When you have a cat allergy the last place you’d want to go inside is a cat cafe. Or so you’d think….
Not me.
I must get some sort of perverse pleasure from self-inflicted suffering.
Since I was born, I’ve had allergies of all kinds. I honestly spend half of my life slathering myself in itch relief cream or popping antihistamines after eating something I shouldn’t.
It’s cruel enough that I’m supposed to avoid certain foods, but I’m also supposed to avoid contact with cats. For whatever reason though I’m much better with dogs and show virtually no reaction when around them. By default, I guess you could call me a dog person.
Secretly, I prefer cats though. I’m a massive fan of their independence. They’re kind of bad ass. Cats rarely rely on anyone.
Before going to Japan I dreamed about going to a cat cafe. It didn’t matter that I was allergic to the furry fellas, I’d swallow a packet of antihistamines if necassary.
Visiting a cat cafe in Kyoto
After visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto, I walked to Neko Cafe Time, a small cat cafe en route to Keihan railway station. It’s located up a narrow flight of stairs so not exactly a place you stumble upon without looking for it.
Upon entering I was given a menu. One section had a list of drinks and the other section was a price list of how much it costs to stay inside the cafe.
Initially I didn’t think this ‘counting-down-the-minutes’ procedure seemed necessary. But loads of people could probably spend all day playing inside the cafe with the cats. It wouldn’t be great for business. Realising this, it makes sense that the entrance fee goes up according to the length of stay inside.
I paid upfront for 30-minutes. It worked out well for me in the end because I knew I couldn’t stay long before being hit with a blocked nose and wheezy chest.
Please note! Unfortunately Neko Cafe Time has now closed. Alternatively, if you wish to visit a cat cafe in Kyoto, I recommend heading to Nekogura.
Location: Japan, 〒604-8031 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward. Visit the cafe’s Instagram page for more information.
Inside the not-so-cosy cat cafe
As soon as I entered the cafe, I noticed that instead of looking like a cafe in the traditional sense of the word, it resembled the waiting room of a doctor’s surgery.
If I owned the place I’d replace the furniture with something more characterful and super cosy. Put up some quirky artwork on the walls. I’m thinking Central Perk from Friends. That kind of vibe. You’d also get a crazy-cat-lady mascot in the form of Phoebe.
In reality, I get the clinical choice. It’s practical and much easier to clean which is important for anywhere that mixes the public with animals and also knocks out fruity drinks and whatnot. Anyway, I’m sure the decor isn’t really what you guys want to hear about so let’s talk about the cats!
Come here kitty, kitty
The first cat I clocked was a ginger Persian one and without holding anything back, it was love at first sight!
The only problem was…. another girl was ALL OVER him!
I tried to wait my turn, I really did. And I tried to avert my attention to the other felines who were perfectly cute but my eyes kept wandering over to the ginger one.
I thought if I could manage to get eye contact with him he’d come to me. That love at first sight kind of thing I hear about but have yet to experience. Unfortunately, he didn’t even look in my direction. Not even once.
I glanced at the time, 15-minutes had already passed and I was no closer to the end goal, I needed to do something for him to notice me….
Food was my only hope.
I jumped up to the counter and paid for a bag of treats, and as soon as I opened the packet the cats all came crawling towards me like a moth to a flame. Not the best for my allergies but I didn’t care. I had the ginger in the palm of my hand now.
After being in there for about 20-minutes, I was pleased my eyes had not quadrupled in size, but my skin was beginning to feel itchy. Whether this was partially psychosomatic I’m not entirely sure. But it was worth it to play with the grumpy ginger cat, even if he did only come purring over to me because I’d bought him some edible treats.
Isn’t that the way to anyone’s heart?
Planning a trip to Japan?
Further reading → How to spend 3 days in Kyoto
Spending longer in Japan and search for more ideas? Read my 2-week itinerary and my Koyasan travel guide.
Accommodation: I always use Booking.com to search for available accommodation when I travel. I recommend spending at least a few nights in a traditional Japanese ryokan.
Activities and tours: Browse and pick from a variety of tours available in Japan via Get Your Guide or Viator.
21 responses
I’m allergic to most cats! But strangely I don’t get sniffly around the amazing vocal Bengal that I love with – he’s my housemate’s cat. I did get a bit bunged up the first few days but I’ve put it down to either becoming immune to him (never lived with a cat before, or, it’s that his fur is so matte and silky that he just doesn’t pick up pollen on his adventures. I get bad hayfever so if the latter is correct then maybe I’m NOT actually allergic to cats, and it’s the pollen they’re covered in. On to cat cafés! There’s one in London – Lady Dina’s Cat Emporium that I was dying to try out regardless of allergy! But I’ve heard its all a bit clinical. Not in decor, but there’s lots of rules and unnecessary restrictions. Could be wrong but that’s what I’ve heard. Not tried it yet for that fact. My boyfriend’s sister lived in Copenhagen last year and discovered one there, that’s basically a free for all! And they do coffee with cat head shaped foam! Sounds amazing! Your cat cafe sounds a little in between these 🙂 a little clinical but once you’re in, you’re in! The cats look so at home and loving the attention! Glad to see you’re still having a fantastic time on your new adventures 🙂 – the Brutalist girl 😀
Ha – the at I live* with! Not love with – stupid iphone.
Blimey – cat*!!! I give up.
Haha! I do exactly the same thing when I’ve made a typo – I have to correct myself even if it’s not really necessary like when I’m using Whatsapp!
Sounds like that Bengal cat is a winner!
No way, I didn’t know London had one called Lady Diana’s Cat Emporium, that’s awesome! I definitely think we should check it out in spite of the mixed reviews. Also, your reply comes at a perfect time because I’m going to Copenhagen next week so if I’ve got time I’m going to try and go to the one which you’ve highlighted to me.
Thank you very much for the tips Brutalist girl 🙂
Haha! Oh cool, well the name of it is Café Miao! Do post a photo on Instagram if you visit but decide not to write a post about it!
Oh and I spelt it wrong anyway but it’s Lady Dinah, not Lady Diana’s cat emporium ha! Maybe I’ll try it out one day. Bengal definitely winning.
Such a cute photo of you! And of the cat of course. How much was 30 minutes inside? The first cat cafe in the Netherlands just opened up shop but is booked full for months to come unfortunately! I’m allergic to the little fuckers as well, which is awful since I can’t pass one without petting the itty bitty kitty, but since I’m already on antihistamines 9 months a year for hay fever and dust mite it doesn’t really matter <3
I’m a rubbish travel blogger Wesley because I can’t give you an exact price. However, I don’t think it was too expensive… perhaps something like 3 Euros excluding the drink!
Wow, I can’t believe the newly opened one in the Netherlands is fully booked for months, however, unlike Japan, there’s only one of them so I shouldn’t be too surprised by this!
Hah, you’ll be sorted if you’re already drugged up with antihistamines for such a large part of the year!
Ahah well, how could you miss such a fun place?? I’ve never been in one, but I would love to!!
I couldn’t resist Pam! I hope you manage to get to one, they’re pretty funny!
I have lived in Japan over several months and have to confess…… I have never heard of a cat cafe until I read your piece. And I am a cat lover – without the allergies. On a separate note…. Did people speak Japanese to you? My wife joined me for one month and had a number of people speak to her in Japanese. When I mentioned this to my colleague Ihara told me that Rung had features that could pass for some of the southern islands like Okinawa.
No way! You must have heard of a cat cafe Nigel?! Maybe the information was pushed aside for more important subjects 😉
Funny you ask that question. No matter where I’ve been in Asia, locals have always known I was a foreigner, and some even presuming I’m fully European (even though I think I look much more Asian than I do otherwise), however, the Japanese all spoke to me in Japanese! I was told it’s because quite a few now have plastic surgery so it’s common for girls to look more Westernised. It’s likely your daughter will also get mistaken for being Japanese if she goes to Japan!
However, with me, I think it was more to do with my very pale skin. The difference is noticeable in S E Asia, but it’s the same colour as most people living in the colder climate of Japan!
Haha aww I can’t believe you went to the cat cafe when you have an allergy! I went to one recently in Jakarta, and they cats are pretty adorable. I don’t usually like cats, but it was fun! Have you ever been to a dog cafe? They’re a lot of fun to.
Haha, hopefully the cats in Jakarta softened you up a little 😉 But like you, I’m a dog person and I’ve never heard of a dog cafe before!! Where is the one you went to??!
I’m allergic as well! But love cats, so visited one in Tokyo — but like you, 30 minutes was enough 🙂
I hope you had some precautionary antihistamines in your bag Edna…!
Ive only been to one – it was called Katzentempel (great name!) in Munich. There were no time limits but the cats were pretty antisocial so we didn’t stay too long.
I love that name too! Haha I love the idea of all the cat being antisocial 😀
I went to a cat cafe in Tokyo, and it was heaven. In contrast to what this writer describes, this cafe had comfortable couches, so everyone was comfy, people and cats! I really appreciated the rules for handling the cats, so they didn’t get overwhelmed. I was also amazed by gorgeous cat breeds I’d never seen before.
I’m so glad that a cat cafe has opened in Oakland, California. This one, though, is different, because it’s purpose is to get cats adopted.
Hi Jude, happy to read you enjoyed yourself at a cat cafe in Tokyo, I’d be interested to know what it was called for future reference? As you mentioned, it’s very important that guidelines at put in place to ensure the cats don’t get overwhelmed. Hopefully, all cat cafes implement such guidelines, this one in Kyoto certainly did as well.
Ahhh the one in Oakland sounds wonderful! It reminds me of an unusual cat sanctuary in Rome where you can also adopt, I wrote a piece about it here: https://theculturemap.com/unlikely-cat-sanctuary-in-rome/
hey!
Great article, this is my fav cat cafe in Japan!
Just would like to point out that the ginger kitty is a little lady, and her name is Momo 🙂 which means peach x
Hi Pixie! Haha thanks for the correction – Miss Momo it is then! Oh what a peach she is! 🙂 X