Last Updated on 19 January 2026 by Vanessa
This photo series by Alexandre Bonnefoy was taken at the Yanaka Cemetery in Tokyo, Japan. The Yanaka district is so brimming with cats that many people endearingly call it “cat town.”
“The Yanaka Cemetery and the surrounding streets, south of the Nippori station in Tokyo, are the mark of a large number of cats. The area is even known for this, and many small shops are overflowing with cat-related products,” says Bonnefoy. “When the sun sets, the cats can be found in large numbers at the cemetery to hold a siesta on the tombs.”
Let’s dive right in and look at some interesting facts and photos of both the cats and the place they call home.
The Cats of Yanaka Cemetery are stealing the show in Tokyo’s “Cat Town”
Cats of Yanaka Cemetery
One of the best things about Yanaka Cemetery is the large number of cats that live there. You’ll find them stretched out across gravestones, soaking up the sun along the pathways, or curling up in the shade beneath old headstones and cherry trees. They are completely at ease around people.
How Yanaka became a “cat town”
The main reason you’ll find so many cats in the cemetery is because of its location within the Yanaka district of Tokyo’s Taito Ward.
Yanaka is a mix of old temples, narrow streets, and traditional houses which survived the bombings of World War II relatively intact. It is exactly this calm, less-commercialized environment that naturally attracts stray cats.
The cemetery in particular is a dream for cats because it offers hiding spots, large open spaces, shaded corners, and food sources from nearby restaurants.
The presence of cats in the Yanaka district started becoming more noticeable in the post-war period, particularly from the 1960s onward, when Tokyo’s urbanization pushed stray cats out of more developed neighborhoods. Residents in Yanaka treated the cats kindly, often feeding them and providing informal care. As tourism and local interest in Yanaka grew in recent decades, photographers and cat lovers contributed to their popularity.
Over time, the large number of cats is what made both the cemetery and the neighborhood so famous.
The fascination with these cats reaches beyond the cemetery itself. Local businesses lean into the area’s feline reputation by selling cat-themed desserts, trinkets, and souvenirs. Bakeries offer their own versions of “cat cakes,” while tea shops display cups and teapots decorated with cats.
Community care
Local residents and small community groups take care of the cats. People leave out food and water in feeding stations, provide shelter during harsh weather, and sometimes take sick or injured cats to veterinarians. This combination of community support, favorable environment, and historical continuity keeps the cat population thriving.
Related: Montevideo’s Central Cemetery: Uruguay’s best-kept secret for cat lovers.
Some quick facts about Yanaka cemetery
Yanaka Cemetery sits in the heart of Tokyo’s Yanaka neighborhood, which is just a 15-minute train ride from the center of the city. It opened in 1874 and quickly became one of Tokyo’s largest and oldest cemeteries.
At first, people called it Yanaka Bochi, which simply means “Yanaka Graveyard.” In 1935, the name changed to Yanaka Reien, or “Yanaka Spirit Park” to give it a more poetic feel.
The cemetery covers roughly 100,000 square meters (about 25 acres) and is famous for its beautiful cherry blossom trees, historic gravestones, and a surprisingly large number of cats.
The gravestones, monuments, and mausoleums reflect the Meiji and Taisho periods, showing off the design and craftsmanship of those eras. Each marker tells a small story about Tokyo’s past. This turns the cemetery into both a historic record and a quiet place where people can pause and take it all in.
Related: Is London’s Highgate Cemetery haunted? Discover the ghosts and cats that linger there.
Famous graves
Quite a few famous and influential people are buried at Yanaka Cemetery. Some of the most notable include:
- Lafcadio Hearn: The writer who introduced Japanese ghost stories to the world thanks to his book Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things.
- Ichiyō Higuchi: One of Japan’s best-known female authors.
- Kyoshi Takahama: A renowned haiku poet, who played an important role in modernizing the form.
- Mokichi Saitō: A tanka poet and a part of the modernist movement in Japanese poetry.
- Kotaro Takamura: A sculptor, poet, and novelist.
- Yumeji Takehisa: A painter, illustrator, and poet from the Taisho period in Japan.
- Okubo Toshimichi: Meiji statesman who helped modernize Japan.
- Yoshida Shoin: A scholar and philosopher in the late Edo Period who helped shape the mindset of many revolutionaries during that time.
- Katsu Kaishu: A prominent statesman, naval officer and diplomat during the late Edo and early Meiji periods.
- Sakamoto Ryoma: An influential figure in the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate and establish a modernized government in Japan.
Related: Must-visit destination for cat lovers: La Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Practical information
Address
Yanaka Cemetery, 7 Chome-5-24 Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0001, Japan.
How to get there
The nearest train station to Yanaka Cemetery is Nippori Station, served by the JR Yamanote Line, the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, and the Keisei Main Line. From there, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the cemetery.
For bus access, the Toei Bus lines stop near Yanaka Cemetery at stops like Tenno-ji-mae or Yanaka 4-chome. These buses connect the area to nearby neighborhoods such as Ueno, Sendagi, and Asakusa.
Guided tour
If you want to really understand Yanaka rather than just walk through it, the Old Town Yanaka Walking Tour makes a big difference. With a local guide leading you through Yanaka Cemetery, Tennōji Temple, and Nezu-jinja Shrine, you get the stories and context you’d almost certainly miss on your own, so it’s worth booking before spots fill up.
Opening hours
The cemetery remains open 24/7 throughout the year.
Best times to visit
To increase your chances of seeing the famous cemetery cats, try visiting early in the day or late afternoon. Fewer people are present then, so the cats will come out more easily.
Related: Montmartre Cemetery, THE place for cat lovers in Paris.
2026 update
Yanaka Cemetery is still a Tokyo hotspot when it comes to cats. However, the number of strays on the streets surrounding the cemetery has clearly gone down.
Japan has strengthened animal welfare rules, and many residents now believe it’s better to take cats indoors or into shelters rather than let them live outside. Many have been trapped, neutered, and re-homed, and this visibly reduced the number of strays in the Yanaka district.
Yanaka has also become more popular with tourists. Construction, increased foot traffic, and noise make the area less comfortable for shy animals, and many have moved from these public spaces to quieter areas such as the cemetery.
Yanaka is no longer the “cat town” it once was, though many shops and bakeries continue selling cat-themed goods and treats.
Related: Tokyo travel tip: meet the cats of Aoyama Cemetery.
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About the photographer
Alexandre Bonnefoy lived in Japan from 2010 to 2012 and publishes books on everyday culture, traditions, and animals.
His most famous book is Neko Land, which explores the lives of stray cats in Japanese cities and fishing islands.
He also works as a children’s book illustrator and has done so since 2003.
Related: Book spotlight: Neko Land by Alexandre Bonnefoy and Delphine Vaufrey.
