Just because cats don’t like to work doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy watching other people work.
You can find cat cafes all across Japan, but Yuzu no Ie, in the town of Yurihonjo, Akita Prefecture, is special. That’s because, according to its owners, it’s the only cat cafe in Japan that’s right next to a rice paddy.
What, you’re saying that doesn’t motivate you to visit Yuzu no Ie more than any other cat cafe? Oh, sorry, I should have been clearer. See, being next to a rice paddy makes Yuzu no Ie special for the cats, because the cafe’s feline staff absolutely love the view, as this adorable video shows.
▼ The video was also sent out through the cafe’s official Twitter account (@yuzu_kitty16).
With spring here, the snows have melted and it’s time to start planting the rice for next fall’s harvest. But what’s work for the farmer who owns the field is the highest form of entertainment for Yuzu no Ie’s cats, with over a dozen kitties crowding the windows that face the paddy as the tractor goes by. “It’s like they’re fans at a concert,” remarked one online commenter, while another said “They’re giving the farmer a standing ovation at the end.”
The cute congregation even inspired a bit of fan art…
田植え最接近時 pic.twitter.com/UhLxMVey8C
— やまがたしょうへい/絵本『なんのかげ?どうぶつ?』発売中 (@yamagatasyohei) May 9, 2019
…which prompted the cafe to share an additional photo, as well as a second video, of the scene, showing things from the tractor driver’s point of view.
ありがとうございます🐾
— Cat house 柚の家 (@yuzu_kitty16) May 9, 2019
いい線行ってます😺💕 pic.twitter.com/ePfMUSWoSO
Cats aren’t normally thought of as particularly industrious creatures, so it’s unclear exactly what it is they find so fascinating about the field work going on right outside their home/workplace. Still, there’s no mistaking how much they enjoy watching the tractor go back and forth, so should your cat go missing, you might want to consider telling the local strays not only that you’re searching for your pet, but that you’ll let him watch some farming videos online if he comes home.
Meanwhile, if that farmer doesn’t rebrand his crops as “Akita Kawaii Kitty Rice,” he’s missing out on the best grain-based marketing opportunity since Japan’s Self-Defense Force fighter plane-raised rice.
Cafe information
Yuzu no Ie / 柚の家
Address: Akita-ken, Yurihonjo, Ichibanzeki 34-13
秋田県由利本荘市一番堰34−13
Open 1 p.m.-7 p.m. (Monday-Friday), 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (Saturday-Sunday)
Official Twitter account
Source: YouTube/猫カフェ 柚の家 via Twitter/@yuzu_kitty16 via Japaaan
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Follow Casey on Twitter, where it’s impossible for him to write about Akita without craving some of the prefecture’s regional Hinaidori chicken.


Internet falls in love with cat’s first-ever encounter with carpet
Cute cat’s curiosity kills the Japanese sliding paper door 【Video】
Cute cat rescues sister from cardboard box 【Video】
Felines flee when Ed Sheeran plays “Thinking Out Loud” at cat cafe in Japan【Video】
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
Stay at a hotel with a bed for your plushie in Japan
Japan’s Rabbit Island in danger of becoming Boar Island, tourists asked to follow feeding rules
Japanese gacha machine in Shibuya now sells tiny capsule terrariums
Visiting Japan’s muscular mascot character dog at his free museum near Kansai International Airport
Best burger in Tokyo? JB’s serves up a cheap craft burger that not a lot of people know about
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
12-year-old foreign tourist missing in Japan, police asking for help finding her [Video]
Body of missing foreign tourist in Japan found floating off coast of town he was last seen in
Teen girl in Japan refuses to be victim, personally escorts train pervert to police for arrest
Studio Ghibli adds new Jiji’s baby plush toy to its anime merchandise range in Japan
The Japanese city where ordering grilled chicken doesn’t guarantee you’ll actually get chicken
Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
Japanese airlines set to cut fuel surcharges for international flights in September and October
Beautiful off-the-beaten-path spot near samurai castle in rural Japan looks like a Monet painting
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
This beautiful rural Japan river is a great alternative to touristy summer retreats [Photos]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japanese Twitter falls in love with trash cat who jumps out of trash can【Video】
If you love Pokémon and cats, you’ll love Japan’s cat Pokémon cat toys and feeding dishes[Photos]
These cats “knead” you to show them some love【Video】
Japanese cat enjoys walks in the rain with his adorable tiny umbrella【Photos】
Japan now has a traffic safety video for cats to watch to help keep them safe on the streets
Cats in Japan still unable to resist destroying sliding paper doors in most dramatic way possible
Watch as these Japanese cats treat their brand new, giant cushion with extreme suspicion
Adorable video shows a bunch of cats tracking a stink bug flying back and forth across the room
Japanese cat and dog clocks with swishing tails make clock-watching more adorable than ever
Japanese cat gets in on trick-or-treating fun without saying a word thanks to clever idea【Video】