Initially, there were cafés where furry companions were welcomed with open arms.
In Tokyo, Japan, a new trend is sweeping through the café scene: pig cafés. It all started with pet-friendly establishments, then cat cafés where feline friends stole the spotlight. Now, pig cafés are hogging the attention.
Brad Loomis, a software engineer from Pullman, Washington, and his daughter Paige, 21, recently visited Tokyo’s Mipig Café and found the experience delightful. Surrounded by miniature pigs, they couldn’t help but smile as the gentle creatures roamed around seeking cuddles.
These pint-sized pigs are surprisingly quiet and clean, shattering common stereotypes. They crave companionship and make wonderful pets. Customers pay 2,200 yen ($15) for 30 minutes of piggy company, but reservations are a must.
Shiho Kitagawa, an executive at Mipig, affectionately refers to the pigs as “buta-san,” emphasizing their unique personalities. The café, located in Harajuku, is one of ten pig cafés across Japan, with more on the way.
These “micro pigs” stay small, about the size of a corgi or toy poodle, making them perfect pets. Mipig even sells toilet-trained pigs for about 200,000 yen ($1,350) each, along with specialized pig food.
Foreign tourists, drawn by social media buzz, flock to the café to experience this adorable trend. Ben Russell from Australia couldn’t contain his joy when a pig nestled in his lap, while Sophie Mo’unga from New Zealand found herself surrounded by snuggly pigs.
But not everyone is enamored with the idea. Sachiko Azuma, from PEACE, raises ethical concerns about the animals’ well-being. She worries they may feel stressed by constant human interaction.
However, Dr. Bruce Kornreich, a professor at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, believes that pet interactions can boost mental and physical health, regardless of the species.
Whether it’s pigs or dogs, one thing is clear: spending time with animals brings comfort and happiness. As Paige Loomis put it, “Very cute and very sleepy. They made me sleepy.”