Cats certainly play a part in Japanese culture. From maneki neko to Sailor Moon’s “Luna,” cats permeate culture through various mediums. There is a particular establishment that can testify to the importance of cats in Japan: cat cafes. Japan has a multitude of cat cafes, each boasting its fluffy feline friends (and sometimes food and beverages as well).

Primarily a phenomenon of big cities, people pay to play with cats in a more relaxed and stress-free environment. Cat cafes allow people who might not have the means to take care of a pet to enjoy spending time with well mannered cats. One of the most popular chains of cat cafes is MOCHA. It owns shops in several prefectures and often offers videogames and shelves of manga free of charge.

I went here in the spring and spent quite some time respectfully playing and sitting with many little kitties. They seemed to be well taken care of and were provided with many areas to get away from the action if they prefer to be alone. It also seemed to be a popular date spot for younger people looking to admire the cute kitties with their partner. Before leaving you are thoughtfully provided with a place to wash your hands and lint rollers to clean up before reentering the busy city. All in all, I’d say that cat cafes are a good way to wind down after a busy week, especially if you know that the cats are well taken care of and loved.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Sophia University