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!

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.

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 thereyourself!" 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!