Cat Cafes have been booming here in Tokyo. What’s all the fuss about? John and Jennifer Juilen visit Temari no Ouchi Cat Cafe in Kichijoji, Tokyo. It’s one of the top cat cafes in the city.
Temari no Ouchi has 20 cats, each one is like a rock star with a following of fans. There’s Kinoko, an exotic short hair who’s adorable sour face is unforgettable! In fact, the cafe has several breeds of cats to play with. Besides the cats, there inside looks like an amusement park and the food is very, shall I say Cat Cafe-ish?
Menu is here: http://www.temarinoouchi.com/menu
Cat Cafe Review:
Great place! I think the staff was friendly and there is a electronic bell on each table to call for service anytime.
The service seems slow, but that may be because they don’t want to put the food on the table when you are playing with the cats.
The Mochi-Mochi Dog was very good! The Fuwa-Fuwa Latte has a paw print on it. Cute! It’s an average tasting latte.
The cats are really friendly however, they get sleepy during the afternoon. It’s a good idea to buy some of the cat food for 300 yen. The cats can smell it and they all come to play at your table when you open it.
Temari no Ouchi was very clean. It looks like a scene from a Ghibli movie and I felt like Totoro was going to come to say hello at anytime! The restroom is also really cute.
The staff does not speak much English but don’t let that stop you! The menu has English and photos on it.
Things you Need to Know:
Cost
There’s an entrance charge of 1,600 yen on the weekends, 1,200 on weekdays and 700 yen after 19:00.
This seems expensive but there is no time limit and no pressure to order anything. Most people stay for about 2 hours although there’s no rule saying you have to leave until closing.
Menu
A coffee is around 480 yen. It comes in a paper cup with a lid to prevent the cats from drinking it.
Other drinks are between 500 and 600 yen.
Snacks start from 320 yen, but they also have lunch plates that cost around 750 yen.
They serve alcohol. Cocktails and beers between 500 and 550 yen.
The Rules
1) Don’t hug the cats!
*Children under 10 are generally not allowed.
2) No flash photography
3) Don’t feed the cats human food
4) Don’t bring in outside food and drink
Everyone must wash their hands with alcohol at the entrance and there is a sink to wash your hands when you leave as well.
Temari no Ouchi is open from 10:00 to 21:00 daily.
Name: 不思議なネコの森『CatCafeてまりのおうち』
URL: http://www.temarinoouchi.com/
Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/EEYgu
Address: 東京都武蔵野市吉祥寺本町2-13-14 (3F)
Phone number: 0422-23-5503
(Call ahead and/or reserve for weekends and holidays.)
Jennifer Julien is a reporter for NHK World and an expert of French wines and sake. She’s also a television French teacher on NHK and has done dozens of cooking shows (and has a cookbook, too!)
Jenny’s been living in Japan for 18 years.
This show has been created and produced by John Daub ジョン・ドーブ. He’s been living and working in Japan for over 17 years and regularly reports on a TV show for Japan’s International Channel.
