Cat Cafe Asakusa Neko-en — Restaurant in Tokyo

This cat cafe is one of very few ethical cat cafes in Japan. The owner is a true cat lover that is committed to rehoming rescue cats from all over Tokyo. She is passionate about her cause and cares for the cats exceptionally well. The cats have places to rest and all appear happy and healthy. I urge all cat lovers wanting to visit a cat cafe in Tokyo to visit this particular one.

Prior to visiting this cat cafe, we visited another that was part of a chain of cat cafes across Japan which really opened our eyes. Contrary to popular belief, the cats in chain cafes are not rescue cats, they are all young purebreds. As cat lovers who have owned several cats, my wife and I understand cat behavior and as soon as we walked in, we observed several cats that appeared stressed and anxious. These cats are forcibly petted, picked up and overfed all day long. The owners of these establishments do not care for the welfare of their cats, it is outright animal exploitation. Sadly, there are similar chain cafes for owls, hedgehogs and capybaras all over Japan. By visiting these chain cafes, you are perpetuating a vicious cycle of animal...

Was a little hesitant to come here because I was scared it would be a for-profit establishment more interested in your money than the wellbeing of the cats. However, this was far from the case. The lady who owns it was incredibly welcoming and clearly cared for the cats in there as all of them seemed very happy and friendly. It also emphasizes its place as a shelter and rescue to potentially rehome the cats. As other reviews have said, this is way more cat than cafe as the only refreshments were bottled drinks from a mini fridge, but that didn't matter to me. Couldn't recommend this place more if you're looking for a place to sit down and relax. The owner also speaks great English and will gladly talk with you. I loved this place so much that I ended up staying an extra 30 minutes and bought a few of the homemade kitty crafts to support this business. By far, the highlight of my trip to Tokyo. Deserving of 10 stars, couldn't...

I visited this cat cafe in December 2016 and I was impressed by how well the cats were treated and how much the owner really loves cats. There were old and young cats, all getting along well, and very content. The owner offers soft drinks and you can also buy food for the cats although none of them appeared to be underfed at all. The owner was very cheerful and spoke openly of the differences between different parts of Tokyo. In particular, she is very proud to be an outspoken resident of Asakusa.

As is always the way with cats, at least one of them will immediately seek out your lap and you can spend a very happy hour petting it. The owner's focus is in helping to find homes for cats that come to her cafe. While young kittens will always find a home, she also provides a safe place for older cats. All cats were welcome here and any donations you make will go...