Cat hostel in Abeno, Osaka “Mad Cat Hostel Osaka (Mad Cat Hostel Osaka)” | A hostel where you can spend time at the bar with the resident cats

This article is a research guide based on current reservation information as of 2026-08-11 and local government materials. This is not an actual accommodation coverage article. Please check with the facility before making a reservation, as the availability of cats, locations, and reception hours may change.

“Mad Cat Hostel Osaka (Mad Cat Hostel Osaka) & Bar” in Abeno Ward, Osaka is a small hostel that was renovated from a tenement house built over 80 years ago. There is a beach-style bar on the first floor where guests and locals gather, and resident cats Mal and Kogo live inside the inn.

This is not the type of inn where you wait for the cat in a private room, but an inn where you can enjoy interacting with other travelers and living with the cat in a dormitory and common space. In addition to considering the distance between you and the cat, consider whether a shared room or shared facilities would be suitable for you.

resident cats are Maru and Kogo

Hostelworld’s current facility introduction clearly states that the hostel has cats named Maru and Kogo. The introduction in Japanese states that the two animals are shy and may occasionally appear at the bar on the first floor.

The names of the two cats and their interaction with the cats continue to appear in guest reviews in 2026, so we can confirm that the inn is still operating as an inn with cats. However, the cat is not always at the bar, and whether you can meet him or not depends on the cat’s mood and the situation inside the inn.

The center of interaction is the bar and common areas

Because we can confirm the explanation of the facility that the resident cat sometimes appears at the bar, and the current review that actual guests spent time petting the cat, this site classifies it as B “inside the inn, where you can interact with the cat in a dedicated space.”

A: “Cats sometimes come to the guest room” is not the answer, because the facility does not advise cats to come to the guest room or bed. If you would like to meet a cat, it is best to ask the staff at check-in how the day is going and wait quietly in the common areas.

Some cats keep their distance until they get used to it. We recommend avoiding behaviors such as chasing, picking up, and feeding the cat, and respecting the time the cat approaches you.

A small hostel in a renovated rowhouse

The building is a DIY renovated tenement house in downtown Osaka. The main accommodation area is a mixed/female dormitory with bunk beds, and shared toilets and showers. Current listings on Booking.com show all rooms have shared bathrooms, inside the inn non-smoking, free Wi-Fi, shared lounge and bar.

Unlike a typical hot spring inn, there is no bath in the guest room, no in-room meals, and no waiting service. This is for people who enjoy sharing a room with other travelers and the possibility of common areas becoming lively at night. Basic dormitory etiquette is also required, such as managing valuables, making noise after lights are turned off, and how to unpack luggage.

The bar on the first floor is the center of interaction

The bar on the first floor is a place where cats may appear, as well as a space where guests and locals can interact. Hostelworld offers a bar opening in the evening and a welcome drink, but opening hours and offerings are subject to change.

Rather than a hotel where you can stay quietly alone, it is a social hostel where you can enjoy exchanging travel information and having conversations. This is not a cat cafe where you can stop by for a short time just for cats, so please check directly with the facility for bar-only usage conditions.

Meals and common facilities

Accommodation is not at an inn with meals included. Current facility information points to a shared kitchen with refrigerator, microwave, toaster, kettle and cooking utensils. You will either eat nearby or use the shared facilities during your stay.

Laundry and bicycle rental are also listed, but prices and operating hours are subject to change. This is a convenient configuration for people who want to do laundry or make simple meals for themselves during a long trip.

One stop from Tennoji, close to Matsumushi tram stop

The location is 1-chome Ojicho, Abeno-ku, Osaka. It is close to the Matsumushi tram stop on the Hankai Railway Kamimachi Line, and can be accessed by tram from the Tennoji area. If you take the subway, it is within walking distance from Showacho Station.

It is also listed as a simple accommodation with the same address in the list of facilities published by Osaka as of November 2025. Although it is not in the center of the downtown area, it is in a location that makes it easy to create a flow line starting from Tennoji, going around Osaka, and returning to the inn in the downtown area.

Things to check before staying

• Cats are not always in bars or common areas.
• The cat’s guest-room visits have not been confirmed.
• Mostly dormitories, showers and toilets are shared.
• If you are allergic to cats, please check with the facility to see if you may not be able to completely separate your living space.
• Please check the latest information at your booking location for reception, bar and luggage storage hours.
• Please check the age restrictions and cancellation conditions for each reservation plan.

Who Mad Cat Hostel is suitable for

• People who want to enjoy a natural sense of distance in a shared space with resident cats
• People who are traveling alone and want to interact with domestic and international travelers.
• People who prefer small, affordable dorms to private inns.
• People who want to walk around downtown Osaka based around Tennoji

On the other hand, it is not suitable for trips that require a completely private room, private bathroom, meals, and a quiet inside the inn. The key to choosing is whether you can enjoy both staying with cats and hostel culture.

Basic information

Summary

Mad Cat Hostel Osaka (Mad Cat Hostel Osaka) & Bar is a small, Osaka-like inn that combines resident cats Maru and Kogo, a bar where travelers gather, and a dormitory in a renovated rowhouse, a bar where travelers gather, and a dormitory in a renovated rowhouse. Interacting with cats is mainly in common areas, not a guest-room visit type.

Do not assume you will meet a cat; enjoy the social stay at the hostel itself, and if a cat appears, quietly spend time with it. This is a place suitable for people who can maintain that distance.

Sources

• Hostelworld “Mad Cat Hostel Osaka (Mad Cat Hostel Osaka) & Bar” facility introduction
• Booking.com “Mad Cat Hostel Osaka (Mad Cat Hostel Osaka) & Bar” Facilities and Equipment
• Booking.com guest reviews
• Osaka “List of Facilities (Inns, Special Zone Private Lodging, Residential Lodging Business)”