TOKYO – I am overcome with an odd sense of ownership as I take a morning stroll down Yoyogi Park with my rented toy poodle, Kurumi. It almost feels like a routine day.
That is until two women stop to pet it and ask: “Is it a boy or a girl?”
I hesitate. “A girl, I think,” I say.
They look at me strangely and politely go on their way. The illusion of pet ownership is shattered.
Dog Heart, the dog cafe where I rented Kurumi, is located a stone’s throw from Yoyogi Park, one of Tokyo’s largest.
It is part of the cute-animal industry, which includes exotic animal cafes, that has been flourishing in Japan.
Since the first known cat cafe in the world launched in Taiwan in 1998, more have sprouted in the region in the past two decades. They differentiate themselves by housing ever more adorable exotic animals, such as hedgehogs, capybaras and owls.
I witness a snaking queue at an otter cafe in Harajuku, a youthful and trendy enclave. Mipig Cafe, which features micro pigs and is located along the same street, is fully booked for the day.
While the exact number of animal cafes in Japan is unknown, a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Conservation Science And Practice in January 2023 surveyed a total of 142 exotic animal cafes in Japan by visiting their websites and social media accounts.
Most cafes involve animal interaction in a confined space, but on top of being a pet cafe, Dog Heart’s website publicises its dog rental business. Prices range from 3,800 yen (S$32) to 5,000 yen an hour, depending on the size of the dog.
Golden retrievers are the largest dogs listed on its website. Medium-sized dog breeds include beagles, French bulldogs and cocker spaniels.
