Four-member dance and vocal unit TEMPURA KIDZ announced on their official website on Thursday (February 18) that YU-KA, AO, and P→★ will depart from the group following their concert at Shibuya Veats on March 28, 2021.

TEMPURA KIDZ began their career as backup dancers for Japan’s queen of pop Kyary Pamyu Pamyu where they were known as the “Kyary Kids.” The original five-member line-up of YU-KA, AO, P→★, KARIN, and NaNaHo made their major debut in 2013. At the young ages of just 15, the group took their unmatched, high-energy dance performances across Japan and overseas. The big stage was ahead of them as they embarked on a world tour to perform in 17 cities throughout 13 countries, beginning with a performance at the Thai music festival TOFU MUSIC FES 2014 where they performed alongside the acclaimed K-pop artists 2NE1 and GOT7.

TEMPURA KIDZ at TOFU MUSIC FES 2014

TEMPURA KIDZ also performed at the world’s largest indoor arena, Philippine Arena, in Manila, Philippines for the 2015 New Year’s countdown event. In the performer line-up, TEMPURA KIDZ were just one act behind Chris Brown.

TEMPURA KIDZ at Philippine Arena in 2015

TEMPURA KIDZ have taken their exceptional dance skills around the world where they have hosted dance workshops to children at schools. One was hosted in Payatas in the Philippines as part of an Official Development Assistance (ODA) effort and was filmed to be shown on TV.

Over the course of their career, TEMPURA KIDZ have also lent their creative choreography to countless artists as well as for commercials and TV shows. In 2019, they performed their iconic “Puputto Fumutto Kaiketsu Dance” on Kōhaku Uta Gassen, an annual New Year’s Eve television special in Japan. The dance was created by the group for the animation series Butt Detective.

In 2018, group member NaNaHo graduated for the group, leaving TEMPURA KIDZ with just four members: YU-KA , AO, P→★, and KARIN. However, YU-KA , AO, and P→★ will now be graduating from the group at their solo concert together at Shibuya Veats on March 28, 2021 to focus on their own individual careers.

YU-KA aims to become a performer on many different levels and so wants to focus on enhancing her current skill. AO wants to become an actress, and P→★ wants to challenge himself to many new things such as being a DJ, model, and performer to arm himself with a talented skill set. The remaining member KARIN will announce her plans in the near future.

This March will be the final time that the four members stand on stage together as TEMPURA KIDZ. Tickets went on sale on Thursday (February 18), including special tickets that include signings from the members and an invitation to their rehearsal.

Comment From TEMPURA KIDZ

“We want to convey our utmost gratitude to you all for supporting us for so long. On March 28, at our solo concert, YU-KA, AO, and P→★ will graduate from TEMPURA KIDZ. Each member has decided to pursue their own paths. This of course means a big change for TEMPURA KIDZ, but all four of us will go all out to put on a hugely successful final show for you that captures out past 8 years together. Truly, from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you. And remember, this isn’t the end—we’re working super hard to get off to a new start, so we ask you kindly for your continued support.”

—From all the members of TEMPURA KIDZ

Each member of TEMPURA KIDZ also wrote their own handwritten letters to fans which you can read here. 

Here at MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON, we post news and information about Japan in six languages. Our aim is to deliver a variety of content related to Japan for those who love and enjoy Japanese culture.

Right now, people across the globe are in self-isolation as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The same goes for Japan too, so we’ve taken this opportunity to create a new series on the website to show how we’re spending time at home here in Japan. The future is yet uncertain, and we hope for normality to return for all of us soon. We created a new articles series called Stay Home with which we hope to take your mind off the situation, even for just a little bit, to help you feel calmer. It might give you some tips on what you can do while spending time at home.

Today, we are joined by all four members of Japanese dance and vocal group TEMPURA KIDZ who have shared with us what they have been doing at home recently.

Stay Home With AO

1: Watching movies

I’ve been sipping on nice hot drinks while cosied up watching movies. One that I want to recommend that makes me cry is The Green Mile. For comedy is would be A Story of Yonosuke!

2: Reading

Reading at home! I don’t make a lot of progress with reading, but I can concentrate better setting time aside to read at home alone rather than when I usually would on trains or in my spare time. So I’ve developed the ability to read a lot quicker now! I want to use this time to read lots and lots!

What’s your secret to spending time at home?

It’s all about putting the time in right now! I usually don’t get this kind of time to enjoy chilling at home, so I’m consuming lots of media like movies, dramas, anime, and books. I think it’s great time spent to power up my power as a human, by laughing and crying while increasing my knowledge and sensibility!

Please give a message to those reading this article

With more time spent at home because of the lockdown period, you might feel a sense of loneliness or anxiety, but it’s important to increase your immunity, even a little, and make your mind and body strong! I hear that tears and laughter are a way of de-stressing and upping your immunity. Let’s immerse ourselves in some kind of media and laugh and cry so we can eliminate stress, increase our immunity, and level ourselves up.

Stay Home With KARIN

1: Feeling better with candied fruit!

I’m lifting my mood at home by making candied fruit! It’s super simple, you just need fruit, sugar, and water.

Though I’m at home indoors, it makes me feel like I’m at a stall at a Japanese festival, so it makes me happy!

It’s really easy to do, so why not give it a go yourself?

What’s your secret to spending time at home?

If you use your time at home wisely to try out things you normally don’t have time for you’re bound to discover something new. I think that’s important.

Please give a message to those reading this article

Wash your hands, be aware that each and every person is a potential danger, and make the right decision until the fun days return. Let’s all get through this together!

Stay Home With YU-KA

1: Dancing on TikTok at home!

I started using TikTok just recently. Since the lockdown means being at home everyday, I’m posting dance videos everyday as part of my daily routine!

They’re super easy to make and post, I think it’s the best kind of content to enjoy with everyone. Plus, you feel refreshed after moving your body about, and it lifts your mood!

２: I can’t meet with the other members, but…

I’m also doing duet dances in my videos too! When the lockdown finally ends and I get to meet with everyone again, my happiness won’t feel incomplete anymore.

Doing this means you can stay connected with people even if you’re at home. It made me realise again what a convenient time we live in. I’m posting everyday, so I hope it kills a bit of time for everyone at home!

Check out my videos here: https://www.tiktok.com/@yuka_tempurakidz

What’s your secret to spending time at home?

This period we’re in now might actually be a great opportunity to do those things you’ve been neglecting everyday, or to challenge yourself to something new! You might also realise something you didn’t before because of this very situation. It’s made me reconsider the peaceful life I took for granted, so let’s think of it as a plus because of the good time we’ve been granted!

Please give a message to those reading this article

Our want for the lives we loved together to continue will ensure that they return quicker. Let’s pray for things to turn back to normal and work hard to get through this together!み

Stay Home With P→☆

1: Making music and editing YouTube videos

I’m set on making music and editing YouTube videos, and other things too. I’m using my time at home to do the things I normally wouldn’t be able to because it takes time. I’m also absorbing myself in a lot of research and making things. Keeping myself busy by looking up the things I love relieves my stress and makes me feel great.

What’s your secret to spending time at home?

Feeling positive trying out things you normally can’t!

Please give a message to those reading this article

Make sure to properly self-isolate at home, and let’s all look forward to and work towards when we can enjoy outdoors again! I’ll work hard to deliver entertainment to everyone from home too!

Capy Neko Cafe is the newest animal cafe to hit Tokyo. Located in the neighbourhood of Kichijoji, right by the station, customers are able to interact with both cats and capybara at the same time.

Japan is famous for its host of animal cafes, from the ubiquitous cat cafes to more unique ones like the owl cafe. But Capy Neko Cafe stands out from the rest as being the first cafe in Japan to combine cats and capybara.

You might wonder whether it’s actually safe to pet a capybara. They may be the largest rodent in the world, but they in fact loved to be pet by people. They are gentle creatures that get on with and can live alongside cats. At the cafe, you can take photos of the capybara who are sure to be chilling on the sofas as well as feed them. The comfy environment also means that they’ll feel like your very own pet capybara at home.

▶︎Tawashi (Male)

Tawashi is a sensitive, affectionate, and gentle guy. He loves snacks, and he’s sure to flop down if you start petting him on the butt. Part of his daily routine is having an afternoon nap on the sofa together with the cats.

▶︎Dan (Male)

The vice store manager of Capy Neko Cafe. He adores humans. He’s the kind of guy who’ll probably jump up onto you if you cover your lap with a blanket and sit on the sofa.

▶︎Emma (Female)

Another member with a soft spot for humans, Emma is reserved kitty who lets everybody eat their food first. She’s a needy and spoiled girlーif she’s on your lap, you’re not getting up. She’s siblings with Dan.

▶︎Cream (Male)

Cream is everybody’s idol. He’s unapologetically spoiled and a handsome guy with perfectly round black pupils.

This list is just a small taste of the many cute residents to meet at Capy Neko Cafe. The cafe is also active in finding families for their rescued cats. The number of people who want to own a cat in Japan are looking to rescues now instead of pet shops. At Capy Neko Cafe, you get the best of both worlds: you can meet and interact with a cat and see if they’re a good match for you.

If you’re interested in visiting Capy Neko Cafe, keep in mind that priority goes to those who have booked in advance. This can be done via their official website, so book first and look forward to kicking back and enjoying a cup of tea, coffee or soft drink before interacting with the cats and capybara!

Dance and vocal unit TEMPURA KIDZ―who have taken their boisterous personalities to 13 countries around the world―have just dropped a new song entitled Tapi Tapi in collaboration with French DJ and music producer Moe Shop.

This marks their second collaboration with Moe Shop, the first being the release of UKIYO back in June.

The bubble tea-inspired song takes on a future funk sound, a genre which Moe Shop is at the forefront of. The lyrics were written by singer-songwriter Aoi Yamazaki. It’s a colourful pop dance anthem littered with the TEMPURA KIDZ members’ unique character.

You’re sure to be humming the words “tapi tapi” along to this catchy tune in which the members sing positive things like, “Let’s drink tapioca and be happy” and “Something good’ll happen if you live life smiling.”

With the Olympics right around the corner, TEMPURA KIDZ are looking to continue their global activities to help spread Japanese culture to the world. Be sure to give Tapi Tapi a listen which is also available now on Spotify.

Japan is famous for its animal cafés. If you are looking for something less conventional, then mipig cafe ー a heavenly cafe where you can play endlessly with adorable micro pigs ー might be just what you are looking for. mipig will be opening its second cafe in Harajuku in November 2019.

With the concept of “becoming a home for micro pigs”, mipig cafe opened their first cafe in Meguro on March 1st, 2019. After just half a year, over 30,000 people visited the cafe and reservations were full every day.

Check out our previous report on the Meguro mipig cafe here: P→★ (TEMPURA KIDZ) Animal Café Diary #5: Visiting Japan’s First Micro Pig Cafe ‘mipig cafe’

The concept for the Harajuku branch is “entering the world of a micro pig picture book” and therefore, the cafe decoration is based on the famous story “The Three Little Pigs”. This is the perfect environment to play with the adorable little pigs and create some loving memories together.

News photos of dance and vocal unit TEMPURA KIDZ have been released. The photos were taken under the supervision of the leader of Harajuku’s kawaii culture Sebastian Masuda.

It has also been announced that the group are set to perform at the KAWAII MONSTER CAFE in Harajuku every Wednesday for a new event aimed at foreign and locals tourists entitled TOKYO POP CULTURE NIGHT ~HARAJUKU CELEBRATION~.

The theme of this event is “Harajuku Tribe” which sees TEMPURA KIDZ dressed up in colourful tribe-like Harajuku wares in which they will put on a new performance called “Harajuku Celebration.” The group teamed up with French DJ and producer Moe Shop to create original music for the performance.

Both artists will release their collaborative track UKIYO on June 18. The song features a “Future Funk,” a genre which sees Moe Shop as its spearhead. It is a colourful pop anthem that fuses with TEMPURA KIDZ and the members’ personalities.。

With the Tokyo 2020 Olympics right around the corner, TEMPURA KIDZ continue their mission to spread Japanese culture around the world.

P→★ of Japanese pop dance and vocal group TEMPURA KIDZ loves animals, and this is his featured series in which he visits animal cafes around Tokyo. For diary entry No. 5, our P→★ heads to mipig cafe, Japan’s first ever micro pig cafe that opened in Meguro just last month.

Micro pigs are a super small type of pig bred in the UK through selective breeding. They are smaller than miniature pigs. The concept of the cafe is “A Backwoods For Micro Pigs.” The pigs are given a huge space to live and play around in. As soon as you enter the cafe they are there to greet you.

The building is four storeys high. Each floor has been made into a house for the micro pigs. The initial entry payment is ¥800 for 30 minutes and an extra ¥500 for every 30 minute extension. If you want a drink the prices start from ¥600. The cafe is very new and so is very popular right now, so if you’re looking to visit we recommend making a reservation in advance. It’s possible to get extensions on the day but you won’t be able to if lots of reservations have been made.

The pigs are very friendly with people. As soon as P→★ entered the room the pigs came right up to him. They climbed straight onto his lap.

They stayed in P→★’s arms the entire time without moving. Perhaps it’s because they feel safe and relaxed when embraced. P→★ was happy with it too: “I feel so peaceful♡. I want to stay here forever!” he announced.

Micro pigs aren’t their own species, they are mix of different species, so even if the piglets are born at the same, their size and colour will be completely different. The four pigs in the photos above are all 4-month-old siblings. Currently there are 10 micro pigs at the cafe. Pigs are tidy and very intelligent animals, so with enough practice they can be trained like dogs. There are pigs in the mipig cafe that can turn around and sit on command.

Since the pigs are so friendly with humans, one meeting is enough to have you captive and want to stay with them. They will stay close to you and not move so there’s plenty of opportunities for photos!

As well as drinks the cafe also serves food including cakes. They even serve “Tokusei Cheesecake” (¥850 before tax) from Hasegawa Minoru, a top dining restaurant in Japan. The restaurant is so popular that you have to make reservations up to 2 years in advance. And on weekends and holidays only the cafe sells 10 servings of their special “Pig Cake.”

It’s common in the US and UK for people to have pet pigs, but in Japan they’re still mostly regarded as domestic animals. mipig raises their micro pigs in a way like cats and dogs are in Japan. They are also in contact with farms in the UK and sell micro pigs too. Although they are called micro pigs they can weigh up to 40kg when fully grown. There is a floor in the cafe where you can see a grown up micro pig as shown in P→★’s photo above. Perhaps you can add a new member to your family too. But since the pigs are popular right now it could take over a year for you to receive one.

How did you find the mipig cafe, P→★?

“Of all the animal cafes I have been to so far this one was the most fun! It was fun being able have contact with them the entire time. Now I want a micro pig of my own! They don’t smell either, I could be with them forever. I wasn’t able to get an extension because there were a lot of reservations, so I recommend booking a long stay when you make one! And the cheesecake was super tasty too, so definitely be sure to try it yourself!”

If you’re in or planning a trip to Tokyo then be sure to get your reservations in for the newly-opened mipig cafe in Meguro ASAP!

Model: P→★（TEMPURA KIDZ）@0830_pika

Photo: Haruka  Yamamoto

Text: Sayoko Ishii

Translation: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

Did you know there are a lot of animal cafés in Harajuku? From lovable Shiba Inu and owls to rabbits and more, here are 5 animal cafés you should visit during your next trip to Japan’s fashion central.

HARRY Harajuku Terrace

At HARRY Harajuku Terrace you can come into contact with otters, hedgehogs and more. Their 3 otters are extremely friendly with humans; they rarely bring their claws out and are no threat so you can rest assured you’ll be safe to sit with them. Customers can buy snacks for them to enjoy so you’re sure to become best friends in no time.

The café also has a extremely adorable French Flop bunny with cute droopy ears and fluffy fur that you can stroke♡

All the animals in this café are accustomed to humans so it’s easy to snap some photos. This one’s a must-visit!

Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/86972

Owl’s Garden

Owl’s Garden is located behind Tokyu Plaza. They don’t just have owls either―they even have hawks. The café interior is styled on an English garden. There are 12 owls and hawks that live there. There are several price plans. The standard plan is ¥1,500 which gets you 60 minutes inside where you’re free to touch the birds, take pictures and have them sit on your arm as much as you like.

They also have a Harris’s Hawk which are known for their intelligence. Hawks are often perceived as scary but they’re actually very friendly to humans.

You can enjoy a drink at this café while playing with the owls and hawks. If you make a reservation you get a drink on the house, otherwise it’s ¥100. We recommend making a reservation if you’re planning a visit.

Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/119977

Ra.a.g.f

At this café you will come into contact with cute bunnies. 15 rabbits live in one room of this apartment. You pick one that wants to play at let them roam around the room. It costs ¥800 for 30 minutes and ¥1,100 for 60 minutes – and both options come with a drink. If you want to stay longer, it’s ¥550 for 30 minutes extensions.

Purittsu-kun is the most popular rabbit because he looks just like Peter Rabbit. All the rabbits also know their own names, so try calling out to them!

Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/129775

Harajuku Mame-Shiba Café

Harajuku Mame-Shiba Café is Tokyo’s first animal café for Mame-Shiba Inu. Upon stepping your paws into the Harajuku Mame-Shiba Café you are met by Mame-Shiba dogs wearing bandanas around their necks. The café itself has retro style decor with Showa music providing your soundtrack. Tickets can only be bought at the café. It’s ¥880 for an adult for for 30 minutes. Once you have your ticket you wait until your designated time. It’s not uncommon for tickets to be sold out on the day so we recommend buying yours early in the day.

Customers are prohibited from picking up and embracing the dogs but you may receive a hug from one of them! Stroking and interacting with the energetic pups however is fine.

When noon draws in the dogs start going into nap mode. You’ll see the number of them tumbling over for a sleep increase one by one. This makes it easy to snap some photos, so if you’re looking to take lots of photos with them you should go at midday!

Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/168087

Harajuku Kawaii Zoo Land

You will meet many different animals at this café. The main colour seen inside is pink which elicits cuteness, friendliness and happiness.

The animals all live together like one big family. It’s a chance to see a range of animals you normally wouldn’t come into contact with like capybara and meerkats.

Did you enjoy this list? Which one will you be visiting when you’re next in Harajuku?

The long-awaited next entry to P→★’s Animal Café Diary is finally here!

P→★ of Japanese pop dance and vocal group TEMPURA KIDZ loves animals, and this is his featured series in which he visits animal cafés around Tokyo. For diary entry No. 4, our P→★ visits the Harajuku Mame-Shiba Cafe located along Harajuku’s famous Takeshita Street.

Harajuku Mame-Shiba Café is Tokyo’s first animal café for Mame-Shiba Inu. It’s very easy to find being just a 3-minute walk from Harajuku Station and 5-minutes from Meiji-Jingumae Station so you can pop in during your Harajuku sightseeing.

There is also an owl cafe called Harajuku Owl’s Forest in the same building on floor B1F which you can see in the picture above. P→★ also visited another owl cafe in Harajuku called Owl’s Garden.

Upon stepping your paws into the Harajuku Mame-Shiba Café you are met by Mame-Shiba dogs wearing bandana around their necks. The café itself has retro style decor with Showa music providing your soundtrack. It also has tatami flooring so you will need to take your shoes off beforehand.

Tickets can only be bought at the café. It’s ¥880 for an adult for for 30 minutes. Once you have your ticket you wait until your designated time. It’s not uncommon for tickets to be sold out on the day so we recommend buying yours early in the day.

You can pick out one drink from the vending machine with your ticket. Pick from a range of teas, coffees and juices, sit down on the tatami mat and enjoy playing with the adorable Mame-Shiba. The café also as a retro TV and Japanese-style ‘chabudai’ tables for sitting on the floor.

The pups are very energetic in the morning and each enjoy living their own lives in their own way as they please. A popular site to see is the dogs basking in the sunlight that shines through the café windows.

Customers are prohibited from picking up and embracing the dogs, but like P→★ they may give you one instead! Stroking and interacting with the bouncy bunch however is fine.

Use toys to play with them, give them food and treats, and find your favourite Mame-Shiba Inu from the pack.

When noon draws in the dogs start going into nap mode. You’ll see the number of them tumbling over for a sleep increase one by one. This makes it easy to snap some photos, so if you’re looking to take lots of photos with them you should go at midday!

There’s also merchandise on sale including items based on popular Shiba Inu characters like Chuken Mochi Shiba and Shibata-san. The most popular item is the key ring of Chuken Mochi Shiba laid sprawled.

P→★ was very happy with his trip: “My grandma had a Shiba Inu called Aka-chan when I was small. Since then I always come into contact with Shiba Inu! I prefer Mame-Shiba who have a bit of individuality compared to the cute ones that look like Chihuahuas. The café has Japanese taste, is spacious and relaxed. I had the best time!”

Harajuku Mame-Shiba Café brings in countless customers everyday from those who do not own pets to foreigners visiting Japan. Reservations cannot be made online or over the phone, so pop in to book when you’re in Harajuku.

P→★ of Japanese pop dance and vocal group TEMPURA KIDZ loves animals. This is the 3rd entry to his featured series in which he visits animal cafés around the city.

Ra.a.g.f in Harajuku was his destination this time around where he got to play with bunnies!

The café is just a 5-minute walk from Meiji Jingumae Station via Tokyo Metro lines, 8-minutes from Harajuku Station via the JR line, and within walking distance from all the lines at Shinjuku station, making it a perfect pit stop when sightseeing in Harajuku!

About 15 rabbits live in one room at the large apartment. You pick one that you think wants to play at let them roam around the room. The rule is that you let them out one at a time. They’re a territorial animal, so if you let two out they will pick quarrels, and if they’re male and female they will end up mating.

Pick a bunny from the cage that wants to play. It costs ¥800 for 30 minutes and ¥1,100 for 60 minutes – both options come with one drink. If you want to stay longer, it’s ¥550 per 30 minutes.

The first bunny P→★ picked was the floppy-eared Roko-kun, a male Holland Lop.

The rabbits seek out feed so if you use the food provided they will move closer to you. It’s ¥150 for a bunny snack. They have bad eyesight so it’s best to hold it close to their face. They also know their own names, so try calling out to a bunch of them.

Rabbits are predatory so they’re not good with being hugged. It’s strictly forbidden to hold the rabbits in the café, so guide them to your lap with the snack.

Roko-kun kindly came and sat on P→★’s lap! Rabbits hate being touched under the chin and on the belly, so when petting them make sure to do it gently from their heads down their backs.

They seem to be getting along nicely! “He’s cute, I want to keep him myself! So fluffy!” said P→★.

The next rabbit that P→★ met was the most handsome of the herd – Purittsu-kun, a male Netherland Dwarf. He’s the most popular in the café because he looks just like Peter Rabbit.

Purittsu-kun likes to run around people. It was like he was intending to play with P→★. He was in good health today.

His special skill is handshakes. Try shaking his hands too by timing it when he puts his forefeet up when giving him his snack.

The final bunny of the day is Rakuda-chan, a female mini Rex rabbit. She seems to be the most popular amongst foreign customers. She’s chubby around the chin and butt so she looks really fluffy.

She’s good with people so she jumped straight onto P→★’s lap!

Rakuda-chan also loves getting a massage from the customers! If  you pet her from her forehead down to her butt she’ll lie sprawled across the floor. She’s the only rabbit in the café that does this, so she’s got a lot of repeat customers!

P→★ was very satisfied having gotten to play with so many bunnies!

“When I was in elementary school I touched a lot of rabbits at Toby Zoo, so I’m super happy I got to pet a lot today! I was also surprised by how different it feels to touch a rabbit with long fur and one with short fur! Rakuda-chan is my favourite. She made me feel a lot better♡ “

There’s a lot of other rabbit breeds at Ra.a.g.f too. The kind staff there will show you how to play with them all. “The lady there was really interesting, she attended to the rabbits like she was a nursery school teacher! Be sure to try going there yourself!” said P→★.

You can also buy the rabbits on sale there and they also have a rabbit hotel. There’s even rabbit merchandise you can buy, so if you’re a lover of bunnies then you absolutely have to visit!

You’ve seen cat cafés and owl cafés―now introducing the newly opened reptile café Raputoru (‘reptile’) in Kabukicho, Shinjuku.

Roll up to see over 100 snakes, as well as the giant tortoise, friendly monitor lizards, and a host of reptiles you’ve probably never seen before.

Here’s a small glimpse at some of the reptiles you can expect to see at the café.

Ball Python

The café has around 70 ball pythons on display which customers are able to touch.

Asian Water Monitor

The Asian water monitor inhabits locations across Asia. It’s a gentle and extremely smart lizard. You’ll be able to touch its head and body to feel the texture of its skin as well as feed it chicken.

Green Iguana (Albino)

The albino green iguana―a very rare species.

Aldabra Giant Tortoise

This splendid giant tortoise turns 33-years-old this year. He weighs 90kg and is undaunted by people riding him.

This is a must-see for reptile lovers. Enjoy your time there with family and friends!

I love animals!

This is P→★ from TEMPURA KIDZ and welcome to the first entry of my brand new series. I’ll be updating occasionally. What’s a better way to start a series than to make friends with some otters and hedgehogs in Harajuku? Today, I went to HARRY Harajuku Terrace café to do just that!

It’s not just what’s inside the café, but its location is also worthy of note – it’s just an 8-minute walk from JR Harajuku station and a 5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Meiji-Jingu station, so it’s easy to drop by after a busy day of being a tourist. The wow-factor of this café is the three very sociable otters. This highly successful café draws in customers that come day after day, seeking the ultimate soothing feeling of bonding with their new friends.

All their faces look the same, but you can tell them apart by looking at their tails. The otter called Miku has a thin tail, whereas San has a thick one and Kirara has a flat one. Particularly Kirara is brimming with curiosity and is the one with whom you are mostly likely to interact, if you should pop by!

Full of excitement, the otters reached through the small hole in the tank to ask for food and toys. It was overwhelmingly cute. When they want a treat, they call out with their peculiar squeal. You can purchase snacks for them within the café. If you give them food, your friendship will grow increasingly stronger.

Otter snack prices:

First-time customers: ￥330 (price including tax)

Standard price: ￥540 (price including tax)

As the café name “HARRY” implies, the café has hedgehogs (harinezumi). The hedgehogs heal the tired hearts of all the café visitors. All the hedgehogs are friendly and rarely ever raise their quills at anyone, so you can touch them safely.

Even I can handle a hedgehog!

Even though hedgehogs are rather timid, they can still open their hearts to you! I can’t believe that we even touched noses to communicate! It’s amazing!

The café was once a pet shop that sold rabbits and other small animals. This is it’s first time running business as a café, and that’s why you can not only interact with the animals here, but also buy one to keep. The staff also provide important information on how to properly care for the animals and diseases to which they are prone. If you are interested, then please feel free to ask them any kind of question.

There are many other animals in the shop. This is a large French Lop rabbit. 3 months after birth, their bodyweight can even reach up to 7kg. Their droopy ears were so cute and their fur was so fluffy! I was filled with happiness.

…and there were even chinchillas.  They have fluffy tails and look so cute!

I approached them with some grass for them to snack on, and as soon as they saw me, they ran at me full of energy – we even got a photo together! As all the animals at this café are used to people, it’s easy to take pictures with them to upload on SNS websites!

The café has such a large variety of food for small animals that was quickly noticed by customers who were interested in buying a pet. You can ask the staff what type of food is appropriate for which animal.

I spent a lot of time surrounded by my favourite animals. I was particularly captured by the otters’ cute behaviour! HARRY Harajuku Terrace gives you the opportunity to freely interact with small animals – something that you can’t really do at a zoo or anywhere else. If you’re in Harajuku, how about stopping by? You may have to wait 30 minutes to enter the café if the store is closed. The café is very popular so I recommend that you reserve in advance!