As the proud owner of one\u00a0shiba\u00a0inu\u00a0pup and two tabbies, I often miss my\u00a0fur babies\u00a0dearly on overseas trips. So, on my most recent sojourn to Tokyo, I decided I would schedule\u00a0pit stops\u00a0at some of these pet\u00a0cafes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hello, Kitty!<\/strong><\/h2>\nI made a beeline for the\u00a0Calico Cat Cafe<\/a>\u00a0in Tokyo\u2019s vibrant\u00a0Shinjuku\u00a0district<\/a>, reputed to be one of the best cat cafes in the city.<\/p>\n![\"Calico](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/calico-cat-cafe-800x533-1.jpg\")
Calico Cat Cafe \/ CC by 3.0 \/\u00a0Takashi Hososhima<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nInside there are about 20 cats roaming the two-storey\u00a0cafe\u00a0at any given time. Indeed, with plenty of scratching posts, perch ledges and climbing towers, not to mention all the toys a cat could dream of, stepping into the Calico Cat\u00a0Cafe\u00a0is like seeing an\u00a0anime\u00a0show about felines come to life.<\/p>\n
I immediately jumped into the thick of things, picking out a few lounging\u00a0moggies\u00a0to pester by waving a feathered toy in their face.<\/p>\n
However, it was only when I shelled out another 300 yen to buy some cat food \u00ad\u2013 shredded chicken in this case \u2013 that the lazy kitties came to life as they purred and jumped on my lap in an attempt to charm their way to some nosh. This sure feels like home, I thought happily.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What a Hoot : Owl Cafe\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\nEmboldened by my successful cat encounter, I decided to check out something a little more exotic: an owl\u00a0cafe.<\/p>\n
![\"owl-cafe-tokyo-japan\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/owls-800x600-1.jpg\")
Fukuro no Mise<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nNow, despite their rather bookish, adorable appearance, owls are predatory birds, so I was a little apprehensive about touching them. I chose the popular\u00a0Fukuro\u00a0no\u00a0Mise<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0in\u00a0Tsukishima, which is on the outskirts of the city.<\/p>\n(Insider tip:\u00a0This is just a few train stops away from Tokyo\u2019s famed\u00a0Tsukiji\u00a0fish market, so drop by afterwards for some fresh\u00a0sashimi.)<\/p>\n
As I stepped into the\u00a0cafe, I was greeted by about 20 owls calmly perched on ledges. After a short briefing about house rules, which included instructions to touch them only on their heads and backs, to my surprise we were allowed to place the birds on our arms, shoulders or head with the assistance of the staff.<\/p>\n
What struck me most about the owls were how unperturbed they were with the constant human attention. Some owls would stare unflinchingly at humans, while others would nod in response to head rubs. Besides the occasional gasp of surprise and delight, all the visitors, slack-jawed and wide-eyed with wonder, were on such good behaviour, I wasn\u2019t sure if the owls or the humans were the tamer species.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hop to It<\/strong><\/h2>\nNext, I made a stopover at rabbit\u00a0cafe\u00a0Ra.a.g.f<\/a>, which has a branch in trendy\u00a0Harajuku. Unlike most cat\u00a0cafes, where the felines roam at will, the bunnies are kept in separate enclosures. However, while they\u2019re only allowed in the ‘play area’ one at a time, guests are welcome to freely interact with the rabbits in their cages.<\/p>\n![\"raagf-tokyo-rabbit-cafe\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/raagf-tokyo-rabbit-cafe-800x533-1.jpg\")
R.a.a.g.f. rabbit cafe \/ CC by 3.0 \/\u00a0John Gillespie<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nTo my amusement, I later found out that bunnies are prone to going at it like, well, rabbits, hence the strict rules on keeping them separate.<\/p>\n
Still, having just one hopping bunny in the\u00a0cafe\u00a0at any time was no hindrance to having a\u00a0rollicking\u00a0good time. Lured by the promise of fresh carrots and vegetables, the rabbits are quite content to leap around the play space, often settling down on someone\u2019s lap as they snack on a leaf or two.<\/p>\n
In fact, I found the rabbits to be more affectionate than the cats, as they frequently had no qualms in approaching humans for a cuddle or head rub.<\/p>\n
By the time my one hour was up, I was lulled into a deep state of calmness, with my travel-frayed nerves soothed by the rhythmic hopping and gentle mannerisms of these adorable, fluffy animals.<\/p>\n
If you’re keen to get some animal\u00a0lovin’ but are not heading to Japan just yet, here are some\u00a0other cafes\u00a0in Asia where you can have a similar experience.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Singapore<\/strong><\/h2>\nMeomi\u00a0Cat\u00a0Cafe<\/a><\/h3>\nWith multiple breeds roaming about, including popular Scottish fold and\u00a0munchkin\u00a0cats, this small but cosy\u00a0cafe\u00a0is popular among\u00a0Instagram-crazed kitty lovers.<\/p>\n
![\"meomi-singapore-cat-cafe\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/meomi-singapore-cat-cafe-800x800-1.jpg\")
Meomi Cat Cafe Facebook<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nSeoul, South Korea<\/strong><\/h2>\nBau\u00a0Haus<\/a><\/h3>\nDog\u00a0cafes\u00a0are rare, but this is one is well run and a great place to visit. With two play areas for larger and smaller breeds,\u00a0Bau\u00a0Haus\u00a0is a must-visit for lonely travellers who miss their canine companions.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net\/hphotos-xtl1\/v\/t1.0-9\/11128346_1063649583649682_2583404721765646582_n.jpg?oh=552cb12330daee230914c7a0b7b1a7b9&oe=578230E8\")
Heart KPop<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Chiang<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Mai, Thailand<\/strong><\/h2>\nLucky Bunny\u00a0Cafe<\/a><\/h3>\nThe owner of the Lucky Bunny first started this\u00a0cafe\u00a0so visitors could come over to play with her rabbits. Now, not only is this homely\u00a0cafe\u00a0filled with bouncing bunnies, it\u2019s a popular hang-out for animal lovers and doubles as a rabbit boarding house, too.<\/p>\n
![\"lucky-bunny-cafe\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lucky-bunny-cafe-800x600-1.jpg\")
Lucky Bunny Cafe<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nHanoi, Vietnam<\/strong><\/h2>\nPet\u00a0Cafe<\/a><\/h3>\nNot for the faint hearted, Pet\u00a0Cafe\u00a0in Hanoi houses a wide array of exotic animals, including snakes, lizards, hedgehogs and spiders. But fear not, the owner spends months training the creatures before visitors are allowed to hold them.<\/p>\n
Inside there are about 20 cats roaming the two-storey\u00a0cafe\u00a0at any given time. Indeed, with plenty of scratching posts, perch ledges and climbing towers, not to mention all the toys a cat could dream of, stepping into the Calico Cat\u00a0Cafe\u00a0is like seeing an\u00a0anime\u00a0show about felines come to life.<\/p>\n I immediately jumped into the thick of things, picking out a few lounging\u00a0moggies\u00a0to pester by waving a feathered toy in their face.<\/p>\n However, it was only when I shelled out another 300 yen to buy some cat food \u00ad\u2013 shredded chicken in this case \u2013 that the lazy kitties came to life as they purred and jumped on my lap in an attempt to charm their way to some nosh. This sure feels like home, I thought happily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Emboldened by my successful cat encounter, I decided to check out something a little more exotic: an owl\u00a0cafe.<\/p>\n Now, despite their rather bookish, adorable appearance, owls are predatory birds, so I was a little apprehensive about touching them. I chose the popular\u00a0Fukuro\u00a0no\u00a0Mise<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0in\u00a0Tsukishima, which is on the outskirts of the city.<\/p>\n (Insider tip:\u00a0This is just a few train stops away from Tokyo\u2019s famed\u00a0Tsukiji\u00a0fish market, so drop by afterwards for some fresh\u00a0sashimi.)<\/p>\n As I stepped into the\u00a0cafe, I was greeted by about 20 owls calmly perched on ledges. After a short briefing about house rules, which included instructions to touch them only on their heads and backs, to my surprise we were allowed to place the birds on our arms, shoulders or head with the assistance of the staff.<\/p>\n What struck me most about the owls were how unperturbed they were with the constant human attention. Some owls would stare unflinchingly at humans, while others would nod in response to head rubs. Besides the occasional gasp of surprise and delight, all the visitors, slack-jawed and wide-eyed with wonder, were on such good behaviour, I wasn\u2019t sure if the owls or the humans were the tamer species.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Next, I made a stopover at rabbit\u00a0cafe\u00a0Ra.a.g.f<\/a>, which has a branch in trendy\u00a0Harajuku. Unlike most cat\u00a0cafes, where the felines roam at will, the bunnies are kept in separate enclosures. However, while they\u2019re only allowed in the ‘play area’ one at a time, guests are welcome to freely interact with the rabbits in their cages.<\/p>\n To my amusement, I later found out that bunnies are prone to going at it like, well, rabbits, hence the strict rules on keeping them separate.<\/p>\n Still, having just one hopping bunny in the\u00a0cafe\u00a0at any time was no hindrance to having a\u00a0rollicking\u00a0good time. Lured by the promise of fresh carrots and vegetables, the rabbits are quite content to leap around the play space, often settling down on someone\u2019s lap as they snack on a leaf or two.<\/p>\n In fact, I found the rabbits to be more affectionate than the cats, as they frequently had no qualms in approaching humans for a cuddle or head rub.<\/p>\n By the time my one hour was up, I was lulled into a deep state of calmness, with my travel-frayed nerves soothed by the rhythmic hopping and gentle mannerisms of these adorable, fluffy animals.<\/p>\n If you’re keen to get some animal\u00a0lovin’ but are not heading to Japan just yet, here are some\u00a0other cafes\u00a0in Asia where you can have a similar experience.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With multiple breeds roaming about, including popular Scottish fold and\u00a0munchkin\u00a0cats, this small but cosy\u00a0cafe\u00a0is popular among\u00a0Instagram-crazed kitty lovers.<\/p>\n Dog\u00a0cafes\u00a0are rare, but this is one is well run and a great place to visit. With two play areas for larger and smaller breeds,\u00a0Bau\u00a0Haus\u00a0is a must-visit for lonely travellers who miss their canine companions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The owner of the Lucky Bunny first started this\u00a0cafe\u00a0so visitors could come over to play with her rabbits. Now, not only is this homely\u00a0cafe\u00a0filled with bouncing bunnies, it\u2019s a popular hang-out for animal lovers and doubles as a rabbit boarding house, too.<\/p>\n Not for the faint hearted, Pet\u00a0Cafe\u00a0in Hanoi houses a wide array of exotic animals, including snakes, lizards, hedgehogs and spiders. But fear not, the owner spends months training the creatures before visitors are allowed to hold them.<\/p>\nCalico Cat Cafe \/ CC by 3.0 \/\u00a0Takashi Hososhima<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nWhat a Hoot : Owl Cafe\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Fukuro no Mise<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nHop to It<\/strong><\/h2>\n
R.a.a.g.f. rabbit cafe \/ CC by 3.0 \/\u00a0John Gillespie<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nSingapore<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Meomi\u00a0Cat\u00a0Cafe<\/a><\/h3>\n
Meomi Cat Cafe Facebook<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nSeoul, South Korea<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Bau\u00a0Haus<\/a><\/h3>\n
Heart KPop<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nChiang<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Mai, Thailand<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Lucky Bunny\u00a0Cafe<\/a><\/h3>\n
Lucky Bunny Cafe<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nHanoi, Vietnam<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Pet\u00a0Cafe<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"Pet](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/pet-cafe-hanoi-800x450-1.jpg\")
\u00a0