I’m really glad you posted about the real side of the animal cafes. I think I’d leave feeling sad :(

@jjrpoektl1925

3 ай бұрын

There are some animal cafes that are safe and treat animals well, you just have to do the research

@nxx1075

3 ай бұрын

i went to a cat cafe when i was in harajuku, and let me tell you, it really was kind of sad. There were so many people in this one room that I felt overstimulated and overheated as soon as I walked in. Additionally, the cats didn't seem to like you touching them and didn't really have any interest in engaging with you, and it was obviously because they were likely stressed and around people for too long all the time. They were cute but I do think animal cafes can be detrimental to the animals if it's not handled properly.

@MixNMatchName

3 ай бұрын

Cat cafes are generally ok. The reputable ones work with shelters and adopt them out and will have rules about leaving cats alone unless they come to you

@Nice_Tree

3 ай бұрын

​@@jjrpoektl1925 it's hard to do if you're a tourist. If you are local, know language and can spend a couple of hours to do the research and, maybe, speak with volunteers who care about animals, than okay. If you're a tourist and should care about your accommodation, food, documents, tickets, etc, than it's not a good idea to go to the first cute looking pet cafe

@manishkumarsingh129

3 ай бұрын

Eating beef was ok but feeling bad for animal cafe.

I’d only visit a pet cafe if it’s the type that has them up for adoption. All pet cafes should be adoption centers, knowing people will get to know and love them and hopefully adopt those in need of a family.

@lilygamingtheories1410

3 ай бұрын

Cat cafes are, at least in the US, I can’t speak for Japan

@krishniarumugam

3 ай бұрын

London has aa few of those. BUdapest Cat Cafe - the cats are working hard there but the funds are really helping them. A bit frustration for me is when children are allowed.

@TRUMPmyOSHI

3 ай бұрын

@@lilygamingtheories1410 Yes, pet cafes in the US are often adoption centers. 👍🏽

@octo1622

3 ай бұрын

i remember watching a video about a cat cafe in London that i'm pretty sure had their cats up for adoption, pretty sure it was called Java Cat Café

@annette_lu

2 ай бұрын

There’s one in Japan called Neco Republic that fits this description! I think it has multiple locations

I went to Japan and can confidently say, don't support animal cafe's with birds. I saw an owl cafe while I was there, didn't go in so I couldn't see if they plucked any feathers or anything. But birds, especially solitary birds like owls shouldn't be meeting multiple new people a day. If you want to see cute animals go to pet rescues. There's a cute cat rescue place in Asasuka for example.

@hellanee

2 ай бұрын

I went to an owl cafe in Japan once. I don't know how they treated animals, but we couldn't touch most of owls and there were almost nobody visiting the cafe so owls were just sleeping. Also there was an option to buy some of the owls from this place

@Lesalledebains

2 ай бұрын

@@hellanee ah, well that's a bit better than what I thought. But I still don't trust that one place I walked by.

@xxillicitxx

2 ай бұрын

Nocturnal animals living in a fluorescent lighted room really bothers me too

@Ashv1rk

2 ай бұрын

Can someone explain to me? Everyone is upset about animal cafes and the animals being stressed, but the literal clip before is about eating dead cow. How can there be such a difference in how we view these two things? Both are cases of humans using animals for their own pleasure, can we just stop? :(

@ChappersLaNoCry

2 ай бұрын

@@Ashv1rk it's very different. Whilst there are vegetarian protein options expecting everyone to switch to vegetarian is insanity, it's never going to happen. Sure cut down on the amount of animal proteins you consume. Literally forcing an animal to be anxious 24/7 because they're in a poor enviromnent for our amusement is much worse than animals that are treated humanely and used for food.

Also with the google ratings, Japanese people tend to be a lot more critical and you’ll see “food was absolutely amazing but there was a plastic bag in the parking lot….1 star” “food was great, staff were very kind. Got my food quickly. But the other customers were very loud. 2 stars” “phone reception was weak so I couldn’t watch KZread while eating. 1 star”. When I first moved to Japan I was so confused seeing all the 3 star restaurants thinking “why are there no good restaurants??” But it’s almost like in Japan, ⭐️= bad ⭐️⭐️= okay ⭐️⭐️⭐️= great ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️=amazing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️=god

@ducus

3 ай бұрын

Some of the best food I've had in my life was at places with 3.5 or so star reviews in Japan. Meanwhile in the US if it's less than 4 you should probably stay away.

@rainfang1992

2 ай бұрын

​@@ducus not true for the US. Yelp reviews in the US place an emphasis on service, so you'll have a lot of amazing restaurants only have 3/5 on yelp. This is especially true of ethnic restaurants, which prioritize food quality over service & demeanor

@defvii

2 ай бұрын

​@@rainfang1992Reviews in the US seem to prioritise specific aspects of service as well, they want staff to pay constant attention and fulfil any request. Probably a result of tipping culture. If food took a long time to come out thats a reasonable thing to deduct rating points for that Id care about not that the waitress was brusque. In fact i really hate american style service it is not enjoyable for me, I like no nonsense service.

@ryuhayabaker

2 ай бұрын

​@@ducusWent to a place in a town north of Barcelona this week which was 3 stars, but literally the only thing open on a Monday. I think negative 3 would have been too positive.

@KirbyNPenguins

2 ай бұрын

Business ratings in Japan are generally treated by natives more like hotel ratings, e.g. you'll experience the food quality of a 3-star hotel at a 3-star restaurant.

Would like to say that not all animal cafes abuse the animals; I’ve gone to a cat cafe where all kitties were rescue kitties from kill shelters and they were treated really well. You also were not allowed to forcefully wake them up if they are napping. Ofc, do your research, see how it is and decide if you want to stay or not

@marina_7403

2 ай бұрын

Any animal cafe with little pigs is probably bad because pigs and cats are so different in behaviour, their needs and around humans. And teacup pigs are not easy to keep at home and only bred because they are cute. I definitely wouldn’t go into a cafe with pigs. But a cat cafe with rescued kittens where people maybe can adopt one sounds nice

@LLace

2 ай бұрын

@@marina_7403. *THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A TEACUP PIG*

@ilikedota5

2 ай бұрын

​@@marina_7403also dog cafes seem better since dogs are social animals and generally want to get attention and love from humans

@nunpho

2 ай бұрын

​​@@marina_7403 the thing is that teacup pigs aren't real, they're usually just pot belly piglets... Which grow up fast and need replaced 😬. The majority of places like this in Japan only care about tourist money and not the animals. There can be good places but they aren't in tourist spots, idk about Japan in general but I live in the UK. Only certain animals comfortable in those environments (like cats) and in certain conditions like rescues/rehab/adoption should be allowed. That along with strict instructions on how to treat the animals.

@hakunahinata77

2 ай бұрын

Most animal abuse attractions say they're a sanctuary and rescue all of the animals 😅 you never know maybe there are some with good intentions but you can't trust them just because they're nice

I can't agree more about the animal cafes! Also think about how they keep the animals cute aka replace them when they get sick/ older etc

@stinky-smelly

3 ай бұрын

I only like the ones that also function as rescues. In Branson, Missouri in the USA, there's a cat cafe that's also a cat shelter :) every cat is adoptable and they slowly become more social through the cafe. I chatted with the owner bc there was basically nobody there and most of the cats start out hanging out in a big back room without any people. They have lil cat tunnels so they can go wherever they'd like and will slowly start going into the room with the people to get attention :)

@sam_1134

3 ай бұрын

@@stinky-smelly aww thats really nice

@claireng9957

3 ай бұрын

There are some good ones though! My fam went to an owl cafe and they seemed well taken care of, plus it was not over crowded with people and everyone was very considerate of the rules, being quiet and stuff :)

@ophokles

3 ай бұрын

​@@claireng9957wtf owl cafes are the worst ones. Owls are night active and not pets.

@claireng9957

3 ай бұрын

@@ophokles the owls take shifts to rest so none of them get too tired, their plumage seems well maintained. I can’t remember for sure but I recall the owner talking about how they take them outside to stretch their wings and they don’t stay in the cafe all the time. Obv it’s better if they’re out in the wild and living naturally but they seem well taken care of in that cafe, unlike some other cafes where the animals can be sitting in their own faeces and it’s clear that they are being abused. I’m sure they’re trained to have a sleep schedule that aligns with the shop opening hours so they don’t lose sleep.

I feel like people stop thinking critically when it comes to Japan. The rose tinted glasses are heavy lmao. Tokyo is definitely the Paris of the 21st century.

@atomictiger4

3 ай бұрын

Exactly!

@batprat2361

3 ай бұрын

I'd add nuance to this, Tokyo can be like Paris with mass tourist, high prices etc... But it's some places in Tokyo, this city is so big so everywhere isn't the same. There isn't ONE Tokyo, there's MANY Tokyos some like Paris. Paris still trash

@walterdrinker

3 ай бұрын

Sounds so similar to "Paris Syndrome"

@destituteanddecadent9106

3 ай бұрын

​@@walterdrinkerwhat's ironic is, Paris Syndrome was something that Japanese tourists experienced 😂

@helenalin1493

3 ай бұрын

These are my thoughts exactly, but I’ll never say them out loud cause I don’t think people are ready to accept this about Japan 😅

Ive noticed the more touristy places have higher ratings, since Japanese people tend to be much more picky about their ratings and almost never give something 5 stars, where foreigners who may not have japanese food often rate higher because they have less to compare to

@kyliemjung98

2 ай бұрын

I saw the video poster make a video explaining the Japanese rating too! So you’re definitely on the money regarding this! 💴

@stuffthatijustsay5523

2 ай бұрын

It’s actually not picky, it’s just that Japanese view ratings differently. 3 is good, 4 is exceptionally good and 5, well, most michelin star places don’t even get a 5

@TheKewlPerson

2 ай бұрын

@@stuffthatijustsay5523 That's what I mean. They don't just rate something 5 stars if it's good enough like they would in America for example

@sor3999

2 ай бұрын

Oh please. Don't act like Japanese is more discerning. Americans won't even rate something unless they want to complain and leave a 1 star rating.

@revih3390

2 ай бұрын

.

日本人です。猫カフェは　本来　猫を住宅事情で猫を飼えない人やら　猫好きが集まる所です。日本のアパートでは動物が飼えない所が多いからです。店によっては　動物達に休憩時間を取り、お昼寝をしている所もあります。最近は　処分される猫を保護しながら　カフェも経営とかありますので　御理解を😊

@TRUMPmyOSHI

3 ай бұрын

Yes, I’d like the type of pet cafe that’s also a adoption shelter for pets who don’t have a home, so some people may have a chance to love and adopt them into their family. But if it’s a pet cafe only focus on money, and not the happiness of the pets, I don’t like that.

@kathylingerfield9836

2 ай бұрын

@@TRUMPmyOSHI that's the point he tried to make. A lot of apartments don't allow animals and Japanese love their cats. Even if they shops allowed adoption, it would be unlikely they would actually be adopted. they'd have to pay a special fee which is expensive and pets can cost thousands just to buy. the only other option is euthenasia.

@ILoveLLawlietxD

2 ай бұрын

this doesn't account for the other types of cafes that house animals that aren't cats

@TRUMPmyOSHI

2 ай бұрын

@@kathylingerfield9836 I see, you have a point. Of course animals for adoption are usually lower cost than purebred bought, usually $100-300. Pet cafes should at least be a safe space even for those that couldn’t be adopted in a shelter, not strictly for profit.

@cggjkk

2 ай бұрын

映像中の店が該当するかは解りませんが杜撰な経営を敷いている猫カフェの方が多いですよ。規制という規制がないのでね

I’d recommend going to cat islands I recall there’s one around Fukuoka and Sendai. The cats are really friendly and because they roam around freely they just choose whether or not to come to you so there’s no stress on them. Oh and no feeding the cats.

@itsgracechin

2 ай бұрын

Aw that so cute! Definitely on list to visit the cat island

@stuffthatijustsay5523

2 ай бұрын

I’ve read that because cats are now sterilised, there’s not that many left now. I’ve never heard anything about not being able to feed them

@s.s77731

2 ай бұрын

Then who are feeding the cats? 😭😭

@luminuous121

2 ай бұрын

@@s.s77731 villagers on the island are feeding the fats. The cats are very well fed and only need cuddles and rubs. It is generally the norm not to feed animals whenever u go unless specifically given permission to.

@sonnypark11

Ай бұрын

That sounds like heaven

Japanese people tend to be really harsh reviewers. So lower Google reviews sometimes mean more locals are going there over tourists.

@itsgracechin

Ай бұрын

I agree! Tabelog would be better to use for reviews and ratings in Japan because it's mainly used by locals. I personally found so many good local restaurants with it. And a 3 star rating on Tabelog is also considered good, very different from how Google ratings work

my observation about google ratings is that japanese people tend to rate much lower-- aka, 3 stars is a baseline "meets expectations", while 4 and 5 stars are reserved for truly exceptional places. therefore, if I see a place (especially in big cities) with a high rating, i tend to assume it's mostly visited by tourists.

@sor3999

2 ай бұрын

Most Americans rate 5 as in "I liked it" as in anywhere from middling to great. Basically a thumbs up. Or they rate 1 star if they have some complaints to air. They make no rating if it meets expectations (which of course don't get recorded). Also, most Americans only bother rating when they want to air grievances so places actually skew lower on average because of the complaint driven reviews.

@tothelakes

2 ай бұрын

​@@sor3999why are you so offended

@danielrosales221

Ай бұрын

​@@tothelakes... they don't sound offended at all though?

@tothelakes

Ай бұрын

@@danielrosales221 see the other replies

@danielrosales221

Ай бұрын

@@tothelakes doesn't sound offended at all, it's more just a description of how americans apparently rate restaurants and stuff

The Google rating tip is so true. The best food I had over a 2 week trip was a small Ramen shop in Osaka with poor reviews. The shop had 3.7 stars and after reading the reviews I realized that they were due to tourists who don't know how to order food (i.e. toppings and portion sizes).

Absolutely agree with your point on the animal cafes in Japan. I went to a hedgehog cafe and it was the worst experience, the hedgehogs were stressed and didn't want to be touched because they're nocturnal and they had a single meerkat leashed to a cage! Awful miserable place.

@elishh8173

2 ай бұрын

Please continue to spread this information. Hedgehogs are wild animals. How could anyone even think its a good idea to pay to go to a "cafee" with hedgehogs? Dont people know they are wild animals? Don't people know that wild animals suffer in captivity?! I want everyone to know that if you go to these cafe's you support the abuse of innocent animals Animal cafe's are so much worse than zoos.

@CrazyClara101

Ай бұрын

Anyone who has a hedgehog as a pet knows how shy and grumpy they can be, plus how often they poop! 😰

Yep, zoos and aquariums can also give animals pretty strong anxiety, too. It's an unfortunate thing. I work in a pet store and we require approved visitation forms for them to see our dogs solely because of the anxiety they can get from people. This also filters the visitors that are looking for dogs on a whim so they're less likely to be back on the street when they become unwanted by those people.

@elishh8173

2 ай бұрын

The way humans treat animals. For money. Is so cruel I think if there is a life after death, all animals go straight to heaven but most humans don't.

After a visit to an owl cafe in Japan, I would strongly advise anyone to avoid going to one. While it was a unique experience to be up close to certain breeds like the snowy owl (to the extent that visitors were allowed to pat the owls), the birds at that owl cafe were clearly stressed out, and not forgetting that their feet were chained to the poles/cages. In addition, the staff would "force" the owls to be in the right positions as visitors tried to take photos of the owls with them. I will definitely not pay to do this again.

@Nobodysbby

2 ай бұрын

What were you expecting? I think we all know that owls shouldn't be kept in a cafe space fpr people to visit. I don't understand why so many of you had to have first hand experience to know it was wrong.

@elishh8173

2 ай бұрын

That's so extremely cruel. Owls are solitary nocturnal animals. That means they hunt at night mostly and sleep during the day. They have huge territories får away from humans. Those poor Owls and other birds in cafe's can't use their wings like they should ao the wing muscles atrophy (die). And the stress of being cramped in a place with humans and other birds is plain torture for them. They also have extremely good hearing so they're constantly bombarded with the noise of everyone in the cafe. It's the equivalent of putting an innocent human in a prison cell and torturing them. THIS IS NOT CUTE. THIS IS ANIMAL ABUSE. DONT GO TO ANIMAL CAFES. WILD ANIMALS BELONG IN NATURE. THEY ARE NOT PETS.

Here's my advice for first time visitors: don't feel like Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo are the only destination spots. Beautiful shrines and temples are in lots of places not just Kyoto. Delicious food can be eaten anywhere not just Osaka. You can go shopping at other major cities, not just Tokyo. In my opinion, there's more to do than just taking pictures at shrines and temples and eating sushi somewhere. Instead, think of all the neat things Japan is known for like... Mt. Fuji, kimonos, samurai and ninjas, matcha tea, sumo wrestling, japanese flower arrangements, dancing festivals and such... there's workshops here and there where the'll teach you how to do things you're interested in. Not saying that the usual Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo spots aren't worth going to, but I am saying they are overhyped to the point where all tourists are gathered in the same areas. You'll be surrounded by other tourists in places with commercialized culture that are catered to tourists... does that sound like you're getting an authentic Japanese experience?

@bodo887

2 ай бұрын

If it's your first time to Japan Tokyo and Kyoto are definitely where you have to go. There is a reason why they are popular. Also 30% of the Japanese population live in Tokyo and together with Kansai makes what the majority of Japanese culture is... The truth just is that most tourists don't understand Japanese and are scared or incapable to venture to more local non-touristy spots. Also most city tourists just want to see the famous spots to see what it's about.

@alexiscarbajal1282

2 ай бұрын

@@bodo887 Thats fair but can you really say it’s “definitely” where you have to go when other major cities offer the same experience? Kyoto and Tokyo dont really have anything that other places dont. Like you said, people just want to see for themselves what its all about for themselves. Theyve got a lot of bias because tons of people have made content about their experience there. What im suggesting is people look up specific things they want to do or see in Japan that doesnt have to be in Kyoto or Tokyo so that they can enjoy Japan with less crowded touristy spots. The most popular temples and shrines in Kyoto are very beautiful and spectacular, sure, but so are major shrines and temples in other areas too. We dont see past Kyoto and Tokyo because thats what everyone talks about and thats why thats where everyone goes. But to all first timers who dont mind crowded touristy spots then by all means go join the crowd and have a good time. Make sure you see Fushimi Inari Taisha

@bodo887

2 ай бұрын

@@alexiscarbajal1282 Sure, if it comes to eating good food, enjoying nature or some cultural experiences like Japanese martial arts, Ikebana etc., you can do that in other areas of Japanese. However, Kyoto has the most UNESCO world heritage sites for a reason. No other city in Japan offers as many historical sights in one place as Kyoto does and people want to see the old capital with its iconic land marks. It's like saying: Mt. Fuji is overrated because if you want to see a mountain you might as well go to any other but Mt. Fuji isn't just any other mountain... Certain things are popular for a reason. Similarly, if you want to experience modern Japan, japanese fashion, club culture etc., you need to be in Tokyo because that's where it's happening.

@alexiscarbajal1282

2 ай бұрын

@@bodo887 well theres only really one mt fuji so you can only admire it there. If UNESCO sites is what ur interested then by all means go look at them :)

@alexiscarbajal1282

2 ай бұрын

@@bodo887 If UNESCO sites is what you plan on doing then by all means go for it!

With respect to Google reviews in Japan here's what I've found: yes, if it is close to 5 stars, it's probably a tourist trap or foreigners who might not know what is authentic vs what isn't. As you said, if it's more modestly rated, let's say between 3.0 - 4.0, it's probably pretty good. Japanese can be blunt when reviewing online, so you won't really see many 5's from them in general.

@chetawanung-adjmagool9967

2 ай бұрын

Japanese people like writing long essays as reviews and they rarely if ever give more than 4 stars. So if its's just a bit below 3 with a lot of long reviews, it's probably good.

@MidgarMerc

2 ай бұрын

Yeah if you use the Japanese version of Yelp (Tabelog) you'll notice that like 99% of places are rated around 3/5 stars because Japanese people don't fall into that all or nothing way of reviewing we do in the west.

@mickbotcast

2 ай бұрын

Japanese use tabelog and the good restaurant is not even close to 5 score. the good score is around 3.5 range....

@darlenefraser3022

2 ай бұрын

Thank you for all the great tips here everyone!

I feel like the main reason people go to the overpriced “tourist traps” and don't bother to explore is because they actually are able to attend in English or at least have a menu in English.

@japannumberone1

Ай бұрын

It's called a convenience tax! As long as you know what you're paying for it should be fine, but I think you'll miss out on a lot approaching Japan that way. High tourist traffic areas always mark-up more for less and price in the convenience, similar to an airport haha.

@jamesb7519

Ай бұрын

You literally have photo, voice and text live translation in your pocket, language barrier doesn't exist for tourism in 2024

Pro-tip: If the google ratings are high its because the people leaving reviews are foreigners. Its normal for Americans to default to 4-5 stars and only save 1-3 stars for bad service. However, Japanese people are more critical in reviews and most typically default to 3 stars with only truly exceptional restaurants in terms of food, presentation, etc getting 4 or 5 stars. I actually used Tabelog (basically Japanese Yelp) to find restaurants, and very very few had 4 or 5 stars. A good restaurant might be rated 3.5 stars, which would be a clear sign of a bad restaurant in the US!

@user-qg2gy5lg4g

2 ай бұрын

I went to Japan with a friend of mine, we stayed at an AirBnB under his name. The house was nice, but it was clearly not ready for guests when we arrived(eg rolled up sheets on the beds, dirty dishes in the sink.) And if took us a few hours to get in touch with the host, which we used to get dinner. He was nervous to dock the rating because of this. The stay was nice otherwise. But I convinced him it was for the benefit of the business and other users that we leave a fair an honest review, so the business knows what is unacceptable and beds improvement, and also protects them from future first so may be more picky and entitled to leave a more harsh review. In the end despite leaving a critical review, he did not receive such a negative customer review, since we cleaned up after ourselves appropriately.

@rachelcookie321

2 ай бұрын

Defaulting to 3 stars makes so much more sense to me. How are you going to differentiate between ‘just alright’ and ‘amazing’ if both places are given 5 stars? I only ever give 5 stars if I really like something/somewhere.

I feel like any animal cafe’s that are anything other than like cats and dogs are usually bad, a lot of these animals aren’t classic pets for a reason.

If you’re looking for a good animal cafe the cat cafe and pug cafe in Okinawa are both very good for customers and especially the animals. The pug cafe is full of adoptable rescues!

@itsgracechin

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing these places! I’ll definitely check them out x

For small chunks of beef, the cut almost doesn’t matter at all. The fat distribution is the only real noticeable effect and as long as you don’t get a gummy piece you’re fine

Thank you saying that about animal cafes! I remember seeing and owl café where the owns were all leashed to their perches by their ankle. I doubt that they barely ever got to move freely. 😓

Yeah... the Animal Cafes are a mixed bag. You really have to research and make sure the ones you visit are the sort that are actually using funds to care for and home the animals well. The animal cafes with animals that are habitually used to people and who are social (like cats, dogs, etc) are not so bad and can often provide a home for these animals coming from the streets or kill shelters or from other rescue situations. However, many of the EXOTIC animal cafes are more exploitative. Let us not forget, there are still a few things in Japan that are not questioned that should be, such as fish museums where there are too many fish in too small a tank, which are unhappy. The best way to approach these sorts of things is to look at the places for the care of the animals and to perhaps note down in a review if the place is not good about it. I would eschew all exotic animal cafes out of principal alone, because they are usually ALL composed of animals that are wild and should not be chained and prodded by humans. The more "wild" the animal, the more likely to be forced and exploited to do as the humans want. The cats and dogs, on the other hand, are usually able to benefit from being in a properly-maintained and cared for cafe where they get proper socializations and care, since they are domesticated and not wild.

@elishh8173

2 ай бұрын

People should at least understand that wild animals and birds and pigs in captivity suffer. Everyone who goes to these cafes Contribute to animal abuse!! Wild animals suffer in captivity. If you know zoos are generally NOT good for wild animals, how can you think a CAFÉ is a good place for wild animals??

Always go where the locals dine. I have found so many gems on my travels off the beaten track. Tourist orientated places always jack up their prices while you mostly don't get value for money

@saokawa8381

2 ай бұрын

I heard that sometimes it's hard to eat at local restaurant... Mostly in Korea because of hatred towards foreigners, but I've heard of such cases in Japan!

@FearInYourEyeZ

2 ай бұрын

@@saokawa8381 that is not true, right now i am in japan (kyoto). That comment is so true, you have to wander in some random side streets and you will find the best restaurants. If they do not speak english (and no english menu) and they are only japanese people, then go for it

@tzegaing9313

2 ай бұрын

@@saokawa8381 You just have to be knowledgeable about local customs and norms. Asians in particular have no animosity towards foreigners who are respectful of local culture and most of them are actually quite friendly and welcoming

The good thing about animal cafes is that the cat ones generally aren't anything like that because cats cannot be made to do things they don't want to do easily

@cyndrift

2 ай бұрын

cats can still get plenty stressed if theyre not allowed to have a place inaccessible to visitors to run away to if theyre overwhelmed or dont want to engage right now. i think the chances people start one for the wrong reasons are lower though because since theyre common pets who can live on the streets and are often in genuine need of protection from cars, other animals or kill shelters. cat or dog cafes can therefore function as shelters who can save and adopt out their animals. moreover theres few non-domesticated animals that adapt well to having a lot of people and noise and lights around them at all times, and their individual needs tend to be less well known (or valued) the further they are from typical pet species. therefore the type of person who would start an exotic animal cafe is more likely to see the animals as pure entertainment rather than creatures with rights. i dont think its necessarily impossible to do it right with certain animals, but it would require a shift in priority from customer to animal needs that not every customer would take kindly to.

When I was in Japan I went to a Shiba Inu cafe on miyajima because my friend really wanted to go. It was cute at first but then I realised how messed up mentally the dogs seemed. There was one dog that just kept slowly walking in circles around a table for ages and I felt really bad for it. When I left I felt like I had wasted money and time and also felt really bad for supporting such a place.

Don't go to the mini pig café. Several pigs had bloody ears because they would bite each other so often. The staff often had to step in and break up fights.

@RiddimKingdom

2 ай бұрын

They should be free.

@elishh8173

2 ай бұрын

Because its not a natural environment for a pig. Do you people even know there is no such thing as "miniature pigs"? They take the piglets from the smallest mothers and make sure they don't get enough nutrition to reach full growth. How can anyone support this cruelty?! Pigs need space and privacy, mud and grass and trees to have shade under. This is animal torture. Dont go to any animal prison just because you think it's kawaii!!!

@campcampcamp

2 ай бұрын

Yeah, me and my family went to one and the pigs did fight

@GameFuMaster

2 ай бұрын

@@elishh8173 they should all be on my plate

Ok but the animal cafe trap is spot-on. I've been to the cat cafe in Akihabara and also to one or two zoos/aquariums and the animal abuse is blatant. They see so many people everyday and have such small spaces

@RatchetClank93

2 ай бұрын

Fish stuck

that's the dark side of animal cafes, some have really good conditions for animals (i live in france) and went to one in lyon that was a cat café that had specific rules for animals, their name, every customer was polite and calm and there was a room where only animals and workers could go, so the animals could relax in It's really important to find places where the animals are treated well, and not places that stress out animals.

Yes almost all of the animal cafes have animal that are very stressed and depressed so please people, do not support this kind of business model 🙏🏻 Thank you for putting this matter in your content 🙏🏻

@itsgracechin

2 ай бұрын

Definitely will need to do my research in the future if I plan to visit any 🥺

The best food we found was going away from Tokyo and towards the coast. A lot of restaurants didn't have anything in English. The best ramen we had was in a sleepy fishing town where people were surprised we even knew where it was or what to come do out there but we saw it in a book. It was almost golden week so no one was really out there and the two guys were really cool!

The popularity of animal cafés should go down. My brother-in-law was there too and also said the animals seemed very stressed and anxious.

@madeyed2702

24 күн бұрын

I am not surprised. Some animals are more solitary than others. Imagine if we have to constantly entertain so many strangers and be physically handle every minutes 😡😡😡

There is one animal cafe I know of that treats their animals well. They take in foster cats and let them mess with little toy trains and roam around playing. They also have these cats up for adoption and they often get newcomers

Places with more English signage, menus etc are more likely to be low quality because they target tourists who don't know they're getting a bad deal

@holeeshi9959

17 күн бұрын

not usually bad quality, a lot of them are good, but overpriced probably, and some even deliberately raise prices for foreigners.

Luckily the cat cafes I’ve been to in the uk are really good. Been to ones in London, Newcastle and i’ve been meaning to check out the one in Edinburgh. Both the London and Newcastle ones focused on having cats with the right temperament (very friendly) and they had strict rules on not picking them up. They also both had back rooms where the cats could go to get away from people if they wanted. Plus lots of nooks and crannies in the cafe itself where people couldn’t bother them and only see them. In London there was a particular cat we were warned likes to swipe you. He would sit there all cute and seductive rolling on his back and everything and then attack anyone who got near! This cat chose to be out and do this! He loved it! It was so funny watching other customers go up to him and get attacked 😂 (no one seriously hurt). I swear he particularly loved luring kids in. I managed to tame him a bit by playing with him and he sat next to me allowing me to pet him for a bit then would bite me. I just ignored him attacking me and he did seem to give up and just enjoy the pets 😂

When I traveled to Japan, the BEST food was in small restaurants in an alley that I didn't look up beforehand.

Nooo the animal cafe made me sad 😔 was planning on going but now I won’t support something like that . Thanks for the heads up !🙏

@chelsey8737

3 ай бұрын

It's probably different if the animals are up for adoption at the cafes because the point is to get the new homes but I think for a lot of the cafes where adoption is not the point they sacrifice the well-being of the animals in order to keep tourists esp coming. I've heard that they often replace animals and release ones that aren't serving a purpose any more by being too old or too sick

@DaeDreaming

3 ай бұрын

Some cafes do treat the animals well, you just have to find them. A good indicator is if they have hard rules for interacting. Ex: only 1 animal at a time & only for a few minutes, after the animal gets a break for the rest of the day. No picking up or grabbing. They give u food to coax them to you so you can lightly pet, but it's on the animals terms. Went to a bunny cafe like this, the caretakers seem to really love them & the big bunnies would climb all over you. It was far from the tourist areas though.

@The-one-and-only-Fruitcake

3 ай бұрын

There are plenty of places in the US where you can pay to go in and play with cats, and all of the cats are up for adoption! I’m a volunteer at one and four kittens got adopted yesterday :)

@Iceechibi

3 ай бұрын

There was one I went to in Kyoto that had all the cats there up for adoption! I sadly didn't live there permanently at the time so I didn't adopt one.

@MsTinkerbelle87

2 ай бұрын

@@chelsey8737they probably become part of the market 😬💔

I went to capybara cafe and those capys were well taken care of. No anxiety whatsoever. They ate. They napped. They showed the guests they are the bosses inside the cafe. At some point, They didn’t care about guests, just did their own thing. And always eager to get fed. Full of personalities. So it depends on the owners. Some are run pretty well.

@ElwingWitch79

3 ай бұрын

and please,let me know...the habitat of those animals is a cramped space in the centre of Tokyo? Can you understand that wild animls must stay in the wild?Also most of those places are controlled by the yakuza...inform yourself if you truly care about animals.

@jm-sh6qr

3 ай бұрын

those are wild animals

@harrisonquynh576

3 ай бұрын

@@ElwingWitch79 did the capybara tell you that they hate fresh food , water and airconditioning ?

@ellielikesmandu

2 ай бұрын

@@harrisonquynh576 that environment isn't suitable for them. but the cafe seems like a nice experience because i like capybaras.

@yuzurucorner

2 ай бұрын

yes! animal sanctuary cafes are a thing

I’m planning my trip to Japan and I’ve just found your channel and it’s helping so much. Thank you. 🥰

@itsgracechin

3 ай бұрын

Aw, I’m glad I’m able to help you out with your planning through my videos 🥹💕 I hope you have an amazing time in Japan!

@ubuntuber1619

3 ай бұрын

Baby just remember, you wont be able to reap benefits of white privilege.. they dont care.

@itsgonnabeanaurfromme

3 ай бұрын

Yeah good for her for picking out the next places to become tourist traps lol

Thank you for doing what u do... travelers rely on this type of information so they wont have to break the bank to enjoy exploring a new place!

Okay those animal cafes are bumming me out big time

@johnwilliams1238

2 ай бұрын

I know I was looking forward to going to animal cafes in Seoul. After research I found out basically none of the animals have good quality of life :( These animal cafes need to be regulated

I didn't know but am not surprised that Google ratings can be bought.

@GingerBun

2 ай бұрын

youd be surprised youtube subscribers and likes can also be bought, like what this girl is doing.

from what iv been told if the food places has stuff in English its going to be more for tourist

animal cafe's are torture for animals. you dont sit around a stray cat for 4 hours do you? exactly. its only 4 - 8 minutes of petting and talking or feeding until you walk away.

@Zectifin

2 ай бұрын

plus watch any video of an animal cafe. it usually has a bunch of unsafe things for animals to be around or theres no comfortable place for them to lay or hide.

I went to a gyukatsu restaurant in diver city mall that had a whole A5 set with a bunch of sides for the price of that one skewer. It was delicious, would totally buy it again.

Puppy cafes are probably the only cafes I'll go to. Dogs love people. Cats like sleep more. I would never go to the owl one wtf.

@quetsie0

2 ай бұрын

cat cafes often also double as foster homes/adoption alternatives and people can go in and give the cats homes instead of them being on the streets. plus, at least in the cat cafes i’ve been to, they’re very strict about not disturbing the cats and letting them approach you

You’re suggestions are so appreciated. I’ve watched hundreds of videos preparing for my Japan trip next year and you don’t hear about where you should and should not go, only where everyone goes to. New subscriber 😊

I went to that exact same Wagyu place in Tsukiju, got the same paper plate of condiments and everything. I thought the meat was good, but what I was more impressed by, was their incredibly clean grill. I know they probably don't cook as much, compared to other places, but I still found it impressive that they were able to keep the flat top a silver color. I work at Chipotle, and everytime I deep clean the grill, it will be back to being covered in a thick layer of carbonized meat and vegetables by the next night. Props to the guy in that stall who two hand scrubs the grill with a grill brick before making every order.

Thanks for educating us all 💘😍🥰 beautiful 😊

The pigs very clearly were very young, not at all fully grown. Adult mini pigs are the size of a big dog. If you see smaller ones then they are piglets or very malnourished … In most commercial cases both 😢 Also please don’t go to rabbit cafés 😢 Rabbits are very territorial so they don’t like it at all when strangers enter all the time, they constantly feel threatened by that. In general they don’t like constant changes and action even though they are very curious and social. In nature they patrol their territory and forcefully drive out intruders to make sure they are safe. They only want to be with their bunny family ❤

@TsukinoUtokki

2 ай бұрын

Makes you wonder what happens when those pigs grow up. When cats grow up in a cat cafe they can stay there but pigs on the other hand...

Don’t go to an animal café unless it’s a cat café. The animal are overfed and don’t get to see outside or really even exercise. The owl café is the absolute worst seeing as the owls don’t even have the freedom to fly. Overall these animals are in abusive and negligent situations. It’s not cute it’s sad.

Lol I literally fell for all of the tourist traps listed in the video. And I paid 5000yen for mediocre beef skewers in Nara… sadness😭 . However the hokkaido icecream was really good and affordable but I can’t get that here in the US.

Thankyou for saying this about pet cafes. Girl i love your channel for your honesty!

Bro really transitioned from teacup piglets 「子豚」to tonkotsu ramen 「豚骨」💀

These are actually great pieces of advice! Thank you!

for google rating i say its important to look at comments. japanese people rate very differently than the rest of the world, a 4.7 star with majority japanese rating and a 4.7 star with mostly non japanese ratings r quite different

@4Nee9re

2 ай бұрын

True, I went to a high Japanese rated ramen shop. Everyone looked at us alienated, but it was muchhh better ramen than the ichiran tourist trap ramen😅

@4Nee9re

2 ай бұрын

True, I went to a high Japanese rated ramen shop. Everyone looked at us alienated, but it was muchhh better ramen than the ichiran tourist trap ramen😅

@mathfreak666cheese

2 ай бұрын

All the best food I've had in Japan were little hole in the wall restaurants that I just randomly stumbled upon

There is one cat cafe ive went to and they actually take care of the cats, the cats even follow the staff and plays with the staff, one time the put a box in the room and all the cats took turns staying in the box, the cafe name is yugi cafe ☕️

I learned a trick actually from someone though about the ratings of a restaurant. Always read the lowest ratings of a restaurant first. If all the lowest ratings is about the bad service, the time taken is long or talking bad about the place itself, there might be a high possibility the food is great. Because they didn't leave bad ratings and comments about the food, but about other things 😂 Give it a try probably. Cuz I vaguely remember giving a restaurant a bad review for their slow service once, but the food that came out was tasty asf

The one thing my family has agreed on after two trips to Japan is; go wherever. You're bound to find a real treasure of a restaurant and after our spontaneous find on the first two nights on our second trip there, other food places paled in comparison.😅

My friend's dragged me to a few animal cafes in Japan and I wanted to cry all the time and I felt so disgusted. There was ONLY one cafe out of the 8 we went to. They had guinea pigs, for some reason it felt less bad because the owner had more caution and would let only a few amount of people in, they cannot talk too loud, or pick up any of the guinea pigs. Only pet or give snacks, if they ran away, they told us not to chase them. They did look more healthy, I'm assuming the owner just had far more respect for the animal. There were two vocal ones and some pop-corning if we weren't moving too much haha

Love the tips

Interesting. Thanks for this ❤

The google rating is the exact opposite where I am in florida. I went to this hole in the wall creole restaurant in the middle of the ghetto lol... amazing food! Had 500+ positive google ratings! Legit people dont do reviews unless the food is scrumdiddlyumsctious

Unfortunately, a lot of businesses in Japan won't provide a service to foreigners. I would rather pay a little extra in a place that advertises positively for foreigners, than going through the distasteful experience of getting kicked out of a place because I'm not Japanese.

@Japanimal1992

2 ай бұрын

"Alot"??? Definitely not. I've lived in Japan for years and never had a business deny me service, and never heard of that. However, Japan will deny you jobs, promotions, and apartments if you're a foreigner, regardless of your Japanese fluency. If you're just a tourist, you don't need to worry about being denied service for being a foreigner.

@tonilloyd7734

2 ай бұрын

@@Japanimal1992um that could be their experience? Maybe you haven’t had the same but still doesn’t make theirs any less valid

@popcorn9497

2 ай бұрын

@@Japanimal1992 it honestly depends a lot on your skin colour. The fairer the skin tone the better the service, the darker the skin tone, well yeah the opposite is true.

@Jintrepreneur

2 ай бұрын

​@@Japanimal1992 I have owned a few restaurants and bars in Japan that were in areas that definitely did not allow you to enter if you weren't Japanese or they changed the menu to have different items or higher prices. They just don't want the hassle of foreign diners, they want to keep something for the locals, or a variety of other reasons.

@vinylflowersss

2 ай бұрын

its true, you def have to have a thick skin when you go there ~ tbh i think most white people should experience japan so they can know what real race based discrimination feels like to some degree. like whatever you think you know or have experienced, it is nothing like when you go to japan lol in a lot of cases, its just that the establishment cant run properly somehow if the patron doesnt understand the specific culture/cant speak japanese fluently. (like bars with host like elements, certain snack bars esp ones with just a few seats/etc are often very conversation based and have really nuanced specific ways that things are done.) sometimes its because the establishment is in an area that tends to get a lot of rowdy d bag drunken tourists and the owners are protecting their business. but be ready to be turned away even when the restaurant is nearly empty, be given a special charge than other people, and be like an awkward consideration, and more, even if you or someone with you speaks fluent Japanese and you conduct yourself with the highest of manners and cultural sensitivity/decency. There are signs everywhere that say japanese only/no foreigners lol ~ it kinda makes you feel like you have to apologize for existing/the proverbial record stops at the dance party when you enter a lot of places you also have to be careful in certain areas of places that will scam you in a dangerous way. they will market themselves as "foreigners welcome!" "english welcome!" all you can drink cover charge/etc and its not a rumor - some of these really will drug you in some way and aggressively steal your money. they arent always obvious either, and you can find yourself tempted especially when you are in a sea of places that wont allow you inside and are mysteriously "full" even when there are many free seats lol, or you just get tired of anxiously trying to suss out if a place will be cool w you being in there. you will be shocked by how many of these places actually exist - and in certain areas its hard to tell which bar will be like that and which wont, and can be kind of anxiety inducing. if you live in japan, be ready to have apartments, jobs, all kinds of things denied to you simply for being not japanese even if you speak japanese and have lived there many years.

Very helpful video. Thank you!

@itsgracechin

21 күн бұрын

Glad you found it helpful! 😊

Thanks for sharing. Especially about the animal cafes.

The wagyu skewers at Tsukiji market was the most disappointing part of our Japan trip. It was so chewy and we paid 5000 yen for one...

@brianli6562

2 ай бұрын

It really depends on the Grade of the wagyu. You can have lower grades while also being Wagyu but you can tell if you can dee the marbling before it is cooked. Also having a ton of fat is literally the purpose of Wagyu and Kobe beef and high grades fall apart in your mouth and are expensive as hell. Would recommend going to Rokasen for those.

@kyliemjung98

2 ай бұрын

@@brianli6562 very true! Sadly I was informed that at Dotonbori, Tsukiji, Nishiki market they tend to serve lower grade wagyu because of the high stock turnover, plus many visitors aren’t aware of the differences anyway. That’s what the hotel staff told me anyway haha

I'll be finding any hole in the wall tiny place run by cute old Japanese ladies or men. They will have the best food

All SUPER legit advice even from a local perspective 🙌

Your take on animal cafe is really appreciated❤

The cat cafes I visited they cats were all well taken care of and happy (it’s easier to tell with cats) I will admit I’ve never been to the other animal cafes, but I’m just gonna put out there so you guys know it’s not ALL animal cafes. Maybe just the ones she went to.

@jules2291

2 ай бұрын

Cat cafes are the least exploitative ones in my opinion because cats like being indoors , my cats sleep for several hours inthe same spot and require only a couple hours of play - birds and pigs on the other hand aren't meant to be indoors .

According to another channel (JapanEat), low ratings are almost always exaggerating. If anyone says the place is dirty, the chef is rude, etc don’t take it too seriously and just go see for yourself so long as they don’t complain about the food. “Rude” often ends up being just someone who skips over really unnecessary formalities and “unclean” could just mean cluttered. (Please correct me if I’m wrong, because I’m not Japanese nor do I live in Japan. This is based off what I’ve heard a lot online

Thank you for speaking out about the animal cafés.

Thanks Grace for the video, good information.

@itsgracechin

2 ай бұрын

Hope it was helpful! 😇

Yes,animals for tourist $ are often not thinking of protecting animals

There are some pet cages that are very chill and the kitties all want attention. There's a good one in asakusa. About $15 for a day pass. So if you're out and about, you can drop in and go to the bathroom, chill, and get a free drink. They have lockers too for u to store your stuff while you're out!

@kyliemjung98

2 ай бұрын

Did you mean cafes* not cages 😅 Cages sound horrible

Thank you for the info.

Thank you for share the real info about most of pet cafe 🙏

I found the name of the song I have been searching for over one year on your video. Thanks for using it as background music.

Could you imagine being one of the “cute animals” at the cafe and just meeting potential home after potential home and and everyone is poking and prodding at you and until you grow old enough to go straight to the slaughter farm 👉👈

@user-lp6ud4id1r

2 ай бұрын

Been to Japan a few times myself, and the animals in those cafes stay young and cute forever (not) it’s bc they get rid of them once their cuteness it’s gone. Jp isn’t really known for taking care of their animals.

@aiden3627

2 ай бұрын

@@user-lp6ud4id1rthat’s really really sad, I hope at least some of them adopt the animals out. 😢

@FirstnameLastname-gr5kb

2 ай бұрын

Yeah, I mean it's really weird in my eyes to make a video eating meat and then in the same 20 seconds video cuddling with animals but criticizing that the little piggy is "stressed out", yo, do you think the one you're eating was super chill getting killed?

@sarita5957

2 ай бұрын

@@FirstnameLastname-gr5kbexactly! Most people unfortunately, never consider the irony and problem with this. 😢

@stoicstrawberries

2 ай бұрын

are they really looking to rehome the pigs they use? Honestly I think meat farming (obviously barring factory farming practices) is fine but this kind of exploitation I just can’t get behind :/ not surprised since it’s Japan tho. They have a history of exploiting cuteness

Great info ❤

the sg accent stronk! sg represent

I recommend going to Taiwan instead! More variety with Chinese and Japanese cuisine, and local Taiwanese cuisine. Good quality food for an affordable price

@itsgracechin

2 ай бұрын

Taiwan is such an underrated travel destination especially when it comes to food (and cost). I spent a few weeks there and can say it was such a beautiful, tourist-friendly, and fun place! ❤

I totally agree about animal cafes! I went to two and decided, no more. I realised that when I went to the first one, but decided to give another one a chance, just to see if they are any different. But no, I feel so bad for the animals. If you do not get to keep pets of your own but you want to play with them, volunteering at a shelter is a much better option.

Wow! Honest, objective, and thorough reviews. Please review more places! Please

You guys seem so kind to your guests!

that looked like some tough beef 😐

I had a kobe beef cube skewer at kuromon market for 600yen tho

Just came back from Japan. Was amazed the google rating thing is so rampant but you're absolutely right. Our best meals were all from following our noses and when we looked at the ratings afterwards we were shocked at how low they were

One thing I learned from watching Travel Channel is to never go to tourist traps, but to instead visit local shops and businesses.

Wagyu is beef grown in Japan. Only that. Same taste 😊

@mathfreak666cheese

2 ай бұрын

Wagyu can be raised outside of Japan.

@lene_kuchisabishii

2 ай бұрын

I think you meant Kobe-Wagyu. Only beef from Kobe is allowed to be named after it.

@mathfreak666cheese

2 ай бұрын

@lene_kuchisabishii matsusaka and Hokkaido wagyu is really good too.

I literally had Kobe beef in the first place Price was like 2200 for a 70g steak which I think was reasonable since I didn't want to spend 10 000 ypy for the real meal Not really tourist trap

@dancerdog508

2 ай бұрын

It probably wasn't as high quality though

Thank you

For those anyone planning to go in japan. Find the simplest and old looking shop, I can assure you that it would be the best food you will fet in japan.

@itsgracechin

Ай бұрын

Omg 100% agree on this!!!

I went to an macha ice cream place in Kyoto opposite Yasakajinjya. I didn't fancy ice cream but they told me I had to buy one if I wanted to be in there with my gf while she ate one. The place was nearly empty. I told them to call the police, in Japanese. They left me alone after that.

@kayayday5993

2 ай бұрын

A japanese person’s worst nightmare, direct confrontation

I found so many journals concerning about this animal cafe in Japan. It is popular but this business could harm to the population also to the welfare of the animal

Going off of Google reviews is definitely something I wouldn't think twice about, I think that's a really good piece of advice that I will definitely be following if I get to go on a trip to Japan!

Thank you for this video beautiful Grace Chin!!