Pakuchi Bar 8889: Tokyo Takadanobaba

This unusual venture operates as an owl cafe only on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 1-5pm; the rest of the time it's a cilantro restaurant. The seventeen resident owls are named after musicians like Elvis Costello, Sid Vicious and Iggy Pop. (Oh, and one is named after the Who, har har.)

After you've settled down at the counter and gotten your drink order (which took around 25 minutes when we visited), the owl wrangler will bring over an owl to perch on your arm or finger, depending on the size of the owl. Given the narrow confines of the cafe, there's not much walking around or taking photos of various owls, mostly just sitting with your chosen owl and drinking your coffee.

The cafe doesn't take reservations, so it's a matter of showing up before 1pm and waiting, or showing up later and being told when to come back. When evening comes the owls go back to their cages, and the shop serves drinks and cilantro-centered snacks.

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Pakuchi Bar 8889
03-6912-9883
Tokyo Takadanobaba / Bird cafe
Open 1-5pm. Closed weekdays.
Cover charge is Y1000 for one hour, and includes one drink
Average visit time: 60 minutes
Takada 3-14-23.