For cat lovers, few things are as soothing as quiet time with a purring cat curled up beside you. That’s exactly what the cat hotels in this guide are all about.
But if you don’t have a cat at home, finding that time is harder than it sounds. Cat cafes run on the clock, and the street cats you meet on your travels usually dart away before you get close.
What you really want is a place where you can spend unhurried hours with a resident cat, almost as if you lived there together. That kind of stay can be surprisingly hard to find.
So we’ve picked 8 cat hotels in Japan, all bookable on STAY JAPAN: farm stays, guesthouses and traditional Japanese farmhouses (kominka) where friendly house cats are part of the family.
Every one of them is a small, intimate stay that hosts just one or a few groups a day, so you can enjoy the cats’ warmth and easygoing charm without any crowds. Use this list to plan your next cat-filled trip through the Japanese countryside!
Why Farm Stays Make the Best Cat Hotels
At the cat hotels in this list, mostly guesthouses and family-run inns, the cats aren’t there to “entertain” guests. They simply live there, as members of the household.
You might find one basking in the sun on the engawa (the wooden veranda that runs along a Japanese house), or brushing past your legs while dinner is being prepared. There’s no performance, just a cat going about its day at its own pace. That’s exactly why it feels so special when one wanders over, hops onto your lap and starts to purr.
What to Check Before Booking Cat Hotels in Japan
Before you book any of the cat hotels below, it’s worth checking these three points.
- Where you can spend time with the cats
At some stays the cats roam freely through the shared spaces, while others keep them out of the guest rooms. - Type of accommodation
At a homestay, where you share meals with your hosts, you’ll get more time with the cats. A private rental lets you keep to your own pace. - Allergies
Many hosts are happy to do extra cleaning if you let them know in advance. If you have allergies, be sure to check before you book.
💡 Want to be sure you’ll meet the cats? Check the latest details first
Booking pages aren’t always up to date, so the most reliable way to find out how the cats are doing is to message your host directly when you book. Let them know you’re looking forward to meeting the cats, and things will go even more smoothly after check-in.
8 Cat Hotels in Japan: Stays with Resident Cats
1. Casa YuriMomo — Date City, Hokkaido
— An Italian-Japanese Home Shared with Two Cats
This homey guesthouse in Date City, nicknamed “the Shonan of the North” (after the seaside resort area near Tokyo), is run by an Italian-Japanese couple. Two cats live here as part of the family and set the warm, relaxed tone of the house. Your host has years of cooking experience, and the food is outstanding: breakfast is included, and lunch and dinner can be arranged on request. The location makes it easy to take day trips to Lake Toya, Noboribetsu Onsen and Niseko, so it works well as a base for swimming in the clear sea in summer or hitting the ski slopes in winter.
▶︎ Homestay, up to 4 guests (each room has its own washbasin and toilet; shared shower)
▶︎ Access: 1 minute by car from the Date Interchange; about 1.5 hours from New Chitose Airport via the expressway
▶︎ Cats: 2 (if you have allergies, please contact the host before booking)
2. Cocoro — Gujo City, Gifu
— Four Cats, a Wood Stove and a Traditional Kamado Stove at a One-Group-a-Day Farm Stay
“Cats, a wood stove and a kamado are waiting for you!” That’s the motto of this organic farm stay, where four cats share the house. With just one group (up to 4 guests) per day, you can enjoy the cats without worrying about anyone else. There’s no TV, no air conditioning and no microwave. Instead, you’ll cook dinner together with your hosts using vegetables harvested that day and cook rice the old-fashioned way in a kamado (a traditional wood-fired stove): a true digital detox. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available free of charge (advance request required).
▶︎ One-group-only plan (STAY JAPAN exclusive, with 2 meals and a farming and country-life experience), up to 4 guests
▶︎ A farm stay in a village in Gujo-Yamato, surrounded by mountains and rivers
▶︎ Cats: 4 (the house is cleaned daily, but guests with cat allergies may be asked to refrain from staying)
3. Nyan Bar One (Farm Stay in Kagoshima) — Kagoshima City
— Visit Yuki, the Star Cat of a Beloved Farmhouse Inn
Nyan Bar One (“Nyan Bā Wan” in Japanese, a pun on “number one” and nyan, the Japanese word for “meow”) is a hugely popular farmhouse inn and a dream for cat lovers. Four cats, led by the star cat Yuki, live here along with a resident dog. The cats wander freely in and out of the guest rooms and may even curl up on your lap, so of all the stays in this list, this is one of the closest you can get to the cats. There’s plenty to do, too: you can make a maneki-neko (beckoning cat) shaped ema, a wooden wish plaque, to offer at the shrine on the property, or join cooking and farming experiences. Located between central Kagoshima and the Ibusuki area, it’s also a convenient base for sightseeing.
▶︎ Farmhouse inn (private room), up to 5 guests (dinner and breakfast included)
▶︎ Access: 25 minutes by car from Kagoshima-Chuo Station. The nearest station is Kami-Ijuin Station on the JR Kagoshima Main Line (pick-up available at check-in and check-out only; reserve by the day before)
▶︎ Cats: 4 (plus 1 dog. If you’re uncomfortable around animals or have allergies, please contact the host before booking)
4. Honyara-no-ie — Ono Town, Gifu
— A 110-Year-Old Kominka Where Ume and Ryu Live
This social guesthouse occupies a 110-year-old kominka (traditional Japanese farmhouse). Two former rescue cats, Ume and Ryu (both male), live here, often lounging on the veranda with their paws neatly tucked under them. It feels like visiting a relative’s house in the countryside. Around 7 p.m., hosts and guests sit down to dinner together and share wholesome dishes centered on local vegetables and brown rice (vegan options available). The cats are kept out of the guest rooms, so it’s also a good choice if you want a quiet, restful night.
▶︎ Homestay (private room), up to 3 guests
▶︎ Access: by bus from Gifu Station or JR Ogaki Station
▶︎ Cats: 2 (Ume and Ryu. If you have allergies, let the host know in advance and they can, for example, give the shared spaces an extra clean)
5. Valley of the Wind “Casa Nahual” — Minamiizu Town, Shizuoka
— A Secluded Mountain House Shared with Three Cats and a Goat
Near the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula, at the end of a mountain road, this hidden house sits alone in a quiet valley. Three cats and a goat roam the property freely, and on a stroll outside you might bump into one of them mid-grooming: a delightful break from everyday life. There are no other homes within 200 meters, the land is blessed with spring water, and the owners built much of the playful space themselves. From the south-facing deck you can take in views of both the sea and the mountains. Note that the path from the parking area to the house is steep, so comfortable walking shoes are a must.
▶︎ Entire house, up to 7 guests (kitchen with cooking and dining utensils; there are no supermarkets or convenience stores nearby)
▶︎ Access: about 1 km along a mountain road from Prefectural Route 16
▶︎ Cats: 3 (a goat also lives on the property)
6. Tanada House — Takashima City, Shiga
— Welcomed by Yukichi the Cat at a House Overlooking Rice Terraces
This 80-year-old kominka stands in the village of Hata, looking down over terraced rice fields, and its resident cat Yukichi gives every guest a warm, affectionate welcome. Built of paper, earth and wood, the cozy house offers sweeping views of the beautiful rice terraces. Meals are available as an option, featuring local flavors such as terrace-grown rice cooked in a kamado, miso soup made with homemade miso, and fish from nearby Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake. From December to March, the owner also hosts miso-making workshops using homemade rice koji and sweet local soybeans, and will walk you carefully through every step.
▶︎ Entire house, up to 6 guests (free Wi-Fi; some areas can only be used when accompanied by staff)
▶︎ A kominka overlooking rice terraces in the village of Hata, Takashima City
▶︎ Cat: Yukichi (if you have allergies, please let the host know in advance)
7. Relashanti — Matsusaka City, Mie
— Cats, Chickens and Goats Wander a Village of Clear Streams
This kominka sits in the village of Tsukide, near the border between Nara and Mie, surrounded by mountains and clear streams. Cats, chickens and goats roam the grounds freely, and time slows down as you watch a cat sunbathing to a soundtrack of birdsong. Enjoy the seasons as they change: cherry blossoms from your room in spring, cool evenings by the river as fireflies dance in early summer, and hikes to see frost-covered trees in winter. Ise Grand Shrine, Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine, is just over an hour away by car, making this an easy and refreshing place to get your fill of cat time.
▶︎ Private room, up to 5 guests (spacious kitchen; bathtub with jets)
▶︎ In the village of Tsukide at the foot of Mt. Miune, surrounded by mountains and clear streams
▶︎ Cats: roam the garden freely (a dog, chickens and goats live here too)
8. Apple House — Hirosaki City, Aomori
— Four Cats and Apple Cuisine Around a Farmhouse Table
At this homestay-style farmhouse inn, a warm and welcoming couple will make you feel right at home. Four cats live here as members of the family, and they naturally gather around the dinner table, rubbing against your legs as they pass. The highlight is the creative cooking you’d only find in Hirosaki, Japan’s apple capital: dishes like apple-and-pork rolls and apple curry, plus an apple salad at breakfast, served alongside seasonal vegetables and local specialties. The menu changes with the seasons, so every visit brings something new to taste.
▶︎ Homestay, up to 8 guests (dinner and breakfast included; all 3 bedrooms have locks)
▶︎ Access: 20 minutes by taxi from Hirosaki Station on the JR Ou Line (pick-up from Hirosaki Station available on request)
▶︎ Cats: 4
Before You Go: Etiquette at Cat Hotels
To make sure everyone, cats included, enjoys your stay at cat hotels, please keep these four things in mind.
- The cats aren’t staff
Some days they’ll climb onto your lap; other days you may not see them at all. Think of every encounter as a lucky bonus. That relaxed attitude is the right distance for both of you. - Doors and windows
Cats can slip out through an open door. Follow the house rules and take care when opening and closing the entrance and windows. - No human food or unapproved treats
It’s tempting to share a bite when a cat comes begging at the table, but human food can be too salty for cats or even toxic. If you’d like to give a treat, always check with your host first. - Go easy on strong scents
Cats have a far more sensitive nose than we do, and strong perfume or scented fabric softener can stress them out. Keeping fragrances to a minimum during your stay is a small kindness that helps the cats feel at ease.
For even more fun, pack a cat toy, such as a piece of string or a feather wand. (Nothing beats the joy of a cat deciding to play with you!)
Summary: Live Like a Local at Cat Hotels in Japan
Did any of these cat hotels catch your eye?
The real charm of farm stay cat hotels is that, through the cats, you get a glimpse of everyday life in that part of rural Japan.
Watching a cat stretch out on the veranda or doze curled up beside the dinner table, you start to feel like one of the household yourself.
Beyond cats, STAY JAPAN also features stays where you can meet dogs, cows, horses, chickens and many other animals.
Come and experience everyday life alongside the animals of the Japanese countryside!
All 8 stays in this article can be booked on STAY JAPAN.
Check availability and start planning your own special trip to meet the cats of Japan.
