While in Tokyo recently, we went to the HARRY Hedgehog and Zoo cafe. This is one of the many "animal cafes" in Japan.
For anyone not exactly sure what an "animal cafe" is, it is a place where you can go and interact with animals. Despite being called a cafe the only time "food" is available, it's for the animals. Often a drink is included when you pay for an allotted time frame.
Japan is well known for animal cafes and has plenty of options - cat, shiba, owl, rabbit, hedgehogs... and the list goes on! But interestingly enough it wasn't the first country to have an animal cafe, Taiwan was!
Most cafes have a certain type of animal, like a cat for instance. But some have a variety animals. HARRY is a chain of hedgehog cafes throughout Tokyo and Yokohama. Depending on which cafe you go to will depend on which animals you can hang out with.
We went to the Harajuku terrace cafe which along with said hedgehogs was also a "zoo" cafe. Here we got to cuddle up and feed chinillas, hold and feed hedgehogs, feed otters and pat giant rabbits!
The animals here seemed well cared for. HARRY staff kept a watchful eye to make sure everyone handled with care and used antibacterial gel in between animals. When one hedgehog was trying to escape his play area a staff member quickly whisked him back to the rest area.
I love getting up close to animals. Especially ones that you don't usually encounter.
But I also want it to be in the nicest and kindest environment for the animals. So was pleased to see the staff looking out for the animals.
So if you're in Tokyo and want to have coffee with hedgehogs, pat a cuddly rabbit or feed cheeky otters.. def visit one of the HARRY cafes!! 🦔☕
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