Cat Cafe!! Welcome to Neko Land!

The best cat ever.

One of the worst things about Japan is you don't come across
 too many cats.  I had a faus-adopted orange cat with a stubby tail that I fed from time to time.  His name was Heathcliff, but for some reason I started called him Garfield. I would see traps set up for him baited with tempting fish heads from the neighboring sushi restaurant.

Also, I heard that you cannot have a pet if your apartment isn't big enough.  Apparently, its because all the apartments in Japan are so small, and it could be considered animal cruelty to stuff an animal inside of an already occupied shoebox.  Either way, the country has come up with a great solution: Cat Cafes.

Basically, you pay money to go hang out with a bunch of cats.  Empty my pockets and count me in.

True love. Well, he will come around someday at least.

I googled around and found Mama Neko Cat Cafe near Gokiso in Nagoya.  Sometime in February, Carrie and I took our day off to finally go check it out.  It cost about $1500 yen for an hour with the fluffy fur balls and that includes a free drink.  

cat lovers must wash hands before handling cats

do not pick up the cats

After washing our hands and seeing pictures of the handling rules, we were led up some stairs, filled lockers with our belongings and then led to the paradise room. 

Lounge area to enjoy drinks and various cat themed literature

Where the magic happens

A couple was inside with the cats and I felt a brief murder pang.  We wanted the cats to ourselves.  But the cat god was listening and eventually they left and we slipped in through the sliding glass doors to begin naming our new best friends. 

on the brink of suicide

I think his name was Kenny G. He was a fighter.

Creepy toed Cat.

Dom Delouise (think An American Tale)

Some fabulous reading material in the lobby (Ok, fine, its a picture book):

The Exorcism Dinner: Paul looked at his mother and vowed prove he was adopted.

Uh Uhn Giiiirl. No you didn't!

Carrie flirting with her fave.

And this was our goodbye dance.

Hanami!

Sign in Heiwa Park

I feel very lucky that I was able to be in Japan during cherry blossom season, and even more fortunate to experience Hanami with the Japanese. 

Konnichiwa from Heiwa Park's Cherry Blossoms

"Hanami" literally translates to "Flower looking", and is a time honored and enjoyed tradition of taking time to stop and look at the flowers. 

You can participate in hanami simply by walking down a cherry blossom lined street, or you can throw down a blanket, crack open some soju and have a beautiful picnic with friends in a cherry tree filled park.  

Heiwa Park

People enjoying hanami at Heiwa Park

 Tsurumai park in Nagoya is a great place to experience the cherry blossoms.  It's a small park off the Tsurumai exit of the Tsurumai subway line (blue line).   I stumbled across this hanami on accident, only because I randomly ran into this guy Brian at a Mexican place.  I was sipping a much appreciated Corona with my couch surfer friend, Kyle when Brian popped through the door on his way to Tsurumai Koen. 



Once we got to Tsurumai, we saw a few food stalls and TONS of people sitting, drinking and having fun under some lovely light pink flowers.  Lights were set up to accent the blossoms once the sun went down. 

Food stalls for the hanami

It was seriously gorgeous, light and so much fun.  In fact, I was supposed to meet my boss later to view some awesomely lit blossoms along a river and so we regretfully tore away and left Tsurumai.

dusk at Tsurumai

Kyle

While not as fun, the hanami along the river was definitely different, and worth the trek.  The lighting was fantastic.  Usually the trees are lit from the top, or within, but along this river (sorry, I don't know the name) the light comes from underneath, causing an complete illumination of the trees. 

Pretty river hanami

I started drinking an innocent beer at a Mexican restaurant at 4pm and kept the party going until 1:30am (singing karaoke of course).  Let's just say I'm old and the next day at work was a struggle.  But this was the absolute best day I had in Japan, and it was worth it.  I thought it would never come.

Engrish: A Love Story. Bling it.

I've decided to try to pep up spirits by using the traditional method of healing called "Laughter".  Here's a few good ol' Engrish signs to cheer up the day!

pass.

No, indeed it is not.

Less of an Engrish find and more of a WTF sort of deal...nose wash? Cobanaccho?

This camera only takes pictures of drunk people. Win.

The cheese in the upper left is the only one who knows what's about to go down.  Maybe he should eat some bread to relax.

Well this dog is pooping in a suitcase and therefore I'd say not well trained.

The message here is so deep.  Cover yourself with makeup hides your true self (or maybe its the Weird Science chick)

Joy to the cooking! The chef has come! (ps: Joy flavored chicken rules!!)

Did they just print the ad presentation?

socks are the best.

My favorite beer here in Japan.  I'm enriched often.

Into The Kawaii: Bringing cute to sad faces.

For some reason, cute animals are always hungry.

Karaoke crazed rice ballls: less cute, more terrifying.

Like.

It kinda looks like he has to pee. Adore. Maybe he just wants to be friends to use your bathroom.

I hope she was paid a lot.

Look mom! I made a smiling turd!

Like I said, they love food.

Since when do you put Strawberries in cinnamoN rolls? I'm in.

Pokemon fishcake!

Rabbit + Bear = bummed out.

What a distinguished giraffe-san.

Adore.

This is the symbol of Nagoya.  Currently he is working for the bus system.

Oof.