Just as the name would imply, “Yokohama Subtropical Teahouse - Reptiles Café” is a café where you can meet reptiles. It is in the Hinodecho area of Yokohama, which is known as an entertainment district. Regarding the selection of this spot for the café, owner Atsushi Nagano says, “Nearby there are famous reptile and amphibian shops, and there’s also Nogeyama Zoo, which keeps lots of tortoises.” We hear there are actually many customers who stop into multiple reptile-related spots in succession.

This is Nene, an African spurred tortoise in the free range area. She moves about more aggressively than you might expect!

This shop has no entrance fees, either; customers are OK as long as they order food or drinks. In addition, there are no time limits. In the tanks along the walls and the ”free range area,“ where you can enjoy interaction, there are around 40 animals comprising 20 species, including reptiles such as snakes, lizards, turtles, and geckos, as well as amphibians such as frogs and newts.

Reptiles Café may have the image of being for die-hard enthusiasts, but when we visited, we could feel the excitement! As soon as customers finish ordering their drinks, they race over to the tanks. In particular, female customers squeal with delight at every move the reptiles make, as excited as if they were meeting celebrities.

“The charm of reptiles is that they’re so unfamiliar. The experience seems to be particularly fresh for young women who were raised in cities, never having a connection with animals like lizards,” says Mr. Nagano. We hear that upon visiting the café, some people get so into reptiles that they begin keeping them as pets. Indeed, while taking photographs, we began to become aware of reptiles’ appeal, including their mysterious patterns and shapes, their cute, round eyes, and their smooth movements.

Another aspect that the shop is selective about is the authentic Chinese tea. “The animals don’t initiate action themselves, so another appeal of Reptiles Café is that customers can spend time here at their own pace. Customers can brew 4 or 5 cups of the hot Chinese tea, so I want them to relax and enjoy their time,” says Mr. Nagano. It seems like one could enjoy themselves here at a deliberate pace, drinking tea at their table and then visiting the tank, then having more tea and going to the free range area. How about paying a visit to the fascinating world of reptiles yourself?