Cats of Japan

Cats play with each other and with the delighted humans in shops around Japan. There are cats in an American-inspired café, an antique shop, and in a store window. One cat has an encounter with a baby.

Cats relax in their shops as customers come to play with them. Some play with laser pointers and others get combed. One shop has only rescue animals. They have several cats and one bunny.

A cat tries on an assortment of knitted hats. Another cat who lives with a famous comic book artist has his own socks designed after him. A third cat has his own picture around his neck.

Cats go perfect with Japanese inns. Gunma Prefecture, Kusatsu Onsen one of the Three Great Springs. And its symbol, the mineral field. 4,000 liters of water and steam gush out each minute. A steamy hot spring town. Step inside, and a cat will greet you.

Nagano Prefecture, Nagano City Hijiri Plateau, North Nagano Prefecture. You can see the Alps. A quiet mountain farm guesthouse. A storehouse from the Meiji Era still stands today. The main building is from the early Showa era.

Shima Onsen, Gunma Prefecture. The Shima River runs through the center of town. It's named after the water, which has a legend for its miraculous healing properties.