Japan: Old and New
In my short stay in Japan, I was determined to do something traditional as well as something quirky and offbeat. When I think about Japan, this is what I envision: A storied past with specific observed traditions, and funky fashions and social gatherings. My Airbnb host Cheeko came up with the traditional part for me by dressing me up in a kimono and taking me to some old samurai houses to take pictures! Putting on the kimono was much more complicated than I ever would have imagined. It took Cheeko nearly an hour to put me into the getup, and she was very particular about the way I smoothed each wrinkle or took each step. She told me that her daughter doesn’t have much interest in wearing the kimono, so she was very proud to show me off. We even went shopping for groceries together while dressed up. When in Tokyo…!
For my quirky Japanese excursion, I had to choose an owl cafe. Japan is known for starting the cat cafe trend, but by this time, cat cafes already proliferate in America, so I wanted something more unique. I did a lot of research and settled on Akiba Fukurou which has a good reputation for taking care of their owls.
It’s a very popular place so you need to make a reservation three days in advance. When you arrive, the staff will give you an instruction booklet about how to handle the owls.
There are all sorts of owls in the cafe, with the larger ones requiring handling gloves. I spent my hour with two owls: Cherry Tomato and Sweet Potato.
Both were small enough to sit on my hand or arm without needing the gloves. I think I’m a pretty astute animal person, but owls were new to me! I gingerly petted their heads and mostly just savored the weird experience of sitting in a cafe with an owl on my arm. I don’t think my cats need to worry about being supplanted by owls, but it was pretty cool and I definitely felt that the staff were quite knowledgeable about the birds and took great care of them. An hour at Akiba Fukurou is a little pricey at 2000 yen, but it’s a priceless experience!
