The truth about Japanese animal cafés depends on your philosophy about life. The well-being of café critters is a debatable subject. (Employees’ love of their birds, cats, dogs and hedgehogs, however, is uncontested.) Your perception of a café will probably depend on your sensitivity to seeing caged bunnies and clipped-wings birds.
Another truth about Japanese animal cafés: If you’re teaching English out in the countryside, you’ll need to catch a train to Tokyo. Or Osaka. Most if not all the cafés are in cosmopolitan areas.
Café may also be a misleading word in some cases. In some animal cafés vending machines are the source of the coffee or tea. Other places are bonafide afternoon tea spots. (Scroll down to see links to a menagerie of popular animal cafés in Tokyo.)It’s true that a visit to a Japanese animal café is easier if you know a few words. Let’s start with the animals.
| Bird | 鳥 |
| Owl | フクロウ |
| Rabbit | うさぎ |
| Cat | 猫 |
| Dog | 犬 |
| Goat | ヤギ |
| Hedgehog | ハリネズミ |
| Snake | 蛇 |
Bird / Owl Café Note: Some bird and owl cafés allow their birds to flutter above the people. Slickers, at the very least, hats are recommended. You don’t want to have to rush back to the hotel to wash your hair. Cat Café Note: Many (if not all) cat cafés do not allow patrons to pick up and cuddle cats. However, at some cafés, cats can be enticed into your lap with treats purchased at an extra cost.
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Animal café employees are very attentive and kind. But it’s always good to know a few words pertaining to safety.
| Is this dangerous? | 危ないですか？ |
| Is this all right? | 大丈夫ですか？ |
| Would you please help me? | 助けて頂けませんか？ |
| The animal bit me. | 動物が私を噛んだ。 |
| I’m all right. | 大丈夫です。 |
| I feel pain. | 痛みがあります。 |
| It hurts. | 痛い |
| I’m done. Thank you. | これでけっこうです。どうもありがとう。 |
Here are a few polite phrases that are good to know whether in a café or not.
| Excuse me. | すみません。 |
| Thank you. | どうもありがとう。 |
| Would you kindly… | ~~頂けませんか？ |
| I’d like to make a reservation. | 予約をお願いいたします。 |
| Please | お願いします。 |
Note: Reservations at most animal cafés are an extremely good idea.
| Monday | 月曜日 |
| Tuesday | 火曜日 |
| Wednesday | 水曜日 |
| Thursday | 木曜日 |
| Friday | 金曜日 |
| Saturday | 土曜日 |
| Sunday | 日曜日 |
| Morning | 午前 |
| Afternoon | 午後 |
| 9:00 AM | 午前くじ |
| 10:00 AM | 午前じゅうじ |
| 11:00 AM | 午前じゅういちじ |
| 12 noon | おひる |
| 1:00 PM | 午後いちじ |
| 2:00 PM | 午後にじ |
| 3:00 PM | 午後さんじ |
| 4:00 PM | 午後よじ |
| 5:00 PM | 午後ごじ |
| 6:00 PM | 午後ろくじ |
| 7:00 PM | 午後しちじ |
| 15 minutes | じゅうごふん |
| 15 minutes before the hour | じゅうごふん前 |
| 30 minutes | さんじゅっぷん |
| Coffee please | コーヒーお願いいたします。 |
| Black tea please | 紅茶お願いいたします。 |
| Green tea please | 緑茶お願いいたします。 |
| Orange juice please | オレンジジュースお願いいたします。 |
Animal café chitter-chatter…
| That animal (or fill in the blank from above)is cute! | その動物は可愛いです。 |
| Thank you. | どうもありがとう。 |
| That was fun. | おもしろかった。 |
- Next Lesson: 10 Plus Japanese Phrases You Need to Know
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Kim Watkinson, The Ninja Baker
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