Located on Japan's remote Miyakojima island, The Healing Cat Room (照猫屋 / Terurekonya) represents a unique hybrid: protection cat cafe combined with Thai massage wellness business. Owner Kaoru Terui (照屋薫) opened the facility in 2023 after a personal journey spanning decades—from rescuing her first cat in Tokyo's Inokashira Park in 1989, through a career in sports training and live performance, to training in traditional Thai massage in Chiang Mai (2003), and finally making a deliberate choice in 2022 to address Miyakojima's stray cat crisis through combined rescue, TNR (trap-neuter-return), adoption, and visitor education activities. The island faces acute challenges: unspayed/unseutered populations, roadkill deaths far exceeding official euthanasia statistics, and difficulties finding local adopters—requiring reliance on off-island adoptions. The Healing Cat Room functions as a bridge connecting visitors to rescue cats' daily personalities beyond adoption events, while promoting spaying/neutering, appropriate home confinement, and responsible guardianship.
The cafe houses 4 permanent "staff employee" cats and 10 adoption-seeking protection cats ranging from 1–6 years old—all rescued from the island and vetted for sociability. Reviewers consistently praised the experience as genuinely healing and deeply meaningful, noting staff dedication to animal welfare and the cafe's deeper purpose beyond entertainment. One international visitor described discovering the place "by chance," immediately booking a reservation after learning of its rescue mission, and experiencing "literally a healing time" with enthusiastic, friendly cats responding to toy fishing rods. Another guest emphasized the staff member's visible dedication to cat happiness and the meaningful animal protection work. Visitors appreciated socks being required (cute cat-themed options available for ¥300 purchase), the warm nostalgic atmosphere ("like visiting a wealthy cat family on Miyakojima"), and the knowledge that their visit directly supported rescue operations. The island setting creates both isolation and intimacy—visitors typically include animal lovers, adoption-seekers, and travelers seeking authentic healing experiences.
Hours: 13:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00); reservation required via Instagram DM or LINE official account. Pricing: ¥1,500 per 1 hour with complimentary beverage (island discount available); children under 3 free, ages 2–elementary free with adult accompaniment; ages 2–school age ¥300 discount; 30-minute extensions ¥600. Cat treats available. Hand washing and alcohol sanitizing required upon entry; socks mandatory (¥300 cat-themed socks available for purchase). Located Miyakojima, Shimoji, Kadekari-754-1, Okinawa. Phone/DM contact via Instagram miyakoisland_cats. Strict rules protect both cats and visitors: no flash photography, no outside food/drink (except shop beverages—revenue supports rescue), no force-feeding treats, sitting required for holding cats, no chasing/loud voices, no picking up sleeping cats. Animal handler registrations: 沖宮動展第0014号 (display), 沖宮動保第0019号 (housing), valid through January 28, 2030. This venue appeals to visitors seeking authentic rescue mission engagement, island travel experiences, and deeply meaningful animal interaction with purpose-driven operations.
保護猫
¥1,500
