2026-08-16 · buy-side

Japan's cat cafes find new ways to delight animal lovers

Coworking spaces and charming decor help rescued felines into homes

A cat lover greets a feline friend at Neko Yokujo in Osaka: The cafe is decorated to look like a traditional Japanese bathhouse. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumida)

OSAKA -- Japan's cat cafes -- where visitors can spend time watching, playing with and adoring cats -- are continuing to evolve in unique ways. More than two decades after what is thought to be the country's first cat cafe opened in Osaka, many have become more than just places to unwind.