I forgot to pick a category,  Japan!,  travel

Japan Day 6: Yokohama Cat Cafe and Noodle Museum!

On my last day in Japan we packed in a Cat Cafe and  Noodle Museum. Yes, you read that right. I went to a cafe to pet cats. They have things like that in Japan!!Yokohama-cat-cafe-1It wasn’t quite as amazing as I had imagined it up in my brain. Many of the cats are rescues, which is a super amazing great thing, but they are also a bit over-stimulated and preoccupied with each other and their territorial issues than the vision of fuzzy, purring goodness that I pictured wanting to curl up in my lap. But it was still really great to be stuck in a room with about 30 cats. They served coffee and tea and as much cat hair as you’d like. It was fun. Many of the cats were chill and a couple were kittens that wanted to play. Yokohama-cat-cafe-2So we did that a while. My favorite cat was the one with bent down ears. I almost wanted to smuggle him back home with me on the airplane. But then again I already have enough cat problems.Yokohama-cat-cafe-3We walked a little in downtown Yokohama. I’m sure you’ll appreciate Elliora’s happy demeanor in the photo below. You know how kids can be: delightful until their tired or hungry. I think she was both. We did walk a lot.YokohamaYou know. Trains, subways and all that. I am getting more and more comfortable with the public transportation but it’s always a little harder on the kids.Yokohama-trainsThen we walked to the Cupnoodles Museum. Here in the states we call it Cup o’ Noodles but in Japan it’s just Cupnoodles.CupNoodlesMuseum-1It was a really interesting space. I didn’t read all the inscriptions but instead just wandered aimlessly admiring the minimalist architecture. It felt a lot like The Getty.CupNoodlesMuseum-2Of course packaging design always fascinates me. The Japanese excel at it.CupNoodlesMuseum-3I loved all the noodle inspired art. Especially this wired noodle sculpture installation. Isn’t it cool?
CupNoodlesMuseum-4Then, speaking of packaging design, we designed our own Cup of Noodles! They had the best pens.Coloring-Our-Own-CupnoodlesThis was my favorite part of the museum. I could have designed dozens more but they only allow one each and you have to make an appointment to do it.Making-CupNoodlesThen when you are done decorating you get to choose what kind of ramen you put inside. They have curry and regular flavor, fish and some other things. You can add toppings (freeze-dried vegetables etc) and even little cornstarch chicken faces that dissolve in your soup when you make it later. When you are done they give you a bag that you can fill with air to protect your noodles. It was all very ingenious and fun.Home-Again-YokosukaAnd then we went home. All in all a very good day. Perfect for the ending of my trip!

3 Comments

  • noe

    I followed your trip thru Instagram but totally forgot to check your blog! Now many photos from Inst. have more meaning!! I <3 the report from your trip and it surely looks like you had a wonderful time!

  • Lynne

    Hello! I’m loving the blog posts on your visit to Japan :) ! Cute cat. What would we do without Japanese cat fun. No Maru. We have a cat cafe here in London though I’ve never visited, there’s one in Paris too I believe, but you need to make appointments and then the cats may or may want to visit with you, their capricious that way. I imagine the cafes to be furnished with comfy velvet and flowery sofas, embroidered cushions, crochet dollies and cups of tea in real china cups and tea clothes. Or maybe I am channeling my Great Aunties living room when I was child. She had six cats. Much love to you all. xxx

Leave a Reply to Cathy Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.