TOKYO - Japan's Environment Ministry will conduct its first survey of animal cafes, where customers can interact with animals including exotic species, as concerns grow over infection risks, injuries and the welfare burden placed on animals.
Facilities offering encounters with animals beyond conventional cats and dogs have become increasingly popular. More than 80 such establishments operate in Tokyo and Osaka alone, with cafes displaying a wide variety of species.
One animal cafe features eight types of animals, including fennec foxes, otters, owls and monkeys distinguished by white markings around their faces, allowing customers to observe and interact with them.
The Environment Ministry is expected to begin surveying animal cafes in September, marking the first time the central government has conducted a study of the sector.
Under current Environment Ministry regulations, facilities displaying animals or allowing customers to interact with them are required to take steps to prevent infectious diseases and injuries. These include instructing visitors on how to handle animals safely and providing periods when animals are not displayed in order to reduce stress.
However, implementation varies considerably between facilities.
At the cafe featured in the report, staff said they follow ministry rules while paying close attention to the safety of both customers and animals. Visitors receive individual instructions at reception and are required to sign an agreement, while notices explaining appropriate interaction with the animals are posted throughout the premises.
The cafe also allows its owls to fly freely rather than keeping them tethered. All of the animals at the facility are rescues.
"We put animal welfare first," a representative of the cafe said. "We are constantly thinking about how the animals can live happily while also helping customers understand them and enjoy their experience."
However, a survey conducted in 2025 by WWF Japan at 25 facilities in and around Tokyo found significant differences in safety and welfare practices.
Only 12 of the 25 facilities provided customers in advance with explanations about appropriate ways to interact with animals and the risk of injury.
The survey also detected a type of pathogenic E. coli bacteria at four facilities, highlighting concerns about awareness of infectious disease risks.
A representative involved in animal conservation said problems can arise when entertainment is prioritized over the animals themselves.
The Environment Ministry's initial survey will collect information including the number of facilities primarily offering direct interaction with animals, the species they keep, their hygiene practices and the characteristics of their customers.
Based on the findings, the ministry will consider whether to conduct on-site inspections during the next fiscal year.
An expert who worked with WWF Japan on its survey said some animals had been confined in small cages or restrained on perches, leaving them unable to move away when they wanted to avoid contact with people.
"The biggest problem is that the animals lose the freedom to choose to avoid interaction with humans," the expert said.
The expert said improving awareness of animal welfare will be increasingly important among both facility operators who consider such displays acceptable and consumers who visit animal cafes.
Source: TBS
