Ride a cat-themed train
In Wakayama, which is located in the Kansai region, there is a cat-themed train waiting to be boarded.
Tama was a beloved cat that lived at the Kishi Station, the last stop on the Kishigawa train line. She was officially named stationmaster in 2007 by the president of the Wakayama Electric Railway.
Tama unfortunately passed away in 2015, but apprentices Yontama and Nitama are continuing to do a great job! Tama continues to be honoured as a goddess with a shrine on Kishi’s platform, which also has a Tama museum, cat-themed cafe, and store.
The Kishigawa line with the cat-themed train starts from Wakayama Station, which is easily accessible from Osaka Station. From Wakayama Station, follow the signs for the Wakayama Electric Railway Kishigawa Line. Take the train from Wakayama Station to Kishi Station. The full ride is 35 minutes long.
You can visit the current stationmasters during their work hours, which are between 10:00 – 16:00 with a couple of days off a week, so check the schedule! As well as Kishi Station, you can also see a cat stationmaster at Idakiso Station.
Visit a Cat Island
Although only a couple are really well known, there are actually 17 cat islands you can visit in Japan!
I personally have visited Tashirojima, and it was one of the best day trips I’ve ever done.
True to its name, there are cats literally everywhere. As well as taking time to mingle with the cats, there is a scenic hiking route that takes you around the whole island, a small shrine to visit, a shop for unique souvenirs, and a cafe to take a break in (and play with more cats!).
For more about visiting Cat Island, including ferry times, you can check out my post here!
Visit a Cat Cafe
You’re spoilt for choice for Cat Cafés in Japan. There seems to be one around every corner!
Two of the best I’ve visited are MoCHA in Akihabara, Tokyo, and Fluffy’s Cafe in Kyoto.
Cat Cafe MoCHA is a spacious place taking over an entire floor of a building right in the heart of Akihabara. The cafe is obviously designed with the cats in mind, with plenty of perches, hiding places, and comfy nooks to disappear in, and it’s great fun to watch them hop around the bird cages suspended from the ceiling. It costs ¥1,080-¥1,380 for the first 30 minutes, drink included, then ¥200 for every additional 10 minutes you stay, although they do have a maximum charge of ¥3,200-¥3,800. For more information or to check out their cats, you can find their website here.
Fluffy’s Cafe in Kyoto is smaller, but they separate their cafe downstairs from their cat area upstairs, meaning that you can purchase adorable cat-themed food to eat in the cafe, then spend time with the cats. The clean, open space is home to Scottish Folds, Munchkins, Maine Coons, Russian Blues, American and British Shorthairs and more. You can check the website here for their menu and their cats.
Remember: Follow the rules. Most cat cafes will enforce things like not picking the cats up, wearing slippers, no flash photography, and no outside food. You’ll always be told the rules before entry, so there’s no excuses!
Visit a Cat Shrine
Gotokuji Temple lies just outside of Central Tokyo, and is definitely a place worth visiting for a cat lover.
A special hall was built on the grounds in 1941 that contains hundreds of ‘Lucky Cat’ statues, or ‘Maneki-Neko’. Lots of people visit them to pray for good fortune, including safety, prosperity, and wealth.
The Buddhist Temple is a beautiful place to visit regardless of the season, and there’s plenty more to discover on the grounds once you’ve had your fill of the cats.
Visiting hours are between 06:00 and 17:00, and it’s a 5 minute walk from Miyanosaka Station on the Tokyu Setagaya Line.
Go Cat Shopping
Yanaka-Ginza is a traditional shopping street that holds around 60 restaurants and shops, but the biggest draw is the cats!
Nicknamed ‘Cat Town’, you can find many places that offer cat-themed goods. For example, Neko Action is a shop dedicated to cat merchandise, open 11:00 – 18:00 (closed Mondays), and Yanaka Shippoya is a store that sells doughnuts in the shape of a cat’s tail. It’s also open 11:00 – 18:00, but is closed Tuesdays.
For places to eat, try mammies an sourire for their pies, Yanaka Ginza Sharaku for their buttered potatoes, Niku no Satō for their meat cutlets, Komichi for their ice cream, and in the summer, Himitsudo for their shaved ice. You won’t go home hungry!
Paint your own Maneki-neko
Cafe Neko-e-mon doesn’t just offer cute cat-themed drinks and snacks, it also offers you the chance to paint your own maneki-neko!
Choose from a few different models, then get to work colouring in your own cat while nibbling on cat eclairs and doughnuts. I was pretty happy with my effort!
The cafe lies near Yanaka Ginza, and is open from 11:00 – 18:00, closed on Mondays.
Attend a Cat Festival
In mid-October, the Bake Neko Festival takes place in Tokyo. This event welcomes anyone to wear a cat-themed costume and join one of the four 20-minute parades (after paying the ￥500 entrance fee) that take place from Kagurazaka Station at 13:30, 14:30, and 15:30, and from Bishamonten Zenkokuji Temple at 16:30.
There are also dances and challenges to participate in, as well as souvenirs to buy and snacks to eat. It’s a great day out!
Register at the office between the hours of 10:00 and 15:30 (address 6-59-2, Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0825) then join in anytime between 10:00 and 17:00 on October 12, 2025.
Stay in a Cat-themed Hotel
Neko Neko Inn in Tokyo is a cat-themed hotel where up to 5 guests can stay at a time. Beautifully decorated with cats in mind, the inn is a work of love, and you’ll find lots of thoughtful touches throughout the house. It’s well located too, close to Meiji Jingu and Yoyogi Park.
The address is 5 Chome-56-3 Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-0053, Japan, and one night’s stay costs around €285 + €50 cleaning fee.
Also, if you find yourself visiting Tashirojima (Cat Island) in the warmer months, there are cat-themed houses you can book to stay in as well! Manga Island is currently closed for the rest of 2024, but they’ll be open around April 2025.
Visit a Cat Theme Park
Kichijōji Petit Mura is a small but cute theme park near the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo, which houses shops and cafes with a feline theme.
It’s open from 11:00 – 20:00, and it’s worth spending a little time visiting the cat cafe, tea house and stand, shops and galleries located on site, which are all whimsical in their own ways.
For more information, you can check out the website here.
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