Skip to main content

Tokyo Snake Center is Like a Japanese Cat Cafe … But With Snakes

By American standards, Japanese culture is, in many ways, bizarre. It’s all relative, of course. But things like live lobster vending machines, capsule hotels, and robot restaurants are so vastly different from anything we’re accustomed to in the States that we can’t help but look on with wide-eyed fascination. It should come as no surprise that the country is also home to one more oddity: the world’s first “snake cafe.”

Recommended Videos

Situated in Tokyo’s famously quirky Harajuku neighborhood, Tokyo Snake Center (the website is in Japanese) is equal parts cafe and miniature zoo. The small, bright white space has all the charm of a mall pet store. The clinical decor is peppered with glossy, poster-sized prints of snakes and even the exposed pipes are covered in snakeskin-patterned wallpaper. Perspex snake tanks line one whole wall near the entrance, while a dozen more dot shelves along the remaining walls. A handful of tables provide a place for guests to relax and enjoy a coffee, tea, or boozy beverage with a light snack.

The kicker? Visitors are allowed one “attendant” snake to accompany them during their visit. The waitstaff instructs every guest (in Japanese or English) on snake-handling etiquette and the general rules of the cafe.

In total, 35 snakes from 20 species are available — everything from Honduran milk snakes to jungle carpet pythons to exotic Brazilian rainbow boas. All are, of course, non-venomous and therefore harmless to humans. So, if you were already daydreaming of sharing a macchiato with a pit viper, you’re out of luck.

Japan has long had a fascination with strange restaurants. First, there were cat cafes, then rabbit cafes, then it seemed the Japanese were over both in a few short years. The new hotness is owl cafes and snake cafes. So, the debut of Tokyo Snake Center isn’t all that surprising.

Tokyo Snake Center is now open with a cover charge of Y1,000 (about USD $10). The fee includes one drink and the “privilege” of a snake’s company. For an additional Y540 (USD $5), visitors can pet any of the resident snakes. For guests who need a reptilian parting present, the cafe also has a small gift stand with snake-themed postcards, stuffed toys, lucky charms, and snakeskin bags for sale.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Everything about Fontainebleau Las Vegas feels next-level: An inside look
Luxury and elegance from dining to shopping
Fontainebleau Las Vegas

As I drove into Vegas for the first time, I quickly spotted the modern glass-covered exterior of Fontainebleau Las Vegas from a distance. Just from the exterior of the building's design, inspired by the original Fontainebleau in Miami Beach, I could tell my stay in Vegas was going to be impressive. As a New Jersey native, most of my casino impressions and experiences were gathered from various visits to Atlantic City. I quickly learned that a visit to Las Vegas is an entirely different ballgame.

I eagerly set out to explore Fontainebleau Las Vegas, the newest hotel on the famous Strip. Opened in December 2023, this 67-story vertically integrated luxury resort features 3,644 luxury hotel rooms and suites and 150,000 square feet of gaming space. From fine dining to luxury retail shopping, let's explore what it's like to stay at this top-tier, modern hotel in Las Vegas and why you should stay here if you want an exceptional trip to Las Vegas.

Read more
JetBlue expands partnership with this Asian airline
Osaka, Japan

JetBlue and Japan Airlines (JAL) have broadened their partnership, with the Asian airline now accepting TrueBlue redemptions. Under the agreement, TrueBlue members can use points to reserve travel on qualifying Japan Airlines flights on jetblue.com. It’ll be the first time JetBlue’s TrueBlue members can cash in points with an East Asian airline partner. 

TrueBlue members can now explore Japan and more

Read more
These are officially 2025’s best new restaurants in the United States
8 U.S. restaurants made the list
Acamaya

Condé Nast Traveller has released its highly anticipated 2025 Hot List, spotlighting the best new restaurants around the globe. While international destinations took center stage, several standout U.S. eateries earned a coveted spot on the list, showcasing the nation’s diverse dining scene.

Among the top honorees is Acamaya in New Orleans, a modern Mexican restaurant crafted by chef Ana Castro. Hailing from Texas and raised in Mexico City, Castro’s dishes are a celebration of local Louisiana seafood, reflecting both her heritage and the Gulf Coast’s culinary traditions.

Read more