Fukurou no Sato

The animal café is a Tokyo original, and the city seems to have a particular affection for owls as company for those caffeine-powered afternoons: establishments offering interaction with these wise creatures of the night have been popping up particularly along the Chuo line – in addition to this new opener in Kichijoji, we've visited similar spots in Kokubunji and Koenji. Like most of its competitors, Fukurou no Sato goes to great lengths in ensuring that the owls don't get stressed from all the staring humans: the café space is separated from the 'interaction space' with sound-resistant glass, and the staff give all visitors basic instructions before letting them hang out with the birds. Still, this is a very laidback spot, where stressed city-dwellers are sure to find peace of mind – they even serve beer.