Best Animal Cafes in Shinjuku, Japan
7 verified animal cafes in Shinjuku, Tokyo — including capybara, cat, dog, hedgehog cafes and more.
Shinjuku Animal Cafe Pocket Guide — Top Picks (2026)
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Top 5 Animal Cafes in Shinjuku
CAPPINESS Shinjuku Capybara Cafe
Japan, 〒169-0075 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Takadanobaba, 4-chōme−40−１２ 9階
Monday: 10:15 AM – 5:55 PM
ALAMAS CAFE
Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 2-chōme−12−１ Garnet, 1F
Monday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM
03-6914-9215
ANELLA CAFE (Dog Cafe & Cat Cafe)
10-4 Ichigayayanagichō, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 162-0061, Japan
Monday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
03-6770-6595
animal cafe & bar Harinezumiya POTTA
Japan, 〒102-0072 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Iidabashi, 1-chōme−11−４ potta2F
Monday: 7:30 PM – 12:00 AM
070-5369-8103
ME TOKYO SHINJUKU
3-chōme-37-14 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan
Monday: 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM
03-6826-9722
All Animal Cafes in Shinjuku by Area
Shinjuku (6)
CAPPINESS Shinjuku Capybara Cafe
Japan, 〒169-0075 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Takadanobaba, 4-chōme−40−１２ 9階
Monday: 10:15 AM – 5:55 PM
ALAMAS CAFE
Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 2-chōme−12−１ Garnet, 1F
Monday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM
03-6914-9215
ANELLA CAFE (Dog Cafe & Cat Cafe)
10-4 Ichigayayanagichō, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 162-0061, Japan
Monday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
03-6770-6595
ME TOKYO SHINJUKU
3-chōme-37-14 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan
Monday: 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM
03-6826-9722
Animal Cafe 爬にまるカフェ
1-chōme-16-19 Ōkubo, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 169-0072, Japan
Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
03-5273-8630
Usagiparadaisuwizukawauso Shinjukusanchometen
Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 3-chōme−1−３０ 笹屋ビル 4 階
Monday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
03-6709-9612
Other Areas (1)
animal cafe & bar Harinezumiya POTTA
Japan, 〒102-0072 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Iidabashi, 1-chōme−11−４ potta2F
Monday: 7:30 PM – 12:00 AM
070-5369-8103
Browse by Animal Type
Insider Tips for Animal Cafes in Shinjuku
Visit Hanimaru Cafe for animals you literally cannot see anywhere else in Tokyo
Sloths, binturongs, and tanuki babies are exclusive to Hanimaru in Shin-Okubo. ¥1,000 adult admission. Located at Okubo 1-16-19 1F, 4min walk from Shin-Okubo Station. Call 03-5273-8630 for same-day reservations.
Use Shinjuku's late-night cafe hours for post-dinner visits
Cat Cafe Calico and Owl Cafe Fukurousabou are both open until 10pm — rare for animal cafes. Perfect after dinner in Kabukicho or Golden Gai. Most Tokyo animal cafes close by 7-8pm.
Choose Fukurousabou over Akiba Fukurou for a budget owl experience
Owl Cafe Fukurousabou in Shinjuku 3-chome charges ¥1,500/hr (includes drink + owl holding) vs Akiba Fukurou's ¥3,300/hr. About 12 owls. Open 1pm-10pm. Walk-ins possible but reservation recommended.
MOCHA Lounge Shinjuku is the most convenient cafe for JR users
Just 2 minutes from JR Shinjuku Station Central East Exit. Same MOCHA chain quality: ¥1,188/30min weekday with unlimited drinks. Less crowded than the Harajuku or Akihabara branches.
Dog Cafe Rio's per-10-minute pricing is ideal for a quick visit
At ¥220/10min + ¥385 drink, a 20-minute visit costs only ¥825 total. Located in Kabukicho 1-15-5 B1F. Great for dog lovers who want a brief fix without committing to a full hour.
Combine Shin-Okubo food with Hanimaru Cafe for a unique half-day
Shin-Okubo is Tokyo's Korean food district. Visit Hanimaru's exotic animals, then walk to the Korean restaurant street for lunch — a combination unique to the Shinjuku area.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Going to Calico expecting a pristine cafe experience
Calico has 50+ cats in a two-floor space. Some reviews note a strong cat urine odor, especially upstairs. Others find it fine. If cleanliness is a priority, MOCHA Lounge Shinjuku is more consistently maintained.
Missing Hanimaru Cafe because it looks like a reptile shop
Hanimaru's official name translates to 'Reptile Cafe' but it has sloths, binturongs, chinchillas, tanuki, and more. The exotic mammals are the main draw — don't skip it based on the name. Located in Shin-Okubo, not central Shinjuku.
Trying to find Fukurousabou without the address
Owl Cafe Fukurousabou is on the 5th floor of Yoshidaya Bldg at Shinjuku 3-31-5. Like many small Tokyo cafes, it has no street-level signage. Save the address in Google Maps before you go.
Expecting Calico to allow young children
Cat Cafe Calico does not allow children under 12. If visiting with kids, go to MOCHA Lounge (more flexible) or Dog Cafe Rio instead.
Visiting Animal Cafes in Shinjuku
Your First Visit
Shinjuku's animal cafes split across the station's two personalities: the corporate West Exit towers and the neon-lit East Exit entertainment district. Most cafes cluster on the East side, near Kabukicho and along Yasukuni-dori. The variety is impressive for a single neighborhood — cat, dog, owl, capybara, and rare exotic animals including binturongs and sloths. Prices range from ¥1,000–2,000 for 30–60 minutes. The area can feel overwhelming, but the cafes themselves are calm refuges.
Before You Go in Shinjuku
- Shinjuku Station has 36 exits — use the East Exit or Kabukicho Exit for the fastest route to animal cafes
- Hanimaru Cafe offers sloths, binturongs, and meerkats — one of the rarest exotic collections in Tokyo
- Cat Cafe Calico Shinjuku is one of Tokyo's oldest and largest (seats 60+); walk-ins are usually fine
- Late-night options exist here: some Kabukicho-area cafes stay open until 10 PM
- The Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (¥500) is a 5-minute walk — a peaceful contrast to the cafe district
Getting Around
From Shinjuku Station's East Exit, most cafes are a 3–10 minute walk. The Kabukicho area (north of Studio Alta) has the highest concentration. For the West side, Tocho-mae Station (Oedo Line) is closer. Shinjuku is directly connected to Narita Airport (NEX express, 80 min) and Haneda Airport (Keikyu/Limousine Bus, 60 min).
Ethical Animal Cafe Guide for Shinjuku
Not all animal cafes are equal. Here's what to look for when choosing an ethical cafe.
✓Green Flags
- Cat Cafe Calico's large two-floor space gives cats room to retreat and rest
- MOCHA Lounge enforces no-pick-up rules and hand-washing before entry
- Dog Cafe Rio prohibits picking up dogs — guests sit low and let dogs approach naturally
- Hanimaru Cafe staff supervise all exotic animal interactions closely
- Fukurousabou limits owl holding to one owl on your arm (left arm only) with staff guidance
×Red Flags
- Owl cafes where multiple owls are tethered to perches in small spaces
- Any exotic animal cafe without staff supervision during handling
- Cafes where nocturnal animals (owls, hedgehogs) are kept awake under bright lights
- Overcrowded cat cafes where cats show stress behavior (hiding constantly, aggression)
Recommended Ethical Cafes
Cat Cafe MOCHA Lounge Shinjuku
catChain-standard welfare protocols, cat rotation schedule, unlimited drink model reduces pressure to rush
Dog Cafe Rio Shinjuku
dogNo-pick-up policy, guests sit at floor level so dogs approach voluntarily, pay-per-10min means no pressure to stay
Hanimaru Cafe
exotic (sloth, binturong, reptiles)Staff-supervised handling only, animals rotated for rest, English website for pre-visit preparation
Frequently Asked Questions
Shinjuku offers a unique mix ranging from Tokyo's largest cat cafe to rare exotic animal encounters. Top picks: Cat Cafe Calico (50+ cats, largest in Tokyo), Hanimaru Cafe (sloths, binturongs, meerkats — Shin-Okubo), Cat Cafe MOCHA Lounge Shinjuku (2min from JR Shinjuku), Dog Cafe Rio (pay-per-10min), and Owl Cafe Fukurousabou (late hours until 10pm). Shinjuku is the only Tokyo area where you can interact with sloths and binturongs (Asian bearcats) at Hanimaru Cafe.
Yes — Shinjuku has some of the latest-closing animal cafes in Tokyo. Cat Cafe Calico stays open until 10pm (7 days a week). Owl Cafe Fukurousabou is open 1pm-10pm. MOCHA Lounge is open until 8pm. This makes Shinjuku ideal for evening animal cafe visits after dinner or sightseeing. Calico and Fukurousabou's 10pm closing is 2 hours later than most Tokyo animal cafes, making them popular post-dinner destinations in the Kabukicho entertainment district.
Cat: Calico ¥1,000/hr (+ holiday surcharge), MOCHA Lounge ¥1,188/30min weekday or ¥1,518 weekend (drinks included). Exotic: Hanimaru Cafe ¥1,000 admission (adults). Owl: Fukurousabou ¥1,500/hr (includes 1 drink + owl holding). Dog: Rio ¥220/10min + ¥385 drink. Fukurousabou at ¥1,500/hr is the cheapest owl cafe experience in Tokyo — Akiba Fukurou charges ¥3,300/hr.
Hanimaru Cafe (爬にまるカフェ) is a unique exotic animal cafe in Shin-Okubo, Shinjuku. You can interact with sloths, binturongs (Asian bearcats), meerkats, chinchillas, Flemish Giant rabbits, tanuki (raccoon dogs), guinea pigs, reptiles, owls, and chameleons. It's primarily a reptile interaction cafe that has expanded to include mammals. Hanimaru is one of the only cafes in Japan where you can meet a binturong (Popcorn-chan) and a sloth (Coconut-chan) — animals not available at any other Tokyo animal cafe.
Yes. While Kabukicho has a reputation as an entertainment district, Cat Cafe Calico is in a well-trafficked building and perfectly safe during all operating hours (10am-10pm). The area around Shinjuku Station is busy and well-lit. The cafe itself is two floors with 50+ cats. Calico is the largest cat cafe in Tokyo by number of cats (50+). Children under 12 are not allowed. Reviews are mixed on cleanliness — some note odor issues on the upper floor, while others find it well-maintained.
MOCHA Lounge has English-speaking staff and English signage as part of the MOCHA chain's tourist-friendly approach. Cat Cafe Calico has basic English support. Hanimaru Cafe has an English version of their website but in-cafe English may be limited. Dog Cafe Rio staff can communicate basic instructions in English. Hanimaru Cafe's English website (hanimaru-cafe.com/?lang=en) provides animal profiles and booking info, which helps compensate for limited in-person English.
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