The owners of Japan’s Usagi-to-Cafe ("The Rabbit and Cafe") know there’s nothing like starting and ending a day with a good round of rabbit caressing. When patrons visit for a coffee or light snack, they also get the opportunity to pet one of the shop’s 18 "staff bunnies."
At almost a dollar a minute, the cafe’s bunny-petting isn’t cheap, but the animal-loving patrons don’t mind. As pets are banned in many Japanese apartments, the Usagi-to-Cafe – much like the Cat Cafe Calico covered by Trend Hunter back in April – meets a basic, primal need: playing, cuddling, and caressing a furry creature. This is probably why the shop is packed on weekends.
The Usagi-to-Cafe also offers a BYOB policy, in which rabbit-owners can bring their own pets for bunny socialization. This presumably lets house bunnies mix and mingle with other bunnies and learn the necessary social skills they need to survive in the real world.
Bunny-Petting Cafes
Grab a Coffee and Pet a Rabbit at Japan's Usagi-to-Cafe
Trend Themes
1. Pet-friendly Cafes - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create pet-friendly cafes that allow customers to interact with animals while enjoying food and drinks.
2. Micro-experience Economy - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop cafes that offer unique and niche experiences, catering to specific interests like petting animals.
3. Socialization Spaces - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design spaces where people can bring their pets for socialization, creating a sense of community and shared experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Hospitality - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate animal interactions into hospitality establishments like hotels or resorts to enhance guest experiences.
2. Entertainment - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create entertainment venues that combine food and beverage services with animal interaction, providing unique and memorable experiences for visitors.
3. Pet Care - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop specialized pet care facilities that focus on socialization and interaction between animals, catering to pet owners' needs.