"Neko cafes", where you can enjoy spending time with cats while sipping coffee or tea, have been springing up in Tokyo and the metropolitan area during the last couple of years. Neko (cat) cafes are believed to be mostly the same in terms of the concept of providing a space to relax with cats, but their origins and methods of operation vary. Here are two neko cafes that opened this year, offering different systems and atmospheres.

The owner of Curl Up Cafe, near Nishi-Koyama station on the Tokyu Meguro Line, said her neko cafe developed from a place where her cat-loving friends simply gathered to spend time together.

"Initially, I only had one cat, but the numbers gradually increased as my twin daughters each got a cat, and so my friends and acquaintances came to visit us to see the cats. And as I saw people who did not particularly like cats turn into cat lovers through spending some time with them, I thought I should open a cafe where people could get together to cherish cats," said the owner, who asked not to be named.

When I visited Curl Up Cafe, which opened in April, 10 cats out of the 14 currently kept at the owner's home were playing, resting or catnapping there. As I took off my shoes and entered the pleasantly scented cafe space, some of the cats stared at their first-time visitor, but they quickly adjusted to my presence and resumed spending their time as they liked. The cafe can hold up to eight customers at a time, who can stay for one or two hours for 1,500 yen (US$14) or 2,300 yen ($21), respectively, with a choice of drinks. You may extend your stay further, and the cafe takes reservations for four of the eight seats.

"I take utmost care in hygiene so as not to bring in any germs harmful to the cats. That's why I always keep the cats and the room clean and ask visitors to wash their hands before entering the cafe space," the owner said.

The cafe was inspired by the owner's personal experience. "My father had a hard time after he had a stroke, but he was motivated to move his body as he had to deal with a cat playing around his bed. He also was consoled by the animal a lot," she said. "That made me realise animals are excellent at offering people a sense of relief."

She said the cafe welcomes anyone and the rules, including not doing things the cats would dislike, are observed. "We have many repeat customers. I hope the cafe will also serve as a place where you can exchange useful information about cats."

Another neko cafe can be found in Yanaka, Tokyo. Misuzu Uemura said with a smile that her cafe, Nekomachi Cafe 29, was initially a "dog cafe" when she opened it in January, as customers with dogs often enjoyed a coffee at the cafe's outside tables.

"I always loved cats, but the cafe was named Nekomachi (cat town) after the nickname of the Yanaka area, which has many cat-related places, such as a gallery and cafe, as well as stray cats. My dealing with many cat-related items at the cafe, such as books and postcards, also inspired me to name the place so," Uemura said. "But it became a 'real neko cafe' because a friend of mine gave me two kittens, and I started to keep them at the cafe."

Uemura also uses the cafe as a gallery of picture books--often cat-oriented--or as a venue for reading children's books.

Uemura said the popularity of Nekomachi Cafe 29 grew significantly as it gained a reputation on the Internet as a relaxed, open place where you can enjoy being with the catnap-loving cats in addition to eating cat-themed sweets prepared with recipes from her hometown in Kumamoto Prefecture. "Now, almost all cafe customers come here for the cats, Sora and Fu."

To prevent the cats from playing on the tables and counters where traditional Kumamoto cuisine and drinks are served in the evening, Sora and Fu, who receive medical checkups every month, usually sit on or near their own designated bench. Uemura takes them to a sunny room or patio when they seem to feel like jumping around.

"The cats really do like humans, and often jump onto your knees. That may be part of the reason the two of them attract customers," she said. (By KUMI MATSUMARU/ The Daily Yomiuri/ ANN)

Information:

Curl Up Cafe
(03) 5755-5393
http://curl-up.net/

Nekomachi Cafe 29
(03) 3827-3329