Cat cafes have been a staple of Japanese cities for many years now. A feline presence has been scientifically proven to reduce stress and in an over-worked country like Japan you can imagine the appeal. Couple this with the fact that most Japanese apartments don’t allow pets, (oh and the fact that cats are just an adorable joy to be around) and you’ll understand why the concept took off as it did.

But cat cafes can be crowded, the fluffy inhabitants getting bored of being ogled at by hundreds of strangers a day, and you end up competing with others for the much coveted cattention!

Rent-a-Cat Hotel

That’s why ‘My Cat’ have taken the idea one step further. This ryokan in Yugawara, a historical onsen (hot springs) town nearby Hakone, offers the chance to rent a cat just for your own room.

A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn, and already a great place to unwind. You can chill out in a yukata, relax in a beautiful tatami room after strolls in the countryside, and dine on delicious traditional meals. Sharing all this with a furry friend sounds idyllic.

Enjoy a Traditional Japanese Ryokan with Some Fluffy Company

The My Cat ryokan is part inn, part cat café. At the cat café you can first select which kitty cat you would like to stay in your room with you.

This happy guest whiled away hours playing with her rented roommate.

Rooms start at a very reasonable 3000 yen per night, but there’s an extra charge for a feline friend. The ryokan is located an 8 minute walk from Manazuru Station, which is only an hour and a half away from Shinagawa station in Tokyo.

In case you need any more convincing, here's a video of some of the resident kitties playing around!

My Cat Website (Japanese only)