A full-scale temple-style theme café called Nyan-nyan-ji Temple in Yase, Sakyo-ku Kyoto is a hit to both tourists and locals. The café not only has a shrine dedicated to the cat god “Dai Ni Mao Lai” but it also has cat priests that welcome visitors. These cat priests captured the hearts of many cat lovers and encouraged them to become patrons of the café.
Nyan-nyan-ji Temple has more than six cats that serve as the abbots in the shrine. Living up to its temple-style theme, the café dresses their cats in cute garbs which resemble a shrine priest’s clothing. Just like an actual temple, the cats are assigned to have their own role in the café. Most of them are full-fledged kitty priests whilst others are still cat-pprentices.
Another thing to look forward to in the Nyan-nyan-ji Temple is its Cat Festival. It is held every second Sunday of each month. During this event, an actual shrine priest visits the café to wear a cat mascot and commence a “blessing” ceremony for the guests.
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Aside from the café’s charming felines, it also features beautiful and intricate art pieces and paintings on the fusuma sliding panels. The visitors in the café do not miss a chance in snapping pictures of these beautiful creations. Toru Ozaki and his father, who are both extremely talented at painting traditional temples, made these wonderful designs. Back when he was younger, Toru won awards in Japan and abroad for his amazing works.
Food and drinks are also available in the café. The menu includes cookies, pudding, and ice cream. These tasty treats are placed in plates and cups that have adorable cat motifs such as cat paws and ears. The temple has an art gallery and a shop that sells cat-themed handmade goods.
If you are taking a trip to Kyoto, make sure to visit Nyan-nyan-ji Temple. It is a wonderful place where you can immerse yourself in a world full of cats.
