What is Nekoyado? Complete guide for first-time guests | From reservation to checkout

Illustration of a traveler sitting at a distance at the entrance of a small inn where a cat is waiting Cat-inn guide

“I want to stay at a cat inn. But is it okay if I’ve never owned a cat?” “Will the resident cat come to my room?” “What should I bring?” When traveling to a cat accommodation for the first time, you will have a few different questions than when choosing a normal accommodation.

At Neko Yado Research, we broadly call inns where guests can meet resident cats or rescue cats living at the inn “cat inns.” This is not a classification under the Hotel Business Act, but is a name unique to this site. How you interact with cats differs from inn to inn, with some inns allowing cats to roam freely inside the inn, while others allow you to see them only at designated locations and times.

This guide will guide you step by step from finding a place to checking out. The most important thing is to understand that time with resident cats is not a guaranteed part of a booking, and will vary depending on the cat’s own will and physical condition.

Types of cat accommodation you should know first

Cat accommodation can be roughly divided into the following types.

An inn where cats walk freely inside the inn

This is an inn where you can meet cats in the lobby, hallways, dining room, etc. Some cats may visit the guest room, but we cannot guarantee that they will visit every time. In the articles Pension Atca and Onsen Minshuku Kaifuso, you can check how this works and what each inn explains.

An inn where you can interact in a dedicated place and time

This inn has a cat room, cat salon, rescue cat space, and designated socializing time. Some facilities, such as Aratama Ryokan, provide guidance for petting cats in addition to regular accommodation.

An inn with cats whose interaction arrangements are unconfirmed

Resident cats may be seen at the entrance or in the garden, but this is an inn that does not provide guidance on where guests can touch them. “There is a resident cat” and “you can interact with it freely” do not mean the same thing.

Accommodation where you can bring your cat

Accommodations that allow pets are in a different category from cat accommodations, where you can meet the inn’s own resident cat. Even if an inn has a resident cat, it is not always possible to take the guest’s cat with them. Make sure you distinguish these booking conditions.

When choosing an accommodation, check the “distance to cats”

Neko Yado Research organizes the distance to cats by A, B, and C.

  • A: Examples of cats visiting guest rooms or applicable plans can be confirmed.
  • B: You can interact with cats inside the inn or in a dedicated space
  • C: Resident cat presence can be confirmed, but contact range is unconfirmed

A does not represent the quality of the accommodation. Even in B accommodations where cats do not enter the guest rooms, you may be able to interact calmly in a designated area. C may be suitable for people who want to spend a quiet time watching cats.

List of cat accommodations allows you to search by combination of location, distance to cats, walk from station, shuttle service, hot springs, suitable for solo travelers, etc.

Things to check before making a reservation

Don’t make a decision based solely on old travel reports or word of mouth; check the current information on the inn’s official website and official SNS, as the names, number of cats, and methods of interaction may change.

At a minimum, it is best to check the following points.

  1. Is the resident cat still living at the inn?
  2. Places and times where you may be able to meet cats
  3. Do cats sometimes enter guest rooms, and can guests choose to keep them out?
  4. Rules for taking photos and posting on SNS
  5. Can I bring snacks and toys?
  6. Dealing with children, cat allergies, and companions who don’t like cats
  7. Standard accommodation conditions such as meals, transportation, check-in time, etc.

When you need to make an inquiry, read what is written on the official page first, and only briefly ask about things that are not listed. Detailed examples of questions are summarized in 10 Questions to Ask When Booking a Cat Inn.

Once you check in, prioritize the rules of the accommodation

Even in the same “accommodation with cats”, rules such as the entrance and guest room door, food that can be given to cats, cuddles, photography, etc. are different. Explanations given upon arrival supersede outdated information on the internet.

If the cat is near a doorway, do not open the door or window at your own discretion. When moving large items, make sure the cat is not under your feet or behind your bag.

The first greeting with a cat is “wait”

If you find a cat, you don’t have to approach or reach out right away. Leave a space where the cat can observe you and leave when they want to.

When a cat approaches you, do not suddenly touch the cat from above its head, but instead stay low and wait quietly. If you hold out your hand, do not press it towards the cat, but stop at a position where the cat can smell it. If there is no reaction, just looking at it for the day is enough.

Detailed steps are explained in How to interact with cats in a cat inn.

Don’t decide “it’s okay to touch” based on just one movement.

You cannot decide that a cat may be touched from a single action, such as the cat purring, holding its tail upright, or showing its belly. Look at the cat’s ears, eyes, tail, body tension, escape routes, and surrounding sounds together.

Another option is to stop after a short stroke and see if the cat stays there or approaches you again. Stop if the cat turns away, stiffens, moves its tail strongly, turns its ears to the side or back, or moves away.

Cat’s “signs to touch” and “signs to be left alone” are also helpful to read before your trip.

When the cat comes to the guest room

At an inn where cats come to the guest room on their own, it’s a special time, but you also need to be careful.

  • Do not give food without permission from the inn
  • Do not leave personal medicines, strings, vinyl, or small items out.
  • Do not lock the cat in the guest room
  • Even if a cat climbs onto a futon or luggage, do not forcibly lift the cat.
  • Check the cat’s location and the door before going to bed
  • Check your bag and storage when leaving.

If you do not want the cat to enter your room, please contact the inn when making a reservation or checking in. Even guests who love cats have various circumstances, such as sleep issues and allergies.

Prioritize the cat and the people around you when taking photos

Even if you can take pictures, avoid continuous shooting with flashes, loud noises, or chasing the cat. If other guests or staff are included in the photo, permission is required before posting. When the cat is resting, prioritize rest over photography.

By using natural light, being at the same height as the cat, and adjusting the brightness on your smartphone, you can create atmospheric photos without getting too close. For more information, please see Photography Etiquette at Cat Inns.

Even if you can’t meet the cat, your stay is not a failure.

Cats may be sleeping, hiding, resting to maintain their health, or spending time in other places. Even if you reserve an accommodation with a resident cat, there is no guarantee that you will be able to see one during your stay.

If you also choose the inn’s unique charms, such as hot springs, food, buildings, and walks around the area, your trip will not be influenced too much by the cat’s behavior. Avoid searching everywhere for a cat you have not met or pressuring the inn to bring it out. This helps preserve cat-inn travel for the long term.

Confirmation before checkout

At accommodations where cats come to the guest room, please check the following before leaving.

  • Is the cat hiding behind your futon, storage, or bag?
  • Are cat toys and accommodation supplies mixed in with your luggage?
  • Can I publish the photos I took?
  • Is there any latest information provided by the inn?

For safety and privacy reasons, it may be best not to disclose the detailed information about the cat’s life that you learned during your stay. If in doubt, please check with your accommodation.

Summary

When visiting a cat inn for the first time, it is better to maintain an environment where cats can choose whether to approach or not, rather than aiming to interact with them a lot, which will lead to a calmer time.

Check the official rules of the inn, choose the entire inn, including the possibility that you won’t be able to meet the cats, and don’t rush to take photos or interact with them. If you remember these three things, you can enjoy a trip to a cat accommodation even if you have no experience owning a cat.

Reference materials

Note: This article summarizes general travel preparations and how to interact with cats. This article does not guarantee the behavior of individual cats, so please be sure to give priority to lodging information when you are on site.

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