It seems that Tokyo is teeming with pet cafes these days. As we've reported before, you can find cat cafes, dog cafes, even mini shiba inu cafes, hedgehog cafes, rabbit cafes, and pig cafes. But if you're an avid avian afficionado, you're probably interested in one of the several owl cafes in the Tokyo area, such as the Owl Forest in Kamakura, or Akiba Fukurou in Akihabara.

However, if you think all owl cafes are birds of a feather, then you probably haven't heard of Kakutōkyō 格闘梟 (which literally means "fighting owls"), a new concept cafe in the Kichijoji neighborhood of Tokyo.

Kakutōkyō: MMA Owl

The brainchild of Katsuyuki Hironaka, an active fighter for Japanese MMA company Pancrase who made his professional debut in 2016 at the age of 32, Kakutōkyō combines an owl cafe and bar with an MMA gym.

Note: In case you were wondering, owls don’t actually do any fighting at Kakutōkyō.

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Cafe Course and Owl Course

If you love owls, you won't be disappointed at Kakutōkyō. You can either choose the "Cafe Course" if you prefer to enjoy food and drinks (and alcohol in the evening) while observing owls, or you can choose the "Owl Course," where you can get up close and personal with the owls (who go by the name of "fighters"). If you choose the Owl Course, there's a professional caretaker on hand to show you how to handle the birds. There's even a "Hotel Course" available to owl owners living in Japan.

Hironaka has taken care to ensure that Kakutōkyō is safe and comfortable for both humans and owls. Only environmentally safe materials and materials safe for the birds are used, there are no plastic straws (paper straws available by request), no artificial sweeteners or trans fats are used in the menu, and the owls are fed regularly and raised with their health in mind.

Hironaka is also concerned with his immediate social environment, since he also established Kakutōkyō to provide job opportunities for young fighters, band members or other people who could use his cafe as work experience to put on their resume until they're able to secure full time jobs.

Pricing

Owl Course: 2,000 JPY (excluding tax, per hour, includes one drink)

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Owl Fighters

Here are the "fighters" you'll find when you visit:

• Wasabi: Light heavyweight, Great Horned Owl (Touch: OK, Perch on Hand: OK, Feeding: OK)
• Peach: Light heavyweight, Great Horned Owl (Touch: NO, Perch on Hand: NO, Feeding: NO). Peach was born blind and requires special care.
• Tyson: Featherweight, Molted Owl (Touch: OK, Perch on Hand: NO, Feeding: NO)
• Noelle: Featherweight, Barn Owl (Touch: OK, Perch on Hand: OK, Feeding: OK)
• Cloun: Flyweight, Northern White-Faced Owl (Touch: OK, Perch on Hand: OK, Feeding: OK)
• Marron: Strawweight, Pallid Scops Owl (Touch: maybe, Perch on Hand: maybe, Feeding: OK)

MMA Gym

Not only is there an exercise space where you can learn and perform exercise routines based on Hironaka's own professional experience and customized to needs such as weight loss and health management, but Hironaka will also make himself available for sparring sessions for those who want it.

Pricing

MMA Gym Course: Plans start from 3,000 JPY (excluding tax, thirty minutes), reservations required.

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Cafe

You'll be able to order snacks, desserts and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as a food menu which changes from day to day.

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Store Details

For more information about the store, please check their website (Japanese).

• Name (JP): 格闘梟　Mixed Martial Arts Owl
• Name (EN): Kakutōkyō
• Address (JP): 東京都武蔵野市吉祥寺本町1-26-1 JK吉祥寺ビル201
• Address (EN): 201 JK Kichijoji Bldg., 1-26-1 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo
• Access: 3 minute walk from Kichijoji Station (JR, Keio)
• Hours: 12:30 to 17:30 (day), 18:00 to 23:30 (evening)
• Telephone: 0422-27-1913
• Website: Kakutōkyō Mixed Martial Arts Owl