Japan is well known for various animal experiences, whether it be rabbit island or cat island, cat cafes, the deer of Nara, Zao Fox Village, the monkey Onsen in Nagano, and the various animal cafes across the country. I’ve heard people say some of these things are mind blowing, but I’ve also heard that Japanese animal care standards are severely lacking, which can make these experiences less than appealing. The Noboribetsu Bear Park is a possible stop on my upcoming trip, for example. Is it worth going to these or should they be skipped entirely? Are there any that treat the animals well enough that they can be supported ethically?
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We visited the fox village… I wouldn’t recommend it. It was neat to see them up close, but there seemed to be WAY too many foxes crammed into a habitat of that size. Some were living in small cages as well. I’m not a fox expert to say whether the conditions were inhumane or not, but it did just seem a bit off.
The snow monkey park is ABSOLUTELY worth the detour. I loved every second of the tour even though there was no snow.
I went to the Izu Shaboten animal park and would definitely recommend it. Lots of different animals there and you can feed most of them, and even pet the capybara there. Seemed like they treated their animals well enough for a zoo.
I agree. I went to both snow monkey park and fox village.
Snow monkey park felt like a well organized nature reserve. We went during the summer month and the monkeys weren’t bathing in the natural sulfur baths, but there were a lot of young/baby monkeys. It was very exciting to see.
Fox village made me feel concerned for animal welfare right away. There were a lot of foxes for the limited space. The foxes were surrounded by man made structures so it’s like a glorified petting zoo.
I’m going to be a killjoy but as you asked.. unless they’re naturally occurring in the area and free roaming (Nagano or Miyajima, for example), I’d stay away.
I just googled that bear park, and those images should be enough for you to decide. It in no way seems like there is enough space for those bears and I’d honestly be sad to visit.
‘Well enough’ depends on you. What do you consider to be well enough? Based on my experiences here in the UK, Japan do not offer enough for their animals in zoos.
Cafes with exotic animals are encouraging the trade in wild animals and do not provide a suitable environment.
I have a slightly different opinion about cat cafes, some are run by rescues.. some just have alot of space and enrichment for fewer cats.. some cats are fine in that environment, it really depends.
Edit: I spent some time looking up that bear park. They breed them so they’ve always got a cute supply of babies (previously they slaughtered surplus, not sure about now), they train them to do tricks for food and they’re kept in hugely subpar conditions.
I’ve found that tripadvisor reviews usually mention if there are concerns about animal attractions, it seems like there are some for this place that are pretty critical of it https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Attraction_Review-g325583-d1147641-Reviews-or10-Noboribetsu_Bear_Park-Noboribetsu_Hokkaido.html
The monkeys sure, they’re mostly wild.
Cat cafés are OK, but cats ignore me, so they feel like a hostess club, where you pay to not do anything.
Please don’t do anything exotic. Especially Owls or any other non social animals.
Iwatayama Monkey Park was a good experience for me, the monkeys are free to go wherever they want. Some will have issue with an attraction where you feed wild animals but in the grand scheme of things it was a pretty nice way to interact with them. Same thing with the Nara Park deer.
we visited the owl cafe in Osaka, my daughters loved it. didn’t get the chance to see the deer’s in Nara, i believe it’s free and the deer’s are free roaming. you can feed them crackers. there is also a monkey park in Kyoto that are i had wanted to visit. the monkey’s live in the forest and come to the visitation center because they know people will give them food.
Nara was amazing imo. Deer are free roaming and will actually bow to you (which is really just akin to them begging for food, but still cool!)
I went to Noboribetsu Bear Park and it’s an extremely depressing place. Giant concrete pit full of bears, as well as other animals in small enclosures with zero enrichment. Definitely avoid this.
I don’t know why people lack the slightest critical thinking surrounding exotic animal cafes. Who in their right mind thinks that an owl is ok with being chained up and forced to stay awake in a small place unable to fly? Don’t people think for one second about how these attractions don’t exist in many countries and there’s a reason for that?
I’ve seen one called PuiPui Capybara, or something similar, seems like just a guy and his few pets. I have no idea if it’s good/ethical/whatever bit it certainly doesn’t seem commercialised. I think he has only a few visitors a week.
I would skip most of it if you really care about animals. Some of these are heartbreaking.
Nara Deer are cute.
Monkey onsen is awesome in Winter, have not been there in any other season.
My honest opinion on cat cafes – I am a cat lover and have grown up around them my entire life. I know what stressed out cats look like and behave like, and of the two cat cafes I’ve been to (one in Japan and one in Seoul) it was clear to me that many of the cats there were pretty stressed out. There were always a couple friendlier ones ready to interact, but most of the cats looked like they just wanted to hide. If there was a cafe that had maybe no more than 3-4 cats in a relatively spacious and pet-friendly area, it would probably be much more humane. As it stands, I can’t really enjoy them with that in mind. This is just from my experience, and I’m sure it varies from cafe to cafe – but I can’t personally endorse the ones like they have there.
We.have.some here in the west where all the cats are adoptable, but since they rotate in and out, I don’t see them as quite as cruel. And they get the cuties adopted and into forever homes.
Deers do nibble on your butt for food but Nara is still worth it.
Keep your expectations very, very low for animal anything in Japan. Zoos are typically sad with small enclosures where the animals are stressed and pacing back and forth or in a circle. Any animal cafe that has nocturnal animals (owls/hedgehogs/etc.) is an inherently cruel environment. Cute puppies or cats often get overstimulated and want little to do with yet another guest who wants to pet them; they just want alone time. There are some more ethical cat cafes that are rescues where they seek to adopt out the animals. But most pet cafes will euthanize animals once they get too big to be cute or have any illness they don’t want to deal with.
– [Why You Shouldn’t Go to An Animal Cafe in Japan](https://blog.gaijinpot.com/why-you-shouldnt-go-to-an-animal-cafe-in-japan/)
– [7 Ethical Cat Cafes in Tokyo](https://www.tokyoweekender.com/japan-life/ethical-cat-cafes-tokyo/)
– [Osaka’s Vegan Rescue Cat Cafe](https://matcha-jp.com/en/9422)
– [Osaka Cat Cafe and Hostel](https://soranews24.com/2019/12/10/new-cat-hotel-in-japan-lets-you-watch-kitties-right-outside-your-window-for-entire-stay)
– [Save Cat Cafe: Osaka](https://maps.app.goo.gl/jhjD6BtC6LAQoAa7A?g_st=ic)
My suggestion is to avoid these types of experiences and spend your money elsewhere. After all there is a very good reason you can only have certain types of exotic animal experiences in Japan and not back home as many of these types of environments would be in violation of animal welfare laws and illegal in many other countries.
I remember the Zao Fox Village was my first thing I put in my itinerary for my original plans for my month-long 2020 trip. I ended up going for 2 months in 2023, and by then had no desire to go because it sounded more depressing the more I heard of it.
Nara was cool however. They’re wild so they do whatever they please. Miyajima Island in Hiroshima was kinda the same, but locals don’t want them around the shore unlike Nara, and instead want them up in their habitat near the mountains. Irregardless, they’re wild and just chilling out. With. It’s places, remember they’re wild and can bite or hit you.
I went to one animal cafe on my spring trip, Livingroom Pug Cafe in Kyoto. It was pretty fun, especially since they had puppies doing socialization training. They had quite a few rescue pugs, and the dogs all go home with their owners.
The deer in Nara were also neat to interact with! Some of the proceeds from the crackers go towards the Preservation Foundation there.
I heard terrible things about some other cafes (owl, bird, and some dog ones) that made me steer away. Definitely look into reviews and such before you decide on any of those parks/cafes.
We visited a bunny cafe the last time we were in Japan and it was really sad. The bunnies just seemed over touched and would just burrow into each other to avoid people. A few of the bunnies were obviously hurt or sick. Lastly there is no where to sit bc bunnies poop and pee everywhere. Sorry to also be a killjoy.
If you care about animal welfare and ethics in any capacity, I wouldn’t go to any captive animal experience in Japan because they’ll likely be pretty upsetting. Even we’ll-renowned zoos/aquariums in the country don’t always have proper husbandry/care for their animals. Animal cafes are unethical in general, but in my experience there are SOME that take better care of their animals than others. But I typically avoid them as a general rule because the odds of supporting a better cafe are slim.
The best animal experiences you’ll have in Japan will be the ones that involve wildlife that are not contained in any way. Some people have already recommended the snow monkey park, and I’m not familiar with it since I lived in Kyushu, but I can recommend Takasakiyama Monkey Park, which is likely similar. It’s a wild colony of Macaques that stick to the mountain because the park employees feed them, which of course isn’t the most ideal, but it was the locals’ way of creating a space that was safe for the wildlife in the area as development in Ōita increased. The monkeys all seem very healthy/happy, and are technically free to roam wherever. These are the experiences you’ll want to seek out.
Simple answer? If you aren’t seeing them in the wild on a nature preserve, no.
We went to the Norboribetsu bear park back in June and didn’t find it very interesting. The bear cubs were cute, but the best part of the park was the view of Lake Kuttara. Maybe go once if you’re curious, but it’s definitely not something I would recommend to my friends.
I went to a Shiba Inu cafe in Osaka. I wouldn’t say it was unethical, but it was a pretty bad experience. The puppies were so desensitized from all the visitors that they wanted nothing to do with humans. They totally ignored everyone in the room.
I really enjoyed bunny island! And I wasn’t made uncomfortable by the animals treatment. They are wild and such have many places they could hide away if they wanted to. It was a lovely experience
Nara is different than the rest you mentioned. It’s just an area where the deer roam free with humans. Nobody owns them or is making money from them. It’s worth going there for that and for the Grand Buddha, which I was blown away by. Also I was in noboribetsu but didn’t go to the bear park, I heard from others that it was depressing. but noboribetsu is worth the trip.
No they are mostly miserable experiences.
This is a culture that has no concept of animal cruelty
We really enjoyed the deer at Nara and on Miyajima. Highly Recommend both places.
We went to “Monkey Mountain” Arashiyama out side of Kyoto and definitely recommend that one too!! The monkeys are free to come and go, and it is a nature study area.
In Tokyo we went to a Cat Cafe and a Hedgehog cafe. The hedgehog is not worth it. They didn’t seem put out by us being there, but they sleep 20 hours a day, so ours mainly curled up in my hand and slept.
The Cat Cafe we enjoyed and only approached the ones who seemed into it. It was near Harajuku station. Plenty of cats, not too crowded when we were there.
I’m actually terrified at how many people here recommend the cafes or say “well, it’s not terrible” “go there if you’re curious” “the [animals] were so cute omg”. Japan is known for having NO concept of animal abuse or on the other hand, animal rights. Animals literally are just things there and being treated as such. “It’s not terrible” “it’s okay for a zoo” or “they rescue animals” is not how low the bar should be.
Zoos are always animal abuse, in fact, everywhere around the world. Captivity is never great. That’s like arguing that Norwegian prisons are a decent place to stay for the rest of your lifetime because eh, you could’ve ended up on Madagascar. It’s still a prison, even if the beds are nicer and you have stuff to do. So zoos are always a no-no and the circumstances in Japan are just horrible, as many have already stated here. Don’t put your 2-hour entertainment above an animal’s miserable life, please.
The cafés are similar, plus that, as also many have stated already, the animals are 1. sedated, 2. have no or few places to retreat properly to (just because a bunny can go into a small house thingy doesn’t mean it’s quiet, spaceous and peaceful enough there), 3. have no outside space. This also goes for domesticated animals. Dogs and cats are horribly held in Japan, they usually are just status symbols and nice things to look at and brag with, toys even, and not actual pets that have specific needs that need to be met. Many are completely overbred, inbred, … races that literally suffer just by existing. So, as nice as “rescue” sounds, it doesn’t guarantee a nice place. Tokyo is crammed af. It’s nearly impossible to hold any pet in somewhat decent circumstances there, except properly bred dogs maybe.
While I do not generalize absolutely any animal cafe or animal place in Japan, it’s almost impossible to find a decent place since, again, animal rights aren’t a concept in Japan. I’d just generally avoid anything with animals that’s not literally built right into pure nature without fences to keep the animals in and stuff or look for vegan places and research them very well.
Nara was honestly astounding in person, as long as you know beforehand that those deer are aggressive. If you’re holding a single damn cracker they WILL throw down. Despite being ganged up on, jumped, kicked & bitten, still a 10/10 experience, can’t wait to do it again.
Rabbit island is great
Snow monkeys are worth a visit as in natural surroundings. Rabbit island is the same, rabbits everywhere running free. I would avoid cat cafes as they feel confined
Keep in mind animal welfare is viewed very differently in Japan than in the west. Many of the conditions you’ll see animals in here will seem (and is) quite cruel and stressful for the animals. Animals are not seen as having emotions and are treated as such. It’s rough. You’ll see monkeys with chains attached to their necks made to perform on stage just because, or alligators in cages the size of their bodies. The fewer people who patronize these businesses, the less incentivized they are to continue. I try my best to discourage visitors from going if they can help it! Sorry to be yet another buzzkill 🙁 luckily there are tons of fun non-animal related things to enjoy!
As many people have said, i don’t recommend going to exotic or small animal cafes, especially in the city. I’ve visited several establishments and as a chinchilla owner, it broke my heart. I can’t say for other animals but that’s not how you keep a healthy, happy chinchilla. The small dirty cages, unhealthy snacks, dirty greasy fur, one even had diarrhea. Please don’t drop your money in places like these.
How are people still considering going to captive animal experiences in Japan, in 2023? You only have to do 3 seconds of research to find your answer.
I am avoiding anything to do with animals in Japan for this exact reason. No zoos, no cafes, no animal attractions.
Went to Harajuku a few days ago, there was a guy carrying around a live otter asking for money.