Tori no Iru Cafe

Forget about cat, bunny, and/or puppy cafes. They're soooo last week. The newest trend in the animal/caffeinated beverage industry is the owl cafe, where guests get to drink coffee, eat delicious food, and (you guessed it) get pooped on by some fluffy, adorable owls. It's impossible to find a cafe in Japan that isn't filled with some kind of poofy animal, but the newest trend at cafes like Fukuro Sabou (Owl Treahouse), Fukurou no Mise (Owl Shop) and Tori no Iru Cafe (The Cafe with Birds), is giving guests the chance to hang out with some friendly owls. They're so popular, in fact, that there are currently more than five cafes in Japan completely dedicated to the happy hooters... and that's just the beginning. The fad has, of course, got owl conservationists' feathers all ruffled, and recently the UK owl sanctuary offered up some advice to those considering getting themselves a Hedwig of their own.   "Our basic advice to those who may be considering keeping an owl as a pet is—DON'T." Considering that owls are nocturnal poop-machines, it's probably best to leave the care-taking to the experts, and stick to the kitty cafes instead. -Roadtrippers Cat cafes are so 2011 - bird cafes are the next big thing. Enjoy the company of owls and parrots while sipping your herb tea and snacking on owl-shaped cookies and coffee jellies. They also offer a selection of beers and wines that feature birds of prey on their labels, including three varieties of the excellent Hitachino Nest Beer (weitzen, white ale, sweet stout) as well as Steenuilke ("Little Owl"), a blond beer from Belgium (all Y1000/bottle).  Assorted owls and a small eagle hang out in the two glassed-in areas at the front of the cafe, while parrots and a cockatoo squawk and cavort in cages along one wall. A big artificial tree adds to the tropical atmosphere, and tables and shelves are crowded with bird-themed knickknacks.  After you're finished your coffee you can pet a couple of the tamer owls (after disinfecting your hands) - they don't seem to mind, but they aren't all that enthusiastic either. The cafe's facilities also include a bird hotel, for your feathered friends who might need temporary lodging; rates start at Y1000/night for small birds.