Animeal — Restaurant in Osaka

When I arrived for my reservation I was told that the capybara had just been put away for the day. I was very disappointed as that was the entire reason I travelled so far to Animeal. I asked to see the binturong first and was told no as there was a private group there at the moment. So I felt quite limited and started off meeting the cats and small dogs. No cats were friendly and all were up high out of reach, probably because of the dogs. The dogs were only interested in following the staff member around for treats. I asked where the pig was, and was told he was resting. Again disappointed as I was looking to interact with animals I can’t see at home. I went the the large dog level next, which smelled badly of dog. The smell was overpowering. All the dogs were running around, either playing with each other or following the staff member for treats. None wanted to interact with the guests. I felt as though there were too many people in the space, it was very noisy, and some of the dogs were showing displacement behaviour. I then asked the staff if I could see the binturong as I didn’t have much time left. I went back to the original floor and walked into a room that was quite simply packed with people, it was very overwhelming for me so I don’t think it would be pleasant for the animals. The binturong had a large group crowding it so I went over to the ferrets and fed one and took pictures with it. It seemed like it just wanted to sleep. I then fed the hedgehogs who were all hiding. There were two owls flying around which didn’t seem thrilled with the amount of people in the space. They seemed stressed. Finally the binturong was free so I fed him and took a couple of photos. I looked at the iguanas, both of which were too big to fit in their cages properly. A drink was included in the cost so I ordered a cold fruit tea, but they never served it. When I asked at the end of my time if it was coming, they gave me a hot coffee instead. Overall it was a very very disappointing experience, mainly just because of the amount of people in the animal’s space. I have worked in animal welfare for 15 years and in Australia this human to animal ratio in such a small space would not be acceptable. And of course I was so sad not being able to see the advertised capybara. I suggest minimising the numbers of people visiting at one time, separating the different animal groups (ie. cats from dogs) and being transparent with the animal types that are available upfront. Reading the other reviews now, it is clear that many people have been misled. Also put your iguanas in appropriate enclosures, they need room to move and turn around! Don’t go to this animal cafe. There are other more ethical places you can visit and...

We reserved and arrived about 15 minutes late but am glad they still let us in. We still had to wait at a small queue that was already there.

The staff there can't really speak english so they used translation app.

We paid at the door for 60 minutes and it was mandatory to each order a drink. If you decide to extend later on, you can also do so.

Once you enter the lower level's animal room (with ducks, guinea pigs, birds etc), you can ask the staff for the food box that is already included in the payment.

One of the small yellowish parrots might fly to your shoulder or hand but thankfully it didn't peck us.

For other floors, you'll have to pay to feed other animals.

The staff informed me half an hour via translation app before their feeding time is over at 3.30pm and they'll be swopped with other animals. So that was nice.

It was feeding time at 3.30pm on the higher floor with the big dogs which is the same time that the lower floor's animals are being swopped.

They have a washroom at the same level as the big dogs (6th floor) and there's an elevator.

Caution when feeding big dogs, unfortunately a few of the dogs were quite rowdy as they jumped on me while I was holding food and they didn't understand when I told them to sit (since they're japanese lol) and the staff might not always be paying attention to help.

1 of the dogs who looks like a wolf (not a husky), all dark greyish, bit my dad's hand twice. And I also felt its claws as it jumped on me so it's not safe.

Shortly after the staff came to scold the wolf dog, which I'm glad she did and brought him into the room to be kept there until we left.

The staff sincerely apologised several times and helped to put plaster. Good service.

I won't recommend feeding the big dogs. You can feed the small dogs at the higher floor (6th floor).

There was a pig, a brown poodle, several cats and small dogs on the 6th floor.

60 minutes felt a bit rushed for me as there are others around, so I wanted to take more time to enjoy the animals.

What I appreciate is that after our time was up we could still sit at the outside area as we were finishing our drinks and looked through the window.

Overall it was a...

This was my first time visiting an animal café in Japan, something I’ve been looking forward to for years. The idea of getting to see certain animals up close was really exciting for me, and despite the online criticism these types of cafés often get, I always assumed that some of those concerns might be overblown. Unfortunately, my experience at Animeal completely shifted my perspective—and not in a good way. While this café does not appear to sedate their animals, from what I witnessed during the hour I spent there, the animals are clearly not being properly cared for—especially when it comes to basic needs like food and water. Many animals were listed as "resting" and unavailable for interaction, but I couldn't help but feel this was a cover for more serious neglect. The ferrets seemed very tired. The dogs, particularly the larger breeds like the husky, were visibly underweight. The husky had a diaper on, and you could clearly see how slim his waist was—something that is not normal or healthy for a dog of that size. What really struck me was the lack of water. The moment a staff member poured water into a bowl, dogs rushed to it as if they hadn’t had access to water in a long time. It was upsetting to witness. The most distressing part for me was the small dogs area. The dogs were clearly starving. They were all extremely food-motivated—beyond what I’d consider normal. When someone bought a small bit of kibble, the dogs began to fight each other for it, growling and pushing. It was chaotic and painful to watch. The moment I decided to leave was when I saw dogs licking pee off of a pee pad because their water bowl was completely empty. This place may appear cute and exciting on the surface, but please don’t let appearances fool you. These animals are not being cared for the way they should be. I left feeling sad, guilty, and heartbroken. I urge others to think twice before supporting establishments that don’t prioritize the health and well-being of the animals they...