Japan's First Meerkat Specialty Cafe

Mob-Based Social Housing

All meerkats live together as one integrated mob — reflecting how they live in the wild. This socialization model is central to our animal welfare policy and is what produces calm, engaged animals.

Training from Infancy

From the earliest weeks of life, our meerkats are introduced to multiple handlers and visitors. This structured socialization prevents the fear-biting common in individually-housed exotic animals.

Certified First-Class Animal Handlers

We hold Japan's first-class animal handling business registration (Reg. No. 23-Tokyo-Ten-No.103430) for both exhibition and sales. Animal Care Officer: Ai Shoji. Affiliated veterinary care is on-call.

Author-Run Expertise

Co-owner Yoshiyuki Shoji (pen name Yoshiyuki Higashi) is the author of "Living Happily with Meerkats" — the only Japanese-language specialist book on meerkat husbandry. Over 50 meerkats raised since opening; 23 successfully rehomed with vetted families.

Yoshiyuki Shoji

Co-owner / Author (pen name: Yoshiyuki Higashi)

Yoshiyuki is the author of "Living Happily with Meerkats: Expert Guide to Meerkat Husbandry" — the only specialist book on meerkat care published in Japanese (Amazon Kindle: B0D5646QM3). His expertise is grounded in seven years of hands-on care for 50+ individuals.

Ai Shoji

Manager / Animal Care Officer / Sales Officer

Ai holds the official government-certified Animal Care Officer designation required under Japan's Animal Welfare Law. She oversees all daily husbandry, socialization programs, and the cafe's paid meerkat ownership consultation service (¥4,000 / 30 min).

Natural Group Living

All animals share one integrated living space as a mob — no isolation, no individual caging.

Structured Handling Education

We teach meerkats appropriate behavior rather than simply suppressing reactions. This reduces stress and produces reliably sociable animals.

Veterinary Partnership

We maintain an ongoing relationship with an affiliated veterinary clinic. Health checks are conducted regularly, not only when illness occurs.

Responsible Placement

23 meerkats have been placed with carefully vetted families since 2023. All placements include thorough pre-adoption consultation and ongoing support.

Q. Is English assistance available at the cafe?

Basic English communication is available on-site. For advance inquiries, please email us at mrktcafe.googoo@gmail.com — we will respond in English within 1–2 business days.

Q. Can children visit?

Yes, children are welcome. We recommend adult supervision at all times during animal interaction. Very young children (toddlers/infants) may require additional care near the animals — please contact us in advance if you have specific concerns.

Q. Is photography allowed?

Yes, personal photography and video are welcome. Please do not use flash, as it can startle the animals. Commercial photography and filming require prior arrangement.

Q. What should I wear?

No specific dress code, but avoid loose dangling accessories (scarves, long necklaces) that could attract unwanted meerkat attention. The cafe is indoors, climate-controlled year-round.

Q. Do meerkats bite?

Our meerkats are well-socialized and generally calm with visitors. As with all animals, calm behavior from visitors is important. Staff will advise you on appropriate interaction on arrival.

Q. Do I need to make a reservation?

We strongly recommend reservations, especially on weekends and national holidays. Walk-ins are accepted when capacity allows but cannot be guaranteed.

Q. What payment methods are accepted?

Cash (JPY), major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners), and QR code payments (PayPay, etc.) are all accepted.

Q. Is the cafe accessible by wheelchair?

The cafe is located on the 3rd floor of a building with elevator access. Please contact us in advance if you have specific accessibility requirements.

Q. Is food available?

One drink per person is required as part of the experience fee. Light food options may be available — please check with staff on the day. Outside food and drink are not permitted in the meerkat area.

Q. Can I visit if I have animal allergies?

We recommend consulting your physician before visiting if you have known animal allergies. The environment includes meerkat fur and bedding materials.

English OK. Reply within 1–2 business days.

Japanese only. Intl. calls accepted.

DMs accepted in English.