Japan is well known for having a pretty big obsession with any and all animals that are even remotely cute. In Tokyo, Cat Cafes and Rabbit Cafes have become incredibly popular spots for locals and tourists alike. These cafes offer people the chance to interact with beautiful animals in a cute little cafe setting.
However, Tokyo is the kind of place where things just keep becoming more and more experimental. So it isn’t all that surprising that after not too long, cat and bunny cafes became kinda normal and people were looking for new ways to spice up the animal cafe business.
Enter the new kid on the block – Harry’s Cafe.
A hedgehog cafe.
Yup – your eyes are not deceiving you – that is a teeny tiny hedgie!
Harry’s Cafe is located a short one-minute walk from Roppongi Station in Tokyo. If you are trying to get there using directions from an offline maps app – be aware that Harry’s doesn’t always come up on such apps. Instead – input ‘Ms. Bunny’ for accurate directions. Ms. Bunny is a rabbit cafe and is located in the same building as Harry’s.
A visit to Harry’s does not require a reservation, but having one is highly recommended. The place can become incredibly busy on weekends and public holidays. A standard booking gives you an hour in the cafe, and lets you interact with up to five little hedgehogs, but if one hour is not enough time, you are able to book longer visits.
A standard one hour visit will set you back ¥2000 ($25) on weekdays and ¥2600 ($32) on weekends.
I went into my hedgehog encounter having absolutely no idea what to expect. Would the hedgehogs be playful or docile? Would they bite or scratch?
As it turns out, the answers to those questions are totally dependent on the hedgehog!
The first one I went to play with was NOT in the mood to interact with anyone. Every time I went to pick him up he would do an artful little roll and evade me! He was a scrambly little fella and was far more interested in snoozing than playing.
The second hedgie I chose to have an encounter with was this little cutie, and he was such a lovely little creature!
He seemed to really enjoy being handled, especially when I stroked his little nose! He was a docile thing, and if I stopped stroking him for even a second – he wasted no time in curling up into a ball and going off to sleep!
An hour long visit to the cafe includes a small selection of drinks which guests may help themselves to. The cafe does not serve food but does allow guests to bring in their own snacks. However, lets be honest here, people do not visit these sorta cafes for a wide range of food and beverages.
The hedgehogs are the main attraction here.
Look at this little face!
The cafe also sells some of these hedgies for people to keep as domestic pets. If the import of hedgehogs wasn’t illegal in Australia, I think I would’ve liked to bring this little guy home with me.
A visit to the Hedgehog Cafe is by no means a cheap experience, but it is one that you cannot get anywhere else, and if you are a fan of hedgehogs (or small animals in general) it is an experience that is undoubtedly worth having.
T H E L O W D O W N
Getting to Tokyo: There are two major airports in Tokyo – Narita and Haneda – these two airports serve as major international hubs for Japan
Getting to Roppongi Station: From Shinjuku Station, catch the Oedo Line bound for Tocho-Mae and disembark at Roppongi
Harry’s Cafe: Entrance to the cafe for one hour will set you back ¥2000 on weekdays, click here to book
Threads: My stunning red maxi dress is by Tigerlily Swimwear
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1 with M.Zuiko 12-40mm f2.8 lens
Remember: Bookings are not essential but are highly recommended
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