THE CAT RETREAT at UTANEKODO — Restaurant in Kyoto

Our first cat cafe in Japan, was a lovely experience. The owner was very kind, explained all of the rules to us and then gave us the instructions in English to ensure we understood. She introduced us to Ben-Chan who was very friendly, and gave us some treats to give him while we waiting for our drinks and parfait.

Once we had washed our hands, she gave us a wipe to sanitise our phones, and then sanitised our hands and socks to ensure the safety of her cats - something we could appreciate. She had rules in place to ensure the cats remain healthy as this is a sanctuary rather than a petting cafe.

Once we were upstairs with the cats, she had a translated audio message to ensure we understood her rules - something we could appreciate. I enjoyed how thorough she was to ensure the safety of her cats. Once we were seated on the bean bags, the cats were understandably hesitant as these are new people in their space. She quickly returned with treats for us to give to them which helped to build their trust.

This was a space for the cats, where we were simply their visitors. Some of the cats understandably have trust issues, they have their own personalities and choose who they will interact with. We were happy to be invited into their space, to feed them, and to play if they wished. It was a lovely experience if you go into the space understanding the goals and values of the cafe. Would highly recommend to anyone who wants a quiet cat...

The prices here can be a bit higher than other cat cafés, but don't be turned away. The owners value their cats' health over all, while providing an intimate and relaxing experience. Not to mention, their proceeds to go cat rescue volunteers, all of which I highly appreciate.

You get an hour with the cats for about ¥2700, and other amenities (like treats) at no extra charge. You also have to pay for at least one drink (~¥1000–2000) in the café portion before going upstairs to see most of the cats (Ben-chan was friendly and cute company in the meantime). The drink was quite delicious and the perfect buildup before going upstairs.

Rather than forcing the cats to interact with customers, you are instructed to sit down in one place until the cats come to you so they don't get stressed out by people chasing them to try and pet them—a problem at many cat cafés. The cats are given ample places to hide so they can be away from humans if they are not in the mood to be touched. This naturally means they are more willing and happy to see people, knowing they will be treated with respect and can escape if needed.

Other cafés care more about making a profit and being "Instagram-able" than the health and safety of their cats: the most important aspect of their business! For these reasons, I highly recommend this cat café over commercial cat cafés, which are sterile and overcrowded...

This is the real deal! I feel so privileged to have found this place and experienced an authentic cat cafe in Japan, based on the cats’ needs and well-being above all. The owner works her heart out serving the cats and the customers simultaneously. You can tell this is her calling. Yet unlike other rescue-style shelters, which can be a bit scruffy, this one is visually beautiful, spotlessly clean, and so charming! The cats are in immaculate health and extremely friendly; they had the option to exit into a sectioned-off area but they stayed with us humans the whole time. The procedures for entering and exiting the cat area were very clear and well-explained. You can read about each cat and their back story. Everything was really well-organised. It’s not cheap, but that’s because this is a one-woman operation sustaining eight cats, not a commercial enterprise. Proof of this is that it’s only open for four hours a day, allowing the cats ample time to be alone. Thank you so much to the owner for everything she does. I can’t wait to return next time...