint me was the time we were allowed to spend inside. In an ideal world, I would be sitting on the sofa, drinking tea with a book in my lap, lazily petting cats for hours.
IRL, the cat cafe was strict about the time allowed inside. In retrospect, I guess my fantasies were unrealistic.
And I don’t think I was the only one feeling bummed when we walked inside – the cats seemed to be, too.
When interacting with the cats it was hard to elicit an enthusiastic reaction from them, if any reaction at all. Most of the cats just lay around unmoving, letting visitors pet them but not much else. We theorized they might be drugged with something.
Again, maybe I had unrealistic expectations going in? Or is this typical of the cat cafe experience? At least the Instagram photos were good.
So by this point, you’re probably wondering…
If not the cat cafe, how should I spend my afternoon in Tokyo?!
This brings me to this hidden gem, something I read about online in passing and remembered that day – the Owl Cafe.
Right around the corner from Cat Cafe Mocha, in the Harajuku/Shibuya are, the Owl Cafe is hidden on the 4th floor of a nondescript building, slightly away from the main streets. It was a hell of a time trying to find it, which included walking through weirdly desolate-looking alleys and up a lot of staircases until someone finally helped us.
When we arrived, we couldn’t get in right away but made a reservation for a few hours later. It was cheaper than the cat cafe, and we would get to spend a whole hour there. I was stoked!
The owl cafe, in one word, was a hoot.
When it’s time for your reservation you collect as a group in the cafe/parlor area, while the staff prepares the owl room for the next group of visitors. They offer beverage options from tea to beer, which is included in the price.
There are a few different kinds of owls inside, from petite little Japanese owls to enormous American ones. Our favorite, the American owl seen here, was named Bob.
The staff gives you a brief introduction to each owl and then observes while you walk around petting, holding, and taking pictures with the gorgeous birds. It’s a truly unique experience, and in that tiny room, you’re sure to make friends with fellow visitors. The space is so cute and intimate, I absolutely loved it.
When you’re done enjoying your time with the owls, you can continue drinking and hanging out in the parlor until the hour is up. The staff was excellent and even gave us awesome gifts – small pins with pictures of the owls we met (these went promptly on the outside of my backpack).
Spending the afternoon in Harajuku, and visiting both cafes, made for a truly memorable day. But if your time is limited, save your money for the owls. It's cheaper, kills more time, and is a much more unique experience.
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