Cat cafe ASAKUSA NEKOEN

If youre an animal lover, then you cant not go to a Neko (Cat) café while in Japan.
I had been to one during my last trip, but it wasnt exactly a «café»; more like a department store type of playroom/​museum. So when I had the opportunity to pick where I wanted to go, I knew that I wanted to go to one that was a little smaller and family-​owned.
I had bookmarked this place the last time I had been to Japan, and decided that this would be it ^_​_​^ We were staying somewhere near the Tokyo Skytree, and when I had read that you could have a view of the Skytree while playing with the kitties, i was sold.
It was about a 10 – 15 minute walk away from the Asakusa train station (I think that was the station?). Google had directed us with some weird directions, but my advice is when you see the infamous temple; just walk through then have google direct you. Itll save you a few minutes, AND you get a mini trip to the temple as well!
We had gone around 5p and it was already dark. Just keep an eye out for the signage in the windows; the building is on a corner by the streetlight, so be careful not to miss it cause we almost did. Take the elevator up to the 6^th floor (the button is clearly marked hehe) and once you enter, take off your shoes. The owner will greet you and hakuna matata for all of you non-​japanese speakers; she speaks perfectly good english! She takes your jackets and purses and leads you right in.
She’ll tell you when your time starts; and its about ~900 yen/​hour and if you want to give the cats treats, she has some tuna packets for about 100yen.
Its a small room, thats clearly made for the kitties. There are trees, toys and little fixtures everywhere for the kitties to hang out in. There were a few cats in large kennels on the side (i think they werent feeling well). The kitties were pretty friendly; a few came to lay down by us, and one was laying on my legs ^_​_​_​_​^
There were a few people already there, just hanging out with the cats. A few of them were laying on their laps, and I think they were regulars because they knew all of the cats’ names. There was also a tv on, so we could just sit back, relax, and pet our kitties as if we were home. The other Unilocaler was right; there was a nice little view of the skytree that was really pretty at night to look at.
The owner was really friendly, and asked us where we were from and how we found us. She told us about herself and how long she had been in business. Its amazing that she has it all to herself and she takes such good care of the cats. She goes around and rolls everything with a lint roller, which was really cute.
Since it was my friends first time to a cat café, I got us a couple of packets of treats. You just tell the owner and she prepares the dish of flaked tuna, and tells you how to feel them (palm out, upward, right under the chosen cat’s chin). Be careful though! A few of them are really food motivated, and would butt their heads in front of others, and gobble the treat –_​_​_​– oh and watch the bowl, because theyll grab at that too, those smart kitties!
The Good:
–Cute, small place that isnt too crowded.
–A lot of friendly kitties that just want your love!
–Decent pricing; id say go for the treats! Only 100yen!
–Owner is really sweet. Support local! (in japan hehe)
The Bleh:
–With any cat filled place, comes the stench of litter boxes. However, the litter boxes were our of sight, and the smell wasnt THAT bad. But for you sensitive smellers, it might bother you.