Looking to get up close and cuddly with some furry felines? You’re not a monster, so of course you are! And we’ve got just the spot: Nyankoto Cat Cafe.
Article originally written by Adriana Mazza and published on Tokyo Cheapo
You can find Nyankoto Cat Cafe in Takadanobaba—just two stops from Ikebukuro Station on the Yamanote Line, take the Waseda Exit and walk 3 minutes east along Waseda Dori. It’s on the second floor, but you shouldn’t have trouble spotting it: there’s a big brown sign that goes the width of the building with the cafe name and giant cat faces declaring its presence.
Cat face.
Premium cats, cheapo fees
The first hour is 800 yen, and then 200 yen for every 15 minutes after that. The fee includes an array of beverages (all-you-can-drink), including various hot and cold coffees and teas, soft drinks and lemonade. The drinks all come out of an automated machine (sorry, no fancy baristas here), but you can try as many as you like—and even take one “to go” on your way out since they come in disposable cups. The fee also covers wifi access so you’ll be able to upload your cat snaps to Instagram pronto! This is probably one of the cheapest spots in the city to cozy up to some house lions since many cat cafes are usually 1,000 yen or more per hour + extra for drinks.
Catmosphere
The place isn’t huge, but allows around 10+ cats, 10 cat-loving patrons and a few staff members (who are very friendly and speak some English) to romp around comfortably. There’s also a large window with lots of sunlight coming through and some comfy couches. It’s a quiet place, but maybe that’s exactly the peace and quiet you’re looking for amidst the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. One fellow just came to read a book and passively pet cats if they happened to walk by him.
Some cats were sleeping, some cats were active, but all seemed content to be pet. And if you’re curious about any of them, their profiles are available in both Japanese and English.
The only downside to Nyankoto is that there’s no option to feed the cats (read: make the cats love you) like at some other places. Aside from that, this is a great animal cafe experience for tourists in terms of price, English service and catmosphere.
Name: Nyankoto
How Much: ¥800/hour (¥200 for every 15 min after that)
Address: 2 Chome-14 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Access: Takadonababa Station
Phone: 03-6233-9662
Business hours: 11:00-22:00
More information: http://nyankoto.com/ (Link in Japanese)
