Cat Cafe Calico is one of the most popular and well-known cat cafes, both with foreigners and Japanese alike. When I visited, I was surprised by the concept, the cleanliness, and, of course, the amount of beautiful cats. This Tokyo-based cafe is worth checking out.
What is a Cat Cafe?
It’s fact that cats are cute. A few years ago, some entrepreneurs decided to capitalize on this. Many apartments in Tokyo don’t allow pets. Thus, cat cafes give apartment-dwellers a place to interact with cats while relaxing with other people who like cats (or with other people who are dragged there by people who like cats).
About Cat Cafe Calico
Cat Cafe Calico sits nestled in the infamous Kabuki-cho district of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Among the flashing lights and neon, it may be easy to miss the building, which is marked by only one medium sign. However, it’s definitely worth the visit. They have over fifty cats, all very well taken care of.
The main floor is on the 6th floor of a building with a soba restaurant on the 1st floor. When you walk in, you’ll find that the people at the reception desk are very accommodating. They can provide a menu, description of the cafe’s system, and rule outline in English.
Then, you’ll be ushered into the main cat room on the 6th floor after washing your hands and asked to put your bags in a free locker. The lockers are large, so don’t worry if you have a lot of luggage with you. Once you finish the preparations, you are then free to wander the cafe!
On the 6th floor, there is a TV and gaming console, in case you want to play some video games surrounded by cats. If you descend to the 5th floor, you’ll find a cafe area, lots of cat toys and cat furniture, and many books.
If you are feeling hungry, you can order food or drink for yourself or cat food to try to lure the cats to you.
When you leave, you’ll be given a picture book of the cats at the cafe and a cat postcard as souvenirs.
Cat cafes are a must-see for any visitor to Tokyo, and Cat Cafe Calico is one of the best places to try it out.
Cat Cafe Calico (official website in Japanese)
Hours
10:00 am – 22:00 pm (open everyday, no holidays)
Price
Cover charge for 1 hour: 1,000 yen (weekdays), 1,200 (weekends/ holidays)
Extension charge for 10 additional minutes: 150 yen
Drinks: 200 yen
Cake: 300 yen
Food: 500 yen
Cat food: 300 yen
Package deal for 2 hours: 1,500 yen (weekdays), 1,800 (weekends/holidays)
Package deal for 3 hours: 2,000 yen (weekdays), 2,400 (weekends/holidays)
Free time deal (as long as you want): 2,500 yen (weekdays), 3,000 (weekends/holidays)
Most crowded on weekends/holidays 14:00 to 18:00.
Children must be 12 years old or over to enter.
Location
Cat Cafe Calico
1-16-2 Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku
Fuji Building, 6th and 5th floor (entrance on the 6th floor)
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