On our last trip to Japan with our five kids, one of the big hits was exploring Tokyo’s quirky animal cafés. Unlike a typical coffee shop, these places invite you to sip a drink while interacting with everything from cats and hedgehogs to mini pigs and even owls. Some are wonderful for kids, others are better left for older teens and adults, but we found a few gems that worked beautifully for our family.
We’ve now tried three: a hedgehog café (twice!), a cat café, and most recently, a mini pig café… which, spoiler alert, was our favorite (but also the priciest).
Here’s what we learned, plus other family-friendly cafés in Tokyo you may want to add to your itinerary when visiting Japan.
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1. Hedgehog Café (Harry’s Hedgehog Café)
We first visited Harry’s Hedgehog Café in Harajuku, and it was such a novelty we ended up going back again on a later trip. The café gives you a small enclosure with one or two hedgehogs to handle. Staff show you how to hold them properly (hands cupped, gentle strokes along the quills).
Pricing: Around ¥1,400 (~$9–10 USD) for 30 minutes; drinks are usually included but basic.
Ages: Kids are welcome; we’ve brought even our younger ones (however, age 7+ is best for actual handling). Also, staff may discourage toddlers from holding the hedgehogs on their own, which is great and gives you an idea of how they care for their hedgehogs!
The hedgehogs in this café in Tokyo were so tiny and sleepy!
Our crew was very patient and respectful when handling the hedgehogs.
Parent notes: Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so sometimes they’re sleepy and not super interactive. Still, the novelty of holding a hedgehog in Tokyo wins every time for our crew.
Reviews from parents: Most parents say it’s fun, but not a place for entertaining your kids for a long time. I’d even dare to say that 30 minutes is enough. However, keep in mind that some parents comment on the small enclosures, so expect more of a novelty visit than an “animal sanctuary.”
We truly had a good time hanging out at the Hedgehog Café in Tokyo!
2. Cat Café (MoCHA Cat Café)
Cat cafés are perhaps the most “classic” Tokyo animal café experience. We went to MoCHA (in Shibuya), one of the larger chains, and it had beautiful interiors, cozy seating and dozens of cats lounging on towers and perches.
Pricing: It is around ¥200 per 10 minutes (~$1.30 USD), plus a required drink (~¥350–400). So, if you want to hang out more, like an hour visit, expect to spend ¥1,500–2,000 per person (~$10–13 USD).
Ages: Most cat cafés in Japan allow kids, but with a minimum age of 6 years, so our crew had no problem. So be mindful that MoCHA cat cafés enforce this rule fairly strictly.
Depending on the café rules, you can also feed them with treats they have in animal cafés in Tokyo!
Parent notes: Our kids adored it. The cats were healthy and well-cared for, though like cats anywhere, they come and go as they please. Feeding time (posted on signs) is when they’re most interactive, highly recommend timing your visit!
Reviews from parents: Great for older kids who love animals and can sit calmly. Younger children may struggle since the atmosphere can be quiet at times and most cat cafés in Tokyo ask guests not to chase or grab cats.
Our kids already knew how to interact with cats, so it was pretty easy for them to follow the rules of pet cafes in Tokyo.
3. Mini Pig Café (Mipig Café, Harajuku)
This was one of our latest finds in Japan, and the one the kids haven’t stopped talking about! We decided to head to a different animal café in Tokyo and discovered the Mipig Café in Harajuku. Yes, you read that right: tiny pigs running around and climbing onto your lap!
Pricing: It costs ¥2,200 (~$15 USD) per adult for the first 30 minutes, plus a required drink (~¥600). And one of the perks of this café was that kids are usually charged a slightly reduced rate. So, if you like it as much as we did and would like to spend more time, it costs ¥550 per 30 minutes.
Ages: The minimum age is 3 years. So if you bring even younger kids, beware as they aren’t permitted.
Having the pigs curled up in our laps was something we definitely did not expect!
Parent notes: The pigs are curious, friendly and surprisingly cuddly. They’ll climb into your lap, sniff your shoes or curl up next to you. Staff are attentive and keep the pigs happy. The only downside? It’s expensive for a family of seven, but worth it once for the memories.
Reviews from parents: Almost universally positive. Most families say it was their kids’ highlight of Tokyo. Just budget carefully if you have multiple kids—the bill adds up quickly!
You can see our smiles were so wide as we absolutely loved this café in Tokyo!
We honestly can’t wait to be back at this café and hold them again.
Other Animal Cafés in Tokyo (Kid-Friendly Options)
One of the best things about Japan is that you can count on many available animal cafe options (especially in Tokyo). So, if you or your kids have a favorite animal, you’ll probably find one for your crew! So, I gathered a list of other really cool cafés your family might want to check out:
Rabbit Cafés
Ra.a.g.f (Harajuku): Who doesn’t love rabbits? We even got one ourselves back at home in Portugal! ¥1,100 for 30 minutes (~$7 USD). For this animal café in Tokyo, children are allowed with supervision. So, gentle handling is highly encouraged as rabbits can be delicate and very small!
Owl Cafés
Many of these types of cafés are more adult-oriented, but some allow kids 7+ with an adult. For example, if you want to visit with kids then the Owl Village Harajuku is perhaps the best option. Owls perch on your arm under staff guidance. Some families love it, others feel cautious around large birds, it really depends on your kids. It costs ¥1,500 per person for 1 hour.
In some owl cafés, the best thing to do is have someone help you interact with owls.
Capybara & Small Animal Cafés
Harry’s Zoo Café (Harajuku): This is a very popular animal café in Tokyo, so you may have to make a reservation before heading. They have capybaras, meerkats, chinchillas and even more animals. It costs around ¥1,500 for 30 minutes and kids generally need to be older than 6 years old.
Grace was so excited when carrying the meerkat!
In some cafés in Japan the are machines where you can purchase your drink.
Dog Cafés
These are perhaps the less common animal cafés in Tokyo, but there are a few. You’ll often find dog cafés with toy poodles or shiba inus breeds. So, if you can’t get enough of dogs and if your kids miss their own pets, then it might be a good idea to visit one!
Many of the dog cafés in Japan have Shiba Inus. Photo by: Dogskind from Roboflow.
Tips for Visiting Animal Cafés with Kids
Check age limits before you go. Many cafés list minimum ages, as depending on the animals, some may be more delicate to handle than others. Tokyo’s animal-themed cafes usually have limits of 3, 6 or 10 years.
Book ahead online. The popular ones (like Mipig) fill up quickly, especially on weekends. So be sure to research before your visit in order to secure your spot!
Time your visit. Feeding times = more interaction. If you just drop in midday, animals may be napping. However, this can also depend on if you’re visiting more nocturnal animals like owls or hedgehogs.
We also visited an animal café that had Guinea Pigs, so cute!
We got the chance to feed the mini pigs and we obviously loved it!
Set expectations. These are businesses first. Don’t expect wide open natural enclosures, it’s more of a quirky experience than an animal sanctuary.
Teach gentle handling. Staff will usually coach your kids, but remind them: no chasing, yelling or grabbing.
Budget accordingly. Prices can add up fast for large families, especially as some of these animal cafés tend to charge per every extra 30 minutes plus drinks. So, factor this into your Tokyo trip budget.
Our Family’s Takeaway
The mini pig café was probably one of the most cherished moments we share from our Japan trip!
We have always been huge fans of animal experiences: from zoos to dolphin watching, and even scuba diving! So, if you and your family love animals, then animal cafés in Tokyo will be one memorable experience for you all.
If you only pick one, go for the Mini Pig Café. Yes, it’s pricier, but it’s unique and so fun for kids! If your kids love smaller animals, the hedgehog café is a novelty stop, while the cat cafés are cozy and a good mid-day break spot.
Animal cafés in Tokyo are a little quirky, sometimes touristy, but they’re also one of those “only in Japan” experiences that make traveling with kids extra memorable.
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