The Cat That Sleeps in Your Futon — Rescue Cat Glamping 80 Minutes from Tokyo in Boso, Chiba
For anyone who wants a cat but cannot keep one because of housing or work, there is a stay in the satoyama of Futtsu, Chiba that offers one night of "life with a cat." Washin Village (和心村) is a glamping facility where 16 rescue cats live freely, and the most talked-about experience here is simple: at night, a cat comes into your room, burrows into the futon, and sleeps beside you.
It is only about 80 minutes from Tokyo by car — close enough for a spontaneous weekend trip — and at the end of that short drive is a night spent curled up next to a cat.
Yes, a Cat Really Does Sleep in the Futon With You
The single most repeated theme in word-of-mouth about Washin Village is just how close you get to the cats. Google Maps reviews, Rakuten Travel, and YouTube stay reports all repeat the same details: a cat wanders into the room, and before the guest realizes it, the cat has settled into the futon and fallen asleep beside them.
These are not cats kept "on display." For them, Washin Village is home, and guests are the ones visiting. So the cats approach rooms entirely on their own terms — hopping onto a lap when they feel like it, and at night, burrowing into a futon of their choosing. There is no cat-cafe-style time limit and no coaxing involved. It is that unforced, natural pace that keeps guests coming back.
Of course, no one can promise that a cat will sleep in your futon every single time — but it is precisely because cats are creatures of whim that the nights it happens become memories worth keeping.
16 Rescue Cats, and a Lively Village of Companions
Sixteen cats live at Washin Village. All are rescues, each arriving with a different story before finding their way here. Some are outgoing and affectionate; others prefer to watch from a distance at their own pace. How many you bond with during your stay is entirely up to you.
Cats are not the only companions. 2 dogs and 2 goats also live on the property, along with resident ukokkei (silkie chickens). Waking to the sound of the chickens, locking eyes with a goat during a morning walk — this everyday coexistence of people and animals is a satoyama scene that has become rare in Japan today.
About 80 Minutes from Tokyo, to the Satoyama of Boso's Futtsu
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 14 Takamizo, Futtsu-shi, Chiba-ken 299-1733 |
| From Tokyo | About 80 minutes by car (via the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line) |
| Location | Satoyama of the Boso peninsula |
| Parking | Free, 20 spaces |
For precise navigation, the coordinates are 35.21983 N / 139.950408 E, on the inland side of the Boso peninsula amid green satoyama hills. Enter this coordinate pair, or the address "14 Takamizo, Futtsu-shi, Chiba," into your car navigation or map app.
Four Room Types Available, With a Fifth on the Way
Washin Village currently offers four room types where you can experience the satoyama's nature and architecture together, with a fifth — a treehouse — now being prepared.
| Room Type | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Kominka main house | A genuine ~200-year-old farmhouse. Cats come and go freely |
| Nagayamon (maisonette) | A two-story room built from a traditional nagayamon gate house |
| Jyubako | Snow Peak × Kengo Kuma's minimalist wooden space |
| Nordisk Asgard tent | An authentic Nordic-brand glamping tent |
| Treehouse | Fifth room type, currently in preparation (coming soon) |
The kominka main house is the room the cats enter most freely — if you're hoping for one to sleep in your futon, this building keeps you closest to them. The Jyubako, on the other hand, designed by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma together with Snow Peak, is a standalone space cats rarely enter, better suited to guests concerned about cat allergies or who prefer a quieter stay.
Bonfire, Wood Sauna, BBQ — A Full Day Before You Sleep With the Cats
Washin Village is not simply "a place to sleep next to a cat." The time from check-in through the next morning is an experience in its own right.
- Authentic Finnish wood-fired sauna — fuel it yourself and reach "totonou" in the satoyama air
- BBQ — a dinner of Boso ingredients around the fire
- Bonfire — flickering flames in the evening, with a cat sometimes settling onto your lap
- Animal encounters — 16 cats plus dogs, goats, and ukokkei
The warmth of the staff is also praised often in word-of-mouth. Even first-time glampers are patiently shown how to build a fire and use the sauna.
Flow of Your Stay
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 15:00 | Check in (last check-in 19:00). Walk the grounds and greet the cats |
| Evening | Light the wood-fired sauna. Take deep breaths in the cold plunge and the open air |
| Night | BBQ and bonfire. Cats may approach under a starlit sky |
| Bedtime | Wait for a cat in your room — it might just burrow into your futon |
| Next morning | Wake to the chickens' calls and the cats |
| 11:00 | Check out |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does a cat really sleep in the futon with me?
The cats move freely throughout the property and come and go from guest rooms of their own will. Some guests have written that a cat slept together with them in the futon, but cats are, after all, creatures of whim. A night when it happens becomes something special.
Q. Can I stay if I have cat allergies?
With 16 cats living freely on the property, we cannot recommend a stay for anyone with severe allergy symptoms. The Jyubako and the tent are rooms cats rarely enter, so please consult us in advance if you are concerned.
Q. Can I make a reservation by phone?
We do not accept reservations by phone. Please contact us via the official reservation site, LINE, or email.
Reservations & Contact
If you would like to experience a night sleeping beside a cat, booking early is recommended. Washin Village does not accept reservations by phone, so please use one of the methods below.
- Official reservation site: d-reserve.jp (hotelCode 0000000873)
- LINE: https://lin.ee/E7zha5w
- Email: info@washinmura.jp
- Official site: washinmura.jp
- Instagram: @washinmura_nature_glamping
About 80 minutes from Tokyo, 16 rescue cats are waiting in the satoyama of Boso. Why not go meet the one who might burrow into your futon tonight?