As I am sure the internet has informed you before, if you are visiting Tokyo, going to Akihabara’s Owl Cafe should be on your to-do list. Who wouldn’t love to sip tea and pet such adorable and majestic creatures? Going to Akihabara should be on your list of stops to begin with if you have interests in Japanese pop-culture, anime, manga, games, technology, and this is an unforgettably wonderful experience.
Because of the cafe's popularity, a reservation is needed. You can easily make one on their website and through email. Their website has their opening hours, available time slots, information about the owls and all of their contact information. The staff are not fluent in English but are quite good and are very eager and kind as they explain to you all they know about the owls they carry. They will reply to your email requesting a reservation quite quickly and suggest you show up ten to fifteen minutes early before your one hour time slot. The hour appointment is ￥1500.
From Akihabara Station, it is about a five minute walk. On their website as well as this page, you can find their address, phone number and other information to help you find the cafe. In total, they have about sixteen owls, any of which (unless they are sleeping or resting) you can pet, request to hold and take pictures with (the pictures are free!). When you arrive early for your appointment, the staff will hand you a booklet with information about owl care, how you should behave during your stay and many FAQ’s.
Again, because of its popularity, I would suggest making your reservation as soon as possible. Make sure you give yourself a good amount of time to find the place as well, as it is on a small side street and even for someone familiar with the area, it can potentially be hard to find.
At the end of your visit, you will receive a picture with you and the owl you chose as a gift from the cafe. The hour runs by quite quickly, so make sure to enjoy every second of it!
