Petit Mura Complex: Ghibli Cat Village in Koenji

If you’re a studio Ghibli fan, you have to visit this cute little village in Koenji, Japan. Or even if you’re not, it’s the perfect place to be surrounded by a more natural, forest feeling compared to the highly developed, futuristic vibe of Tokyo. Though it’s not officially licensed, the people that created this village are just incredibly passionate and creative. There’s a gift shop, cat cafe, restaurant and so much more. They are rapidly expanding everything, so if you’ve thought you’d seen it all, there will always be something new around the corner for you.

There’s a three story cat cafe which attracts most of the tourists. The cats are super adorable and will make you feel like you’re actually living in a Ghibli world with a cat companion, some of them like to follow you around, cute!!

They currently have 21 cats of all ages and unlike a lot of other places, you don’t have to pay by the hour here. This place has no time limits, just an entrance fee. Weekdays will cost you about 1,200 yen + tax, on the weekend it’s around 1,600 + tax, but if you stop by any day in the evening after 7, they will only charge you 700 yen + tax.

The highlight of my visit was definitely ‘The Tea House Happa’. The decoration of the whole cafe is so serene, it’s gorgeous. The aroma of the teas brewing around you add to the whole experience. They also have fantastic sandwiches and other food items, so even if you’re not a tea lover, you can still have a great time at this tea house.

Once you have wrapped up your tea party, don’t forget to stop by the gift shop. It’s called ‘Toko Toko Circus’, they sell accessories and daily necessities. But of course, the cutest the designs you’ve ever seen. Basically everything is cat themed and you’re going to have trouble leaving the store empty handed. They have everything you could ever think of, stationery items, kitchenware, stamps, bags, jewellery and other accessories, umbrellas and more. Just walking around the store and getting lost around all the shiny items is already worth the visit.

📍 2-chōme-33-2 Kichijōji Honchō, Musashino, Tokyo 180-0004, Japan