The Beckoning Cat
By ARM
@responsiveme (22926)
India
January 2, 2019 8:03am CST
A cat lover friend who went to Japan was pleasantly surprised to find a custom made cat tour as one of the attractions offered at her hotel.
In Japanese the lucky cat is called Maneki Neko.The cat figure holds up a paw .The figurine is supposed to bring good luck.
She was happy to visit a shrine dedicated to the beckoning cat. They then visited a cafe where there were many rescued cats who were quite friendly. Later on the cat lovers were given materials to make their own little cat figures.
She made two and brought them back home . I was the lucky recipient of one.
Do you have these tours in the place you stay?
Picture of the cats they made
28 people like this
27 responses
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 Jan 19
Apparently the tour guide was avatar liver and she started it. Teas in a cafe and other culture places are also included...The cafe is also run by a cat lover. Cat cafe
3 people like this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
2 Jan 19
@responsiveme I’d love seeing the cats and having a nice cup of Japanese tea!
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Jan 19
I have never heard of cat tours before.
2 people like this
@amirev777 (4117)
• India
2 Jan 19
Never heard of custom made cat tours - but would love to go on one.
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 Jan 19
It's a good idea to start one such tour if you happen to be a cat lover
@sofssu (23662)
•
3 Jan 19
@responsiveme I hope he is not the one on the blue mat.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
3 Jan 19
@sofssu ha ha, it's is...Why did you not like that?That cat looks like a military major to me
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471337)
• Switzerland
2 Jan 19
@responsiveme This is something very nice to do.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 Jan 19
@LadyDuck sorry, I messaged her. She said they were given plain figurines though a couple of people also made their own...It was a choice
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 Jan 19
Yes, the right one. They painted it. The plain figurines were given
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
2 Jan 19
@responsiveme
We do not have anything like that here. I like the real cats and not shrines to them.
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
2 Jan 19
There are real cats too. Every country has its unique culture
@GardenGerty (160626)
• United States
19 Jan 19
My sister-in-law goes on an outhouse tour. I think there are many kinds of interesting tours, but I would really enjoy the cat tour, I think. I think the odd little black cat is cute.
1 person likes this
@minx267 (15527)
• Hartford, Connecticut
3 Jan 19
@responsiveme wow, that sounds quite enjoyable. I wouldn't want to leave.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
3 Jan 19
I thought do too. Cat lovers got together and have done a good job
Tea or coffee was on the house with some traditional sweets too
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136089)
• India
3 Jan 19
In one of our shops here this cat sits on the counter and does not mind anyone patting it.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
14 Jan 19
The cat didn't beckon well enough to take it home
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
14 Jan 19
@YrNemo ha ha..You should put up a sign that says.... Beware of Cats.
1 person likes this
@YrNemo (20255)
•
14 Jan 19
@responsiveme but I got 3 wooden (carved) cats, small-ish. Can't remember where I put them though, just that those cats could be used as weapons due to theirs pointed tails.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35574)
•
5 Jan 19
I don't believe the U.S. has any hotel tours that I can recall. Some hotels do help sponsor outings run by leisure/tourist companies. Making your own cat figure sounds like fun!
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
6 Jan 19
This may have been a tie up with the tour operator.
People like to do fun things in vacations.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
6 Jan 19
It was a good idea to have the tour. Maybe someday your place will also have
1 person likes this
@porwest (90118)
• United States
5 Jan 19
I passed a store in the airport where these were sold exclusively. For all the good luck, and the hundreds of these good luck cats, there was no one in the line waiting to take one home...so seems like those cats weren't working very well for the store selling them.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
6 Jan 19
An airport shop is too pricey. People must have those cats in their bags already ..If not in their hats
1 person likes this
@porwest (90118)
• United States
9 Jan 19
@responsiveme You are definitely right about airport prices on anything. "One hamburger and a french fry with a small Coke...that'll be $942." 
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
3 Jan 19
They look like they are giving a Nazi salute to me, lol - I like to go on such tours
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
3 Jan 19
I would too. The cat lovers got together and combined business with pleasure1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
5 Jan 19
What a lovely idea and gift too.... We do not have anything like that in the uk or spain...
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
5 Jan 19
Maybe sometime it will come up, it is a good idea
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
3 Jan 19
these maneki neko should bring good luck to those who have them.
1 person likes this
