neco yokujo & neco hatago Neco Requblic - Hostel

This was a fun place to stay for one night. We loved watching the cats play and getting to spend time with them. We had the entire place to ourselves which was great. It was clean and quiet, near train stations and anything else we wanted to do. It would have been tight or impractical if we were sharing this space with anyone else. The futons on the bed were a little thin, luckily we were only there for 1 night.

Unique experience and great facilities. N/A

The location was good -- close to train stations, good restaurants, coin laundry, and other amenities. The idea of staying in a cat spa was appealing, and the cats were indeed very cute and entertaining to look at. You get one complimentary hour per day to be with the cats with your reservation so that was nice. The bathroom and shower were clean and had everything we needed. The bedding and the rest of the facilities were also clean. We're a family of 4 so we got the whole place to ourselves. When we arrived, someone quickly checked us in and then basically ran away. I wasn't sure if she was really busy or nervous or both but she forgot to mention that the cat spa guests can use the hostel's kitchen and common area which is in a different building right next door. So for 2 days we thought that the tiny common area of the spa is all we had to prepare and eat meals. Using the hostel's common area and kitchen really saved this stay for us. As I mentioned above, the idea of staying in a cat spa was appealing, however I think we would have enjoyed it for just one night instead of 5. The biggest thing I found troubling was that there was a camera recording the common area, so we were told not to walk around without clothing. Even though we had the whole place to ourselves. We had to bring all the clothes with us to the shower or change in the capsules which wasn't very comfortable. It just felt icky and wrong. Next, some of the cats were very cute and playful but there were a few cats that stayed in cages the whole time, which is understandable if they can't play nice with other cats but they yowled really loudly and non stop (during the night as well). The entryway to the caspule area and the cat area smelled pretty bad. And the cat area itself especially, probably because they had litter boxes right there where people were playing with the cats. I've been to a few cat cafes before and never had a litter box right there next to visitors. That was really gross. Lastly, the beds were so thin and uncomfortable. I'm a side sleeper and I got bruises on my hips from how hard it was. I slept in another ryokan right before staying here and it was much more cushy and comfortable. I hope this helps another family make a decision about booking this place.

How unique the accommodation is Nothing

My family loved this unique experience! Support the rescue cats! Very fun place for anyone. It was fun sleeping near so many when we missed our cat back home. Everyone should give this place a stay! It’s a capsule hotel so we knew it wasn’t going to be the most comfortable going into it so we stayed up late in Osaka and woke up early because of a couple new comer cats fought :P Only downside is comfort but we didn’t come here for that! I do wish there were shirts we could buy in person, not online.

I am a crazy cat lady and finding an accommodation where I could stay beside cats (rescue cats) in a traditional Japanese Ryokan was a dream come true! The Ryokan is centrally located in Osaka and beautiful, clean and is all cat themed. The staff was super friendly and as part of our stay we got to have a private hour with the cats after the cat spa closed. The cats were soooo cute and sweet and are all up for adoption. The owner has a great heart and wants the best for the cats. I loved watching the cats from bed and can only dream about coming back. Leaving the cats! :(

We only stayed one night here during our trip to Japan, but both my kids said it’s the coolest place we’ve *ever* stayed. If you enjoy trying unique lodging experiences, I highly recommend this spot. I’ve always wanted to try a capsule hotel, but it’s difficult to find one that allows children and families, so this was a gem of a find. The owner of Neco Republic Cat Ryokan appears to be a mom running a small business, and she was responsive to messages, kind to my kids, and went to extra effort to help sort out a question regarding payment through a third-party booking platform. The kids adored having their own “sleeping cubbies” and sliding doors, with one wall being a window onto the adjacent cat cafe. There are ceiling-level catwalks (haha) and other climbing structures for the cats so that everyone gets a good view. They named all the cats, discussed their personalities and antics, and drew in the cat-themed guest book. The space is tiny—it’s a capsule hotel, so you’ve basically got a 3’ x 3’ x 7’ cubby to sleep in, with a little lockbox, and the space outside of that is shared (although on the night we stayed, I think we were the only ones there). So don’t expect to spread out your luggage or eat meals here—but the fun of it is the novelty. The location is great for exploring a fascinating neighborhood with lots of restaurants and konbini nearby. Subway station is right at the end of the block. The capsule sleeping spaces actually felt quite roomy and luxurious, with woven mats, wooden walls, and solid wood sliding doors. The bathrooms and other spaces were very clean (and I’m picky) and the shower was delightful, with great water pressure and adorable cat-themed soaps and shampoos. If trying a capsule hotel is on your bucket list, like it was mine, and/or if you’ve got animal-loving kids, this is a sweet spot.

The location is very convenient for sightseeing. Obviously the major draw is the cats and they did not disappoint - this lodging was my teen daughter's main request for our trip and she enjoyed having time with the cats after closing. The variety and breadth of amenities were unexpected and appreciated. My allergic-to-cats mother-in-law did not experience any discomfort in the Ryokan (she elected not to enter the cafe)

Loved this unique stay having the chance to sleep next to the cat cafe and watch all the cute cats. The space was all cat themed throughout even the shampoo and conditioner. Enjoyed our free hour with the cats alone. We had lots of fuss and played with them. It was great to read about the information on them all and the great work the team are doing with rescuing them. More of an authentic stay sleeping on the futons. Great location.

So many cute cats! Facilities were clean and new. Friendly staff. Would definitely recommend!

Amazing stay - friendly staff, lovely cats, comfortable accommodation with lots of lovely touches, and a really convenient location (moments from the closest metro). Thank you.

I loved everything about it. It was really adorable! It being a cat hotel, a ryokan style, and a capsule hotel gave 3 things Japan is known for all in one place. I would stay here again. We stayed for one night and I think that was the perfect about of time.

Superb

A very unique stay. The room overlooks a cat cafe!!! As a guest, you are also allowed free access to the cafe for an hour. Good location, within walking distance from Dotonbori and many places to go out to. In hindsight, I find the property rather expensive. Also, there is not much privacy, as the cat cafe customers can look into the room, unless you have the blinds drawn. Perhaps a special window/mirror would’ve helped with this, so you can still see through cats without being seen!

The facilities were amazing and I felt so comfortable in my bed :) I liked that we could see the cats through the glass anytime we wanted. I wish the glass was one way glass, as it was a little awkward to look through while customers were in the other room haha Other than that, it was an amazing experience :)

Cute idea of having a room overlook the cat cafe with a free hour per day of play with the cats It was much more of a hostel than I expected. The sleeping quarters are little niches (tatami with futon) that overlooks the cat room. Cute idea but uncomfortable. My wife and I ended up getting a room at a nearby hotel.

The bunk beds were cute. Super clean too! Can see the cats through the glass. Bathroom newly renovated and clean. Nothing.

Superb

The unique set up of capsule style ryokan with big windows for viewing the cats. The inclusion of one hour in the cat cafe. Excellent location. All toiletries provided. The futons were a bit hard and could hear movement from upstairs.

The cats were very well looked after. We had a lovely time playing with them. The staff were very attentive to the cats and spent lots of time cleaning up and feeding them. It is also a rescue and 2 were adopted while we were there. The hotel / Ryokan was very comfortable and clean. There were lots of lovely places to eat nearby. We would definitely stay again It was all perfect