Photo/Illutration Cats relax in Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture. (Koichi Tokonami)

GAMAGORI, Aichi Prefecture--Ryokan proprietress Eiko Watanabe was charmed by a female brown tabby cat that started showing up at her inn here about two years ago.

The cat that appeared at the back entrance was gentle and friendly to humans. Watanabe named her Hana-chan after her accommodation facility, and the cat showed up almost every day.

In May last year, Hana emerged with three female newborn kittens. The three young felines grew and produced their own kittens this past spring.

“I and my staff members of the ryokan found solace in the cats,” said Watanabe, 69, who set up a new facility that allows people to spend time with the former stray cats that used to take shelter here when it rained.

The Nekoyado Hana Hana facility started operations in November in the extension to Himeyado Hanakazashi, a unique inn exclusively available for female guests.

In the facility, visitors can play with 12 cats.

On a recent day, felines were seen jumping on a toy known as the cat tower and sleeping on a sofa in the wood-floored room about the size of 120 tatami mats within the facility, from which a full view of Mikawa Bay can be enjoyed.

Although only women can have access to the ryokan, male customers can enter Nekoyado Hana Hana.

“This kitten’s fur feels comfortable,” said a man who visited the facility from Toyokawa, Aichi Prefecture, while absorbed in the felines. “The pads on the back of the feet and the beckoning pose are also lovely.”

After Nekoyado Hana Hana opened on a full-scale basis on Nov. 7, word of the facility spread through social networking sites and elsewhere, attracting about 750 people, including a woman in her 90s from Nagoya, mainly on weekends.

WELCOMING THE CATS

The visits of Hana and her newborn kittens to the ryokan were similar to those by repeat female guests with children from distant areas.

Although enjoying the felines, Watanabe said she was surprised and alarmed at their fertility.

Thinking that “the felines’ proliferating further could cause trouble to neighbors and the cats could be at risk of traffic accidents,” Watanabe decided to take responsibility to keep them and started making preparations to accept them.

The ryokan replaced the floor of a former nightclub on its grounds and installed a dedicated entrance out of consideration to guests who do not like cats.

Registered as a first-category animal handling agent in October, the inn had the cats spayed or neutered and vaccinated, and finally opened the feline facility.

DESCENDANTS OF HANA

Hana stopped showing up in June, so cats currently kept at Nekoyado Hana Hana are her daughters and grandchildren.

“All of the felines are offspring of Hana-chan,” said Watanabe. “Playing with and viewing them makes us feel warm and relaxed. We will carefully take care of them.”

Nekoyado Hana Hana is open between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. It is closed the same days as Himeyado Hanakazashi. Admission is 650 yen ($5.98) for an hour, including a drink. Male customers are welcome as well.

For more information on the cat facility, contact Himeyado Hanakazashi at (https://www.himeyado.com/english/).