How CATS saved this Osaka restaurant

Summary

This video follows a visit to Diorama Restaurant in Osaka, which evolved into a unique cat café after its owner, Naoki Teraoka, rescued a stray kitten named Sada in 2020. The restaurant, originally a train-themed diner, gained popularity through social media when photos of cats playing on model train tracks went viral. The café now doubles as a shelter, finding homes for stray cats. The video highlights the café's reservation system, the dining experience, and the owner's deep care for the cats, creating a delightful atmosphere for visitors.

Takeaways

• 🐱 The diorama restaurant in Osaka wasn't originally intended to be a cat café but evolved into one after the owner found and adopted stray cats.
• 🚂 The owner, Naoki Teraoka, is a train enthusiast and opened the restaurant in 2018, though it struggled due to the pandemic and lack of tourism.
• 😺 In June 2020, Teraoka rescued a stray kitten named Sada, followed by the kitten’s family, which sparked the café's cat-themed transformation.
• 📸 Social media attention grew after Teraoka started posting videos and photos of cats playing with model trains, bringing more customers back.
• 🐾 In October 2021, the restaurant officially became a shelter, helping to rehome stray cats while continuing to serve as a dining spot.
• 🍛 The lunch reservation at the café costs 2200 yen per person and includes a meal, drinks, and two hours to enjoy the ambiance with the cats.
• 🐾 Cats play on the model train tracks during meals, and the dining area allows them to retreat to a separate room if they want a break from guests.
• 🏡 After eating, customers are taken upstairs to a second-floor cat shelter to learn more about adoption and fostering efforts for the cats.
• 💖 The staff are very attentive to both the cats and customers, encouraging playful interaction between the cats and the toy trains.
• 📱 Reservations are required to visit, and the café does not accept walk-ins. Customers can book through the website or via Instagram.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on a visit to a unique cat cafe in Osaka, Japan, which was originally a train-themed restaurant but later became a shelter for stray cats.

How did the cat cafe come to be?

The owner, Naoki Teraoka, found a stray kitten near the restaurant in June 2020, adopted it, and later took in the kitten's family. The popularity of the restaurant increased when he started posting videos of the cats interacting with model trains, which gained attention on social media.

What was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the restaurant?

The restaurant, like many other businesses, suffered significant losses due to the lack of tourism and the states of emergency in Osaka during the pandemic.

How does the cat cafe support stray cats?

In October 2021, the owner turned the restaurant into a shelter as well, allowing the cafe to help rehome other stray cats. Part of the proceeds from the meal reservations goes to supporting the cats.

What is included in the lunch reservation at the cat cafe?

For 2,200 yen per person, the lunch reservation includes a main dish (such as omurice, curry rice, or hayashi rice), a couple of side dishes, a drink, and the opportunity to interact with the cats while dining. The reservation lasts for two hours.

How are the cats treated in the cafe?

The cats are free to play on the model train tracks and can retreat to a separate room if they want a break from customers. The owner, Naoki Teraoka, encourages them to interact with the trains, and customers are respectful, allowing the cats to approach them rather than bothering them.

What happens after the meal at the cafe?

After the meal, customers are taken upstairs to the shelter, where they can spend time with the cats and learn more about adopting or fostering them.

What efforts does the cafe make to educate people about cat adoption?

The cafe uses the time after the meal to introduce customers to the shelter upstairs, raising awareness about cat adoption and fostering. Customers fill out a survey as part of this experience.

How does the owner, Naoki Teraoka, view the role of the cats in the restaurant's success?

Teraoka acknowledges that the cats are responsible for the restaurant's revival, and he deeply cares for them, encouraging their playful interactions and ensuring their well-being.

How can people support the cat cafe and its mission?

People can support the cafe by making reservations, purchasing items from the online shop, or donating through the Amazon wishlist. Donations directly to the cafe may require a Japanese bank account.