Neko no Jikan opened in 2004, making it one of the longest-running cat cafés in Japan. Boasting over 22 cats and a nice selection of drinks and snacks, Neko no Jikan (or “Cat Time”) is a cozy venue that provides beautiful furniture and decor for felines and guests alike, making it a nice place to relax and get some well deserved kitten time just north of Kids Plaza Osaka.

This quaint cat café is a great alternative to some of the busier, more popular spots. The central feature of Nyanny is a plexiglass walkway suspended from the ceiling, with cats often spotted napping or frolicking along its length. Nyanni is just south of Motomachi Station, making it a nice intermediate stop in a walking tour between Kobe Harborland and the 19th-century foreign merchants’ residences, or Ijinkan, of Kitano-cho.

Offering an energetic litter of all-black cats, Nekobiyaka is a unique alternative to other cat cafes. Since it’s a little difficult to tell these playful kitties apart, they wear different-colored bandanas around their necks, allowing patrons to become familiar with their favorite fuzzballs. If you want to get a little more personal, the staff can lend you a book with photos of all the cats displaying their names and birthdates as well. Nekobiyaka is an easy side-trip, just two blocks east of the main road connecting Himeji Station to Himeji Castle.

One of the most famous cat cafés in Japan, Cat Café Nekokaigi (nekokaigi means cat meeting) is a beautifully designed spot that offers guests the chance to cuddle with up to 13 felines. There’s a time-based cover charge, but once inside you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee or tea at a very reasonable price. Located in the center of Kyoto halfway between Karasumaoike Station and the Kamo River, Cat Café Nekokaigi is a convenient place to take a break from a long day of temple trekking.