Meet the Family — Stories of Rescued Animals Living at Washin Village
Imagine waking up to a soft weight on your feet. You peek under the futon and find a cat — not your cat, not a cat you brought here — just a cat who decided that your bed was the right place to be tonight.
That's Washin Village.
Tucked into the satoyama hills of Futtsu City, Chiba — about 70 minutes from central Tokyo — Washin Village is home to roughly 20 rescued animals: 16 cats, 2 dogs, and 2 goats. They aren't exhibits. They aren't attractions. This is simply where they live. And when you stay here, you become a temporary part of their world.
Of 281 Google reviews (average 4.77 stars), the most recurring themes are: "a cat came into my room and made itself comfortable" (15 reviews), "a cat slept in my futon with me" (11 reviews), "a cat climbed onto the bed" (9 reviews). No one trained these cats to do this. They chose to.
The Cats — 16 Personalities, Zero Cages
There are no time limits here. No cages. No glass partitions. Washin Village's 16 rescue cats move freely through every corner of the property — sunbathing on the engawa veranda in the morning, wandering over to investigate your BBQ in the evening, and slipping quietly through an open door at night.
What the data from 281 reviews tells us:
- 32 reviews mention cat interactions — the single most-mentioned category
- 18 reviewers describe the cats as genuinely affectionate
- 15 reviewers mention a cat entering their room and relaxing with them
- 11 reviewers describe waking up with a cat in their futon
- 9 reviewers found a cat had climbed onto their bed
- 6 reviewers note that cats welcomed them when they arrived
These aren't unusual events. This is just Tuesday at Washin Village.
The sun-seeker by the window
Most mornings, you'll find a ginger tabby stretched out in a sunny window, eyes half-closed in contentment. Don't try to pick this one up — it won't work. But pull up a chair beside the window and sit quietly for a while, and you may find a warm weight settling onto your lap without any fanfare at all.
The arrival guide
Four reviewers have described the same phenomenon: pulling into the parking lot for the first time, and finding a cat walking just ahead of them toward the main building — glancing back every few steps, unhurried, as if showing the way. Whether this is intentional remains unclear. The cat, presumably, knows.
The tent visitors
Even guests staying in the Nordisk tents in the forest get visits. Six reviewers mention cats wandering into their tents and settling in for the evening. Five describe a particular cat that would stay until around 9 PM before disappearing into the night. The tent is secluded. The cats found it anyway.
The BBQ attendant
Three reviewers specifically mention a cat that positioned itself beside them for the entire duration of their BBQ — not begging, exactly, just present. There is something quietly companionable about grilling meat in the open air with a cat watching proceedings from a nearby log.
The independent ones
Not every cat at Washin Village will seek you out. Some watch from a distance, curious but self-contained. You might catch a glimpse of a tortoiseshell disappearing around a corner, or notice green eyes observing you calmly from a high beam in the old farmhouse. These cats are not unfriendly. They simply have their own schedule.
The Dogs — 2 Characters
The dogs at Washin Village are the counterbalance to the cats' serene indifference — exuberant, physical, and utterly present.
Morning walks in the satoyama
Three reviewers mention going on a walk with "a strong, large dog" through the property's surrounding paths. There is something particular about being pulled along by an enthusiastic dog through dew-wet grass and cedar trees at 7 AM — your mind empties out in a way that no meditation app can quite replicate.
Ask the staff about arranging a morning walk. It requires some physical confidence, and the dog will absolutely win any contest of strength. But that's part of it.
Sharing the farmhouse
Two reviewers note that one of the dogs joined them in the 200-year-old farmhouse during their stay. Sitting by the irori (traditional sunken hearth) with a dog at your feet, listening to the wood settle in the evening silence — this is not a curated experience. It simply happens.
The Goats — 2 Gentle Presences
Two reviewers specifically mention the goats greeting them upon arrival. There is something immediately disarming about a goat's gaze — unhurried, slightly philosophical, entirely unconcerned with your schedule.
The goats spend their days grazing in their section of the property, occasionally raising their heads to assess any passing humans. Children especially seem to find them magnetic. The sound of goats calling across the hillside in the late afternoon is one of those incidental sounds that, somehow, makes a place feel like somewhere real.
Nine reviewers mentioned interacting with diverse animals beyond the cats — dogs, goats, and silkie chickens included. Washin Village is not a single-note experience.
How to Interact — Three Things That Matter
These animals are rescue animals. Their comfort depends on guests approaching them thoughtfully. The interactions that reviewers treasure most came from the same source: patience.
| Don't | Why | Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Chase the cats | Causes stress and erodes their trust in humans | Sit down, look away, let them come to you |
| Force-hold an animal | Frightens them; affects how they behave with other guests too | Gentle strokes when they approach voluntarily |
| Feed them your food | Disrupts their health management | The staff take care of all feeding |
The cats here have learned, over time, that humans at Washin Village are safe. That trust is worth protecting. A cat who chooses to sleep beside you is a more extraordinary thing than a cat that was placed there.
Your Stay Supports Their Lives
When you book a night at Washin Village, a portion of that fee goes directly to feeding, veterinary care, and daily welfare for the 16 cats, 2 dogs, and 2 goats who live here. No separate donation required. No special action needed. You sleep well; they eat well. It's a simple arrangement that works.
Japan has a significant stray and abandoned animal problem. Washin Village represents one answer: not a shelter where animals wait in cages, but a living situation where rescued animals have a real home, real freedom, and real human contact every day.
"The pace of time here is different. Slower. I could hear the cat purring softly right next to my pillow." — from Google reviews, 281 reviews, average 4.77 stars
Room Options at Washin Village
| Room Type | Price (per night) | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Kominka Farmhouse (200 years old) | from ¥25,000 | Irori hearth, engawa veranda, deep Japanese atmosphere |
| Jyubako (Kengo Kuma × Snow Peak) | from ¥20,000 | 2-person mobile house, all-wood minimalist design |
| Nagayamon Gate House | from ¥30,000 | Historic renovated gate building |
| Nordisk Tent | from ¥18,000 | Forest glamping — cats visit too |
All rooms include: Finnish wood-fired sauna (free for guests), covered BBQ area, bonfire space (free firewood), WiFi, free parking. Check-in 15:00 / Check-out 11:00.
Reservations online only via d-reserve.jp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pet the cats? Can I pick them up?
The cats roam freely and approach guests entirely on their own terms. Chasing or forcing them is not recommended — it stresses the animals and makes them less likely to approach anyone. The approach that works: sit down, wait, look calm. Of 281 reviewers, 15 describe a cat entering their room and relaxing with them, 11 woke up to a cat in their futon. Patience pays off in a very literal way here.
Is Washin Village good for families with children?
Many families visit and the atmosphere is genuinely welcoming for children. It's also a natural setting for teaching children how to interact with animals respectfully — waiting rather than grabbing, observing rather than chasing. Parent supervision during animal interactions is encouraged.
I have a cat allergy. Can I still stay?
It may be difficult. Washin Village's cats move freely throughout the entire property, including guest rooms. If your allergy is mild, consult your doctor before booking. We want every guest — and every animal — to have a comfortable experience.