Take a seat at a Tokyo cafe and a rabbit, snake, goat, dog or even an owl might be next to you when you visit an owl café or another crazy café in Japan.
The chance to get up close and personal with a variety of animals at an animal cafe in Tokyo is one of the many attractions of visiting Japan. The weirder, the better does it for me, so I headed off to a cafe where there are as many owls as there are people.
Tokyo’s owl café Akiba Fukurou
Akiba Fukurou is a favourite spot to visit, and visitors line up outside waiting for their hour of owl.
Although it’s widely known as a cafe and looks like a cafe, the owner of Akiba Fukurou prefers to call it a relaxation space where visitors can interact with the owls and doesn’t actually serve food or drink.
Once inside, guests take a seat and have the chance to meet the resident owls. There are about 20 owls ranging in size from petite to quite large. They don’t seem terribly bothered by the people around them, and some just chose to nap the hour away.
Guests are instructed not to disturb sleeping owls or those with signs that say, “Please don’t touch”, but it’s okay to touch the others. Stroking the owl’s head, between the eyes, is recommended and seems to be quite enjoyed by the creatures.
Get up close and personal with an owl at a crazy cafe
After a while, the owner comes around and places an owl on your arm if you want to get a little closer to the creatures. I had some one-on-one time with Snowman who was happy to sit quietly and have his photo taken. I think he even smiled a little.
After a while, the owner of this animal cafe in Tokyo comes around and places an owl on your arm if you want to get a little closer to the creatures. I had some one-on-one time with Snowman who was happy to sit quietly and have his photo taken. I think he even smiled a little.
Crazy animal cafes in Japan
There are plenty of crazy cafes in Japan, but the one that has stolen my heart and is definitely on my list for the next visit is Dog Hill Café in Nagasaki prefecture which has 20 Welsh Corgis!
Having owned three corgis, I am totally biased but think corgis are the best dogs. The owners are corgi breeders as well as café owners.
Another animal café that I’m curious about is Harry Hedgehog Café. Here is where you can see these cute hedgehogs and even cuddle them. Make a reservation, choose your favourite hedgehog and settle in for an extended cuddle session. The animals are for sale but make sure you can take it home before you buy. Find it at 2F, 6-7-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Getting to Akiba Fukurou Owl Café
The cafe is located a two-minute walk from JR Akihabara Station, and there are good instructions on the website to guide you there.
Bottom line: It costs 2,000 yen per person for a one-hour visit.
Best tip: Take cash, they don’t accept credit cards.
Disclaimer: Ed+bK travelled in Japan courtesy of the Japan National Tourism Organisation.
