Wise Owl for a Cup of Coffee: Owl Cafes in Japan

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

On the door of this cafe you will not see a bell with a button, or a bell with a cord, or even the usual inscription: "Please press if they do not open it." But despite this, hospitable owls really live here, just like in the tale of Winnie the Pooh. Owl cafe became a real mainstream in Of Japan: dozens of establishments and thousands of those wishing to drop in for a cup of coffee to the wise owls.

Previously, the Japanese preferred to while away the evenings in the company of cats and dogs (which we have already told the readers of the site Kulturologiya. Ru), but now they wanted something exotic. Indeed, turning an ordinary tea party into an impromptu safari doesn't seem like such a bad idea. Of course, getting into such an institution is not easy, often in front of the entrance you can see visitors queuing up, waiting for the opportunity to go inside.

Each owl cafe has its own rules, but there are general points to remember. Firstly, such establishments are devoid of bright advertising signs, their distinctive sign is curtained windows. Secondly, if you are still lucky enough to get into a cafe, you need to carefully follow the instructions of the staff, do not turn on the camera flash and do not stroke predators without permission.

In themed cafes, everything is thought out to the smallest detail: the appropriate interior, funny dishes in the "owl" style … Everything to feel like in a fairy tale! True, even taking into account the originality of these establishments, not all residents of Japan liked them. There are also opponents who argue that birds of prey cannot be kept locked up, there are those who are careful, they say, owls are aggressive, and can injure visitors. The organizers assure that the birds are allowed to fly every day (albeit only for 20 minutes), and guests have nothing to worry about, since the attendants monitor the safety of customers. Well, it is still difficult to predict whether owl cafes will enter the usual life of the Japanese, because only time will tell whether a person can cope with the wild nature of these birds.