Tokyo is home to countless spots, from bustling entertainment districts like Shibuya and Harajuku, to neighborhoods that come alive at night like Shinjuku and Roppongi, to areas that preserve traditional old-town charm like Asakusa and Kanda.

While Tokyo is a city packed with appeal, it's also true that increasing tourism development has made it harder for visitors to experience the "real Tokyo." In other words, instead of enjoying Tokyo like a local, tourists are often limited to experiencing only the touristy side of the city.

That's exactly why I want you to explore the city with locals who know the real Tokyo. With tours from Magical Trip—winner of Tripadvisor's The Best of The Best in both 2024 and 2025—you can make that happen.

Yanaka has preserved its traditional streetscape, but without some knowledge of Japanese culture and traditions, it can be hard to fully appreciate everything this neighborhood has to offer. If you want to experience Yanaka to the fullest—including its living traditions and culture—be sure to join the "Yanaka Historical Walking Tour in Tokyo's Old Town" with local guides.

If you're interested in Japanese culture, I also recommend the Tokyo Sumo Morning Practice Tour in Ryogoku, where you can visit a sumo stable—something even most Japanese people have never experienced—or the Asakusa Cultural Walk & Matcha Making Tour, where you can stroll through Asakusa while learning about Japanese culture from your guide.

If you want to create your own itinerary and explore Tokyo deeply and efficiently, choose Customized Private Tours of Japan with MagicalTrip's Top Guides, where you can craft a special itinerary tailored just for you with a local guide.

Introduction

“Café Nekoemon”, is a café where cat lovers gather in Yanakaginza, an 8-minute walk from JR Nippori station. It is located next to Yanakado, a sister store, that is famous for selling maneki-neko (beckoning cat) goods. They have a good selection of cat-themed sweets. You can also enjoy ceramic paintings there.

Other cat spots in Yanakaginza are introduced by the “6 selections of recommended cat lover spots in Yanakaginza”.

If you're interested in "Cat Cafes and Shops around Yanaka", Check the article below.
・Best Cat Cafes and Shops in Yanaka Ginza! Tokyo's Retro Cat Town for Cat Lovers

If you're interested in "Half-Day Itinerary in Yanaka", Check the article below.
・Half-Day Itinerary at Yanaka Ginza: A Quick Tour of Traditional Tokyo & A Cat Town

Café Nekoemon

The cat café “Nekoemon” in Yanakagiza is located in Yanaka, which has retained a nostalgic look. Yanaka is one of the few areas you can feel the history with your skin in the form of old buildings while observing the modernization of the city. In spring, you can enjoy the history while looking at a row of cherry trees from the South exit of the station and stores with an atmosphere melted into the downtown of Yanaka. Café Nekoemon is a store renovated from an old house so you can feel the good old history of Japan.

Source: http://yanakado.com/c_nekoemon.html

There is a sister store, “Yanakado” offering adorable and famous “maneki-neko” and you can purchase such items here. Meneki-neko is an original Japanese ornament and it is one used for superstitions of good luck for better business. The facial expression of cats and the poses, raising their front paws add to the cuteness. It is interesting to experience the ceramic paintings here. Alongside that, you can also enjoy the cat-themed cake and also “anmitsu”, which can be described as a Japanese parfait.

More Detailed Information About "Traditional Sweets in Yanaka"
・Best Cat Cafes and Shops in Yanaka Ginza! Tokyo's Retro Cat Town for Cat Lovers

Ceramic painting experience. Get your original maneki-neko!

Source: http://yanakado.com/c_nekoemon.html

You can enjoy the ceramic paintings on maneki-neko while enjoying the taste of coffee and teas at the Yanakaginza café Nekoemon. Get your one and only maneki-neko painting with an original face expression and pattern on its body with your palm-sized unglazed maneki-neko using a pen.

Relax with adorable, cat-themed cake.

Source: http://yanakado.com/c_nekoemon.html

Cat-themed cakes at Nekoemon are a must-see. There are several kinds of cake such as rare cheesecake, mont-blanc and roll cake. A “cat’s tail” is attached to the éclair that is almost too cute to eat.

・Product: ceramic painting experience, cat-themed cake, coffee, tea, take-out sweets such as “Neko monyaka”

・Business hours 10:00～11:00

Closed Mondays

Access

Address: 5-4-2, Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo

TEL: 03-3822-2297

Direction: Approx. 8 min. by walk from Nippori sta.

Official site: http://yanakado.com/c_nekoemon.html

More Detailed Information About "Cat Cafes in Yanaka"
・Best Cat Cafes and Shops in Yanaka Ginza! Tokyo's Retro Cat Town for Cat Lovers

Map

If you want to go to Yanaka with the local person, you can also join our tour, “Nostalgic Town Walk Yanaka”. The local guide bring you to Yanaka shopping street and really good shops and cafe not many people know about, and you can try to take Japanese bath (Sento).