Cat Apartment Coffee In Kyoto - A Fashionable Cafe Full Of Cats

*This facility is no longer in business.

A House for the Cats of Kyoto

The Nishijin area in Kyoto city flourished as a textile manufacturing town. A cat cafe called 'Cat Apartment Coffee' built using a one hundred-year-old kyomachiya (*1) house opened in April 2015 on a corner of this quiet artisan town. Since then, it has become a popular shop visited by many cat fans from across Japan and the world.

*1 Kyomachiya: Traditional wooden townhouses built in Kyoto before 1950. Usually they have both a residential space and a shop space inside the same structure.

If you go west from Ichijo street across Horikawa street, stretching north to south in the town, you will find a lamp and a noren curtain acting as the signs of this shop on the south side. Let's go inside.

Please refer to the information section at the end of this article for more details.

Down the Kyoto-like narrow street, you will find the shop entrance. There are well-maintained Japanese plants lining both sides of the street. You will be welcomed by azaleas in early spring and Japanese maples in fall.

When you step into the entrance, the interior has a simple, modern art feel to it. This is where you take off your shoes, called tataki in Japanese. Please take off your shoes and wear socks here.

The lovely space with a chic interior welcomes you. They don't take reservations, so please wait here on the 1st floor if it's a busy hour. You can take a look at the souvenirs on sale, or read magazines available there as you wait for your turn.

Time to Meet the Cats on the 2F

You can meet the cats on the 2nd floor of the building. The floor has a capacity of 10, so you can only go upstairs when your turn comes.

Sanitizing your hands is the first thing to do. Wash your hands very well before you touch the cats. If it's your first time, don't worry, the cafe owners, Mr. and Mrs. Manno, will carefully tell you about the roles of this cafe in Japanese or English.

The cats are having an easy and free time in this little house with dim lighting. To avoid making the cats feel stress or anxiety, the cafe prohibits customers from trying to touch the cats first, but you can softly stroke them when they come to you or lay on your knees by themselves.

The rules sound strict, but every cat is very calm here and reaches will reach out to you if your follow this approach.

The Fashionable Interior of Cat Apartment Coffee

The exceptionally stylish interior designed by the owners is quite enjoyable too. This is a modern Japanese tatami style room, located on the 2nd floor.

The corner near the window has a retro Western style design. There are books and comics here, and it's a great place to spend time with the cats while reading.

The other side of the room is cute and has a modern Japanese romantic style. Every part of this cafe is very photogenic.

The 13 Cats that Call This Cafe Home

Okay, finally let's meet some of the 13 cats living in the house!

This is Uni, the munchkin girl, with cute facial expressions and sleeping positions. Uni means "dream" in Finnish. She is so popular that fans come all the way from Taiwan just to see her.

This is Roi, the Russian blue with deep green eyes. He is quite noble-looking, but is actually a very funny cat.

The queen, Ruchika, is peacefully sleeping in a basket. She is the biggest cat in this cafe.

The other ten cats are equally full of character and all are happily living together. Each cat has its own very passionate fans. Why not come and find your favorite cat too?

Let's Buy Cute Cat Items in the Shop on 1F!

During your waiting time or before you leave, you can select cute souvenirs in the cat item shop on the 1st floor.

These are one of their highest ranked original items, wall mug sleeve. The price is 2000 yen (plus tax). Every color is lovely!

This is a collaborative item with Goroneko, the embroidery artist. These brooches, modeled after the cats in the cafe, are 1500 yen each (plus tax).

There are pin broaches too (2000 yen plus tax).

Admission Charge

There are several different charges depending on the time and cafe menu.

The regular course is 1200 yen (plus tax) for a 60-minute use of the cat cafe, the drink set, which includes one drink, is 1500 yen (plus tax), and the sweets set that comes with a drink and a slice of homemade cheesecake is 1800 yen (plus tax).

Please check the official web page of Cat Apartment Coffee (Japanese) for more details.

Important Note for Cafe Users

There are important cafe rules as cats are living here. It is very important to respect these rules so that the cats live comfortably.

1. Shoes are strictly prohibited. Take off your shoes at the entrance and wear socks. Stockings and tights are available. They sell socks too.

2. Wash and sanitize your hands at the washing basin shown in the photo above before you meet cats.

3. Perfumes and strong air fresheners are prohibited.

4. Touching cats without them coming to you first is prohibited, but please stroke them gently when they climb onto your knees.

5. Taking photos and movies are okay, but flash photography and live streams are prohibited.

6. Brand new toys without actinidia polygama and cat nip used in them are okay to bring in. The owner will check your toys first.

7. These are important rules so customers are restricted to only those who understand Japanese or English and who are older than junior high school age.

Kind and Animal Loving Owner Couple

These are the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Manno. Mrs. Manno speaks English and welcomes international customers. Please feel free to ask them about the cafe menu or the cafe rules.

Here is a message from them: 'Please visit us not only to meet the cats but also to have a nice cup of coffee in a traditional Japanese house in Kyoto'.

If you visit Nishijin in Kyoto, do stop by Cat Apartment Coffee. You might find there your favorite kitty!

Cat apartment coffee