101
Ikebukuro, cat café
Spring
A lovely white cat sits elegantly, looking out from the decorated window, just like the one depicted by Hiroshige. The busy lifestyle of the modern Tokyo made people looking for ways to share some precious time with these soft pawed little creatures, without the commitment of owning them. Cat café is a very popular place for young workers looking for the companionship of a cat friend. Sticks and food are used to court the cats until they decide to reward visitors with their precious attention.
Notes
Although the concept blossomed in Japan, where the first one named “Neko no Jikan” (lit. “Cat’s Time”) was opened in Osaka in 2004, the world’s first cat café, “Cat Flower Garden”, opened in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1998 and eventually became a global tourist destination.