Last Updated on 8 September 2025 by Vanessa
Tourists exploring Japan’s cat-themed attractions often gravitate towards the famous cat islands like Tashirojima and Aoshima, the numerous cat cafés, Yanaka Cemetery, or iconic landmarks with significant feline populations, such as the Fushimi Inari-Taisha shrine in Kyoto.
However, illustrator and photographer Alexandre Bonnefoy has taken a different approach. During his two-year residence in Japan, he dedicated himself to wandering the streets in pursuit of cats, uncovering lesser-known cat districts that he subsequently highlighted in his book, NekoLand.
Are you wondering where to find cats in Tokyo?
In this article, he delves into some of the city’s most cat-friendly districts.
Cats in Tokyo: cat-friendly districts
Cats are inseparable from Japan.
Even though I wasn’t particularly interested in cats when I arrived in Tokyo, it was impossible not to see them. Their image is omnipresent: in manga, in magazines, and on many everyday objects like cups, bento boxes, bags, clothing, and more.
Meanwhile, temples dedicated to cats can be found in the Asakusa and Gotokuji neighborhoods. Additionally, f you’re not lucky enough to have a feline friend at home, you can have a drink in their company at a neko cafe (“neko” meaning “cat” in Japanese) and even go to a working space with cats, called a neko-working-space. Their slogan: “No cat, no creativity.”
In other words: Japan is a true cat nation!
But are cats only present at the neko cafes, neko-working-spaces, or apartments?
Quite the contrary. Many cats are still living in the streets.
As I wandered through the many hidden districts of Tokyo, I discovered a city with two faces. On one side, a modern Tokyo with cutting-edge architecture, and on the other, an aging Tokyo, slow-paced, with narrow streets, and often-abandoned wooden and tin houses.
Where is this slow-paced Tokyo?
It’s not outside the city. You just need to veer 50 or 100 meters away from the bustling shopping streets to land in these districts.
Quiet reigns here. There is little foot traffic and many hiding spots. Therefore, it’s a suitable terrain for cats.
Here, they live in abundance, away from humans.
They are usually very timid and keep their distance. Therefore, they will usually be hiding or fleeing upon seeing people. They move very little and live within an area no larger than a city block. They belong to no one, scavenge through garbage, and benefit from the generosity of the neighborhood residents who feed them.
I spoke with people who feed these stray cats. They don’t hesitate to buy large quantities of cat food to regularly feed all the cats in the neighborhood.
When I ask them what a particular cat is called, after a long hesitation, they reply with “nashi” (it doesn’t have a name) or “Neko-chan” (Mr. Cat).
Koenji district
The Koenji district in Tokyo is known for its thrift stores and fashion boutiques.
You won’t see many cats in the shopping streets. But if you stroll through the surrounding alleys, you will meet many cats doing the rounds of the garbage bins.
Not sure where to find tomcats in the area?
Look for signs announcing it’s forbidden to feed the cats. They are usually a good indication.
Shinjuku and Kabukicho
Shinjuku and its night district, Kabukicho, are home to a large number of felines.
You won’t see the cats during the day, but around five o’clock in the morning, they come out to scrounge a few leftovers in the garbage bags of the many restaurants or to look for freshness in the bars of the Golden gaï.
Many clients of these bars sleep in the streets while waiting for their first train. Some cats do the same.
Early in the morning, many people go to the park of Shinjuku for a session of tai-chi.
Quite a lot of cats live in the park, so don’t be surprised if they join in for a lesson.
Ikebukuro
If you walk along the line of the train from Yamanote to Ikebukuro, following the construction fences, you’ll arrive at the small temple of Ikebukuro. It is the mark of a dozen cats.
Both passers-by and regulars come here during their lunch break to feed and brush the cats.
Akihabara
This headquarters of manga and animation houses some discreet shrines and temples.
Between the railway road, a canal, and a row of buildings, you will find the Yamagimori sanctuary. This is a small haven of peace where visitors pray and enjoy their lunch break on a bench while caressing the two old cats that sleep there.
Residential districts
In the middle of a new residential district in Tokyo, you’ll find an abandoned house with dense vegetation coming from the garden and a rusty pickup truck sitting in front.
A little further, in another street, there’s a second home that is just as ramshackle, but this one is inhabited. Here, a dozen cats spend their days taking naps in the middle of the street.
Because of the humid climate, the iron structures rust very quickly. Many cats in this neighborhood have the perfect color for an urban camouflage.
Several of these cats have tipped ears. The veterinarians do this to recognize the ones that have been spayed and neutered.
The signpost below reads: “Are you willing to take care of them all the way? Simply feeding them causes a proliferation of cats. Spay and neuter them as well. Take all the necessary precautions to avoid that they give birth to poor kittens whom no one will take care of.”
Final thoughts: cats in Tokyo
Did you like this guide to Tokyo’s hidden cat districts? Do you want to see more of Alexandre Bonnefoy’s photos of cats in Tokyo? Then don’t hesitate to check out his book NekoLand.
NekoLand aims to capture the daily lives of cats in Japan, and Tokyo in particular. Bonnefoy met these cats by chance during walks, and there is no staging involved.
Are you looking for even more things to do in Tokyo? If so, this 5-day Tokyo itinerary is just what you are looking for.
Pin the Neko Land book cover!
