Don’t Stand In The Way Of These Godzilla Giant Cats Who Terrorize Japanese Rail Routes
A tiny rescue cat ended up helping save a model train cafe in Osaka, and the result is as chaotic as it sounds. Daiorama Cafeteria, a train diorama restaurant, was already struggling when the pandemic hit, but one stray kitten changed everything for owner Naoki Teraoka.
That kitten, Simba, led to more cats, more visitors, and eventually a feline-filled space where trains, miniature landscapes, and curious customers all share the same room. What started as a desperate attempt to keep the business alive turned into a cat attraction people now line up to see.
Now the trains are getting swatted, the cats are getting adopted, and Naoki's unlikely rescue story keeps growing. Here's how it all came together.
An unexpected companion named Simba made all the difference.
The terror of train railways has arrived!
In June of 2020, Naoki found a sick ten-day-old kitten named Simba outside the café. He quickly took Simba in and began nurturing the little one back to health.
Both of them immediately formed an unbreakable bond.
The felines do not always terrorize Naoki Teraoka's train sets
After a day of taking Simba in, Naoki came into contact with Simba's mother. However, she refused to come inside and actually enjoyed some food.
Knock, knock!
She continued to visit through the rainy summer, and at some point, she brought the remaining litter. Naoki brought the mother and her three kittens inside, and Simba was once again reunited with his loved ones.
Simba’s second chance mirrors the abandoned shop cat story, with another survival fight for a rescued kitten.
The customers love watching the kitties
The increase in cats inspired an idea, and Naoki remodeled the café to incorporate his felines, leaving the model trains and miniature landscapes for the kitties to frolic across. As cats will always be cats, they swatted trains around and tumbled on the beautiful miniatures.
The fourteen cats of Daiorama Restaurant are some of the happiest cats
In addition, the cats love all the attention they receive from the customers! Now that the felines are part of Daiorama Cafeteria, the restaurant attracts visitors from all over Japan.
Naoki remodeled the café to incorporate his felines
Naoki has transformed the restaurant's second floor into a cat shelter ever since Simba changed his life and turned him into a devoted feline dad. Guests can go upstairs and visit the felines, and if they fall in love with any of them, the cats are available for adoption.
Guests can go upstairs and visit the felines
Watch the video below
Ever since Naoki opened the shelter, he has helped around 100 animals and has assisted over 60 felines in finding their own permanent homes! So, if you happen to visit Japan, take a trip down to Daiorama Cafeteria for a delicious meal and some feline company.
And whether you can make it there or not, you can follow the felines on their train terror.
Want another Japan café twist, see how capybaras outshined cat cafés at a new shop.
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