I recently stayed at a “cat inn” in Ehime Prefecture. Amazingly, 13 cats live there, and you can freely interact with them from check-in until 6 PM. I’d like to share my two-day experience, where I was completely soothed by the adorable cats, in this report.
You can book your stay at Matsuraku Ryokan here! Rakuten Travel: http://msm.to/9tWFtSP
From the moment you check in, you’re greeted by cats.
I’m staying at the Matsuraku Ryokan in Ehime Prefecture. Check-in is from 3:00 PM, and as soon as I arrived, a cat greeted me. It was a pretty big cat, and it seemed to want me to pet its waist, and before I knew it, another one came over, which instantly boosted my spirits.
This inn was originally a long-established inn famous for its river fish dishes. It has now been renovated into a cat-friendly inn that only offers room-only stays, and looking around the inn, all the cats were napping comfortably. Even the slippers had cat pictures subtly drawn on them, showing that the love for cats was evident in every detail.
This inn is home to many cats, and recently, three new kittens have joined the family. Born in March 2025, these three siblings are full of energy. During my stay, I was able to spend plenty of time with these three newcomers.
We recommend a room on the second floor, where cats are more likely to come and play.
There are a total of 15 rooms on the second and third floors. The recommended room is on the second floor, where cats often come to play. The room fee is a surprisingly low 3,800 yen. The windows are double-paned to prevent cats from escaping and for soundproofing.
The interior of the inn had a nostalgic, retro atmosphere, and the facility guide featured individual photos introducing each of the cats that lived there.
The door to the room we stayed in had a small window specifically for cats, allowing them to freely come and go.
Cats come in one after another through the small window.
After spending some time in the room, one cat immediately came to play. It seemed incredibly relaxed, and when I left the window open, more and more cats started coming into the room.
The first to arrive was the newcomer, Komugi. She’s a very energetic girl, extremely friendly, and showed no signs of wariness despite it being our first meeting. She’s even more affectionate than our own cat, purring and welcoming us warmly.
However, these capricious cats will come into a room only to quickly move on to another. But that’s also part of what’s great about cats, isn’t it?
Next up was Uni-kun. He was a cute little boy, but he quickly ran off somewhere. After that came Yuzu-kun. All three siblings were adorable and full of energy.
To ensure the cats can live comfortably, interaction with them is limited to from check-in until 6 PM.
It was only a short time, but it was more than enough fun. Just when I thought they were playing so much, they suddenly got bored and went off somewhere, which is so typical of cats, and I couldn’t help but call out, “Come back to the room!”
Various room amenities
The hangers were placed a little higher to prevent the cats from scratching our clothes. The amenities included a yukata (Japanese robe), towels, toothbrush, comb, and razor, and there was also an extension cord in the room, which was very convenient.
A cup and an instant latte are placed on the table.
All other facilities were located in a common area, which also included a refrigerator and a water dispenser.
The entire inn is a playground for cats.
Stepping out into the hallway, you’ll find a large cat tree, and the cats roam freely from the first to the third floor. There are also lots of manga comics on the first floor, which you can take to your room and read freely.
While observing the cats, I noticed some sharpening their claws in quite dangerous places, and others moving around with amazing agility. The entire inn felt like an athletic playground for the cats.
They showed us so many unexpected behaviors, so it was really fun just watching them. When we made noise with toys, the young cats would immediately react and come over to play, so the time we spent interacting with them in the hallway was especially wonderful.
A black cat was sitting neatly on the sink, so I thought it might want a drink of water, but in the end, it didn’t drink and went off somewhere. The fact that it’s completely unpredictable what it wanted to do is what makes it so cat-like and amusing.
All the cats at the inn had beautiful coats and healthy physiques. It was clear they were being cared for very well.
The cats seemed to spend more time in the hallway than in their rooms. When I followed one cat that was heading off somewhere with a toy in its mouth, it turned out to be a room where another guest was staying. So many things were happening in the hallway, I was never bored.
An unexpected cat battle, Nyanpro, has erupted.
As I was walking around the building, I spotted a cat that looked absolutely furious. It appeared to be a white cat, glaring intently with sharp eyes.
From the way he was growling, it seemed he had a strong dislike for the white cat. Sensing the situation, Uni quickly made his escape.
Upon closer inspection, the white cat had a heart-shaped pattern. This cat’s name was Sumomo, and the black cat’s name was Mimi. Perhaps because they were both female, Mimi was very strong-willed, and Sumomo instinctively moved in slow motion, slowly leaving the scene so as not to anger the other.
As night approaches and it’s almost 6 PM, the cats gather on the first floor as dinner time draws near.
Even at night, they’re full of energy, and one moment they’re playing by themselves, and the next they’re suddenly in battle. Apparently, this is what’s currently trending at the inn: “Nyanpro” (cat wrestling). It’s a type of playful interaction between cats, not a fight. These energetic cats just can’t resist starting a wrestling match as soon as they find someone to play with.
Even though Uni is showing signs of surrender, the fight continues relentlessly, and Komugi seems to have had enough of the battle. Perhaps the strongest person in this inn right now is the girl, Komugi.
I felt this place was a real bargain, being able to interact with so many cats and even stay at the inn. It seems to be a very popular place, and is often fully booked up a month in advance. If you’re thinking of staying there, I recommend booking early.
At 6 PM, it’s time for the cats to eat.
At 6 PM, it was time for the cats to return to their rooms. Since 6 PM is also dinnertime, they all obediently went back to their rooms. The three energetic siblings gathered in the hallway for a while, while the other cats ate their meals. When it was time for the three siblings to eat, they all returned to their rooms as if drawn by an invisible force.
The oldest cat at this inn, a 17-year-old, apparently has a special menu prepared for him. I was surprised at how shiny his fur was, considering his age. As cats get older, their appetite decreases and they sometimes don’t eat much, so any leftover food is given to the other cats.
As if they knew it was coming, there was a cat waiting by the door. And with that, my day with the cats was truly over.
Human meals are delivered.
Around the time the cats finished their meal, it was time for us humans to eat. This inn allows you to order takeout, and this time we ordered Chinese food, which the restaurant kindly delivered to our room. We ordered Chinese noodles and dumplings. Payment was cash only.
The ramen was light and refreshing, with plenty of toppings, and the dumplings were crispy and delicious. The noodles were a little soggy, probably because it took a while to arrive, but it was still very tasty.
A nostalgic bath that you can use 24 hours a day.
The bath is available 24 hours a day. When I actually went in, it had a wonderful atmosphere. There are two baths, and although the water pressure in the shower was a little weak, the bathroom itself was spacious and I was able to relax comfortably. It was a nostalgic bath that reminded me of my grandmother’s house.
I was told that tomorrow’s interaction with the cats would start at 6 AM. I set an alarm so I wouldn’t oversleep, and decided to go to bed early tonight.
The joy of waking up at 6 AM to the sound of “Nyaram”
The next morning, I was woken up by the sound of a giant cat meowing. It was truly a “meow.” It meowed loudly, then vanished in an instant, making my alarm clock completely unnecessary.
After that, other cats kept coming to wake me up one after another. Some seemed surprised by the comb they were seeing for the first time, and then a huge cat came into the room.
Despite its large size, it was incredibly agile, exploring the room and leaving in no time. It seemed like it only wanted to explore, even though it had gone to the trouble of coming all the way here, and I couldn’t help but laugh at how quickly it entered and left the room. Apparently, the cats will enter the room without hesitation even when I’m not there, and this freedom is also part of its charm.
Checkout and the final feeding experience.
Check-out time at Matsuraku Ryokan is 9:00. With permission from the inn staff, I was able to feed the cats. Watching them eat heartily, I made sure to share with the one in the back who was staring at me longingly.
In conclusion
My two-day, one-night stay surrounded by 13 cats flew by, yet it was incredibly fulfilling. There was cat wrestling, and unexpected exploration, so I wasn’t bored for a single moment. If you ever have the chance to visit Ehime as a tourist, I highly recommend checking out Matsuraku Ryokan.
Inn information
Shoraku Ryokan Location: Ehime Prefecture Accommodation fee: From 3,800 yen per night (room only) Check-in: From 15:00 / Check-out: 9:00 Cat interaction time: 15:00 – 18:00 Notes: Takeout orders available (cash payment only) / Bath available 24 hours
The cats featured include Komugi (a lively girl), Uni (a curious boy), Yuzu (a gentle boy), Mimi and Sumomo (who sometimes fight), and other veteran cats.
Comments