If you like cats, one Sunday in October is worth blocking out. Nyanfes 24 (ニャンフェス24) fills two floors of a public hall in Asakusa with independent creators who make nothing but cat-themed work — jewellery, clothing, ceramics, illustration, zines. Admission is ¥700 if you buy in advance, and the same ticket also gets you into a second animal-themed event downstairs.
This is the 24th edition of the event, and it runs for a single day. Below is everything a first-time visitor needs: the timing, the difference between the two ticket types (they are not just a price difference — the entry times differ), how to reach the venue, and what is actually on sale.
Image: from the official site (nyanfes.com)
The basics at a glance
| Event | Nyanfes 24 (ニャンフェス24), the 24th edition |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, 11 October 2026 One day only |
| Hours | 11:00–16:00 |
| Venue | Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Taito-kan (東京都立産業貿易センター台東館) 5th and 6th floors |
| Address | 2-6-5 Hanakawado, Taito-ku, Tokyo |
| Booths | Around 500 announced; the official site lists roughly 520 across the two floors |
| Admission | Advance ¥700 / same-day ¥500 Free for children below primary school age |
Booth counts vary slightly between the announcement and the official event page, so treat the number as approximate and check the official overview page close to the date.
Tickets: advance ¥700 vs same-day ¥500
The cheaper ticket is the one sold on the day. That sounds backwards until you look at when each one lets you in — the advance ticket buys you the morning, which is when the one-off pieces are still on the tables.
| Ticket | Price | When you can enter | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance ticket | ¥700 | Any time between 11:00 and 16:00 | Sales end once they sell out |
| Same-day ticket | ¥500 | Sold from 13:00; entry from a little after 13:00 | Entry time shifts with how busy the hall is |
Children below primary school age enter free with either ticket. The organisers also note that if the hall goes significantly over its capacity, entry may be restricted — another reason not to plan your whole day around walking up at 13:00.
What is actually on sale
Nyanfes started as a market-style event by cat lovers, for cat lovers, and the line-up ranges from people who only recently started making things to veteran professionals and brands with their own shops or galleries. The categories announced for this edition:
| Category | Typical items | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Accessories & small goods | Pins, earrings, bags, pouches | The most common impulse buy — bring small change |
| Clothing & fashion items | Tops, scarves, socks | Sizes are limited; one-off pieces will not restock |
| Stationery | Masking tape, notebooks, stickers | Easy, light souvenirs |
| Illustration, painting, photography | Prints, postcards, original works | Bring something flat to carry prints home in |
| Ceramics & tableware | Mugs, plates, chopstick rests | Heavy and fragile — buy these last |
| Books & zines | Self-published art books, zines | Small print runs; often cash only |
The part regulars talk about most is not the merchandise but the conversations. Because the makers are standing at their own tables, you can ask how a piece was made and hear the story behind it before you decide — which is the one thing an online shop cannot give you. Visitors also strike up conversations with each other easily, and that easy-going atmosphere is a big part of why the event keeps its audience.
Animare 2: animals beyond cats, same ticket
On the same day, on the 4th floor of the same building, the organisers are running a separate event called Animare 2 (アニマーレ2). The theme widens from cats to animals in general — dogs, birds, pandas, snakes, insects and more.
Getting to Taito-kan in Asakusa
The venue is a five-minute walk from Asakusa, so this is one of the rare Tokyo events where the trip there is already a day out. Three different Asakusa stations serve it:
| Line | Station | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Metro Ginza Line | Asakusa | About 5 min (370 m) |
| Tobu Skytree Line | Asakusa | About 5 min |
| Toei Subway (Asakusa Line) | Asakusa | About 8 min |
Full directions and a floor map are on the official access page. Since Senso-ji temple and Nakamise shopping street are in the same few blocks, it is easy to build a half-day around the event. If you want to finish the afternoon cheaply and locally, Tokyo’s public bathhouses are a good pairing — we have written about the ¥300 half-price sento coupon covering 383 bathhouses.
Coming in from outside Tokyo for the day? Discounted rail options change constantly, and two that are worth knowing are the ¥7,850 three-day JR local train pass and JR East’s 50%-off shinkansen Tokudane fares. Check the sale windows on each before you book.
Practical tips for a first visit
- Carry cash in small notes and coins. Independent makers at handmade markets vary widely in what payment they accept, and there is no guarantee any given booth takes cards or QR payments. Assume cash, treat anything else as a bonus.
- Decide your floor order before you go in. Two cat floors plus the Animare 2 floor is a lot of ground. Sweep once quickly, note the booths you want to return to, then buy.
- Buy fragile and heavy things at the end. Ceramics do not enjoy three more hours in a crowded hall.
- Bring a flat folder or tote. Prints, postcards and zines bend easily on a packed train home.
- Go early if you want the one-off pieces. That is precisely what the advance ticket is for — the same-day ticket does not let you in until after 13:00.
FAQ
- Q. When and where is Nyanfes 24 held?
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, from 11:00 to 16:00, on the 5th and 6th floors of the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Taito-kan at 2-6-5 Hanakawado, Taito-ku, Tokyo. It runs for one day only.
- Q. How much is admission?
- An advance ticket is ¥700 and a same-day ticket is ¥500. Children below primary school age enter free.
- Q. Why would I pay more for the advance ticket?
- Because of the entry time. The advance ticket lets you enter at any point between 11:00 and 16:00, while same-day tickets only go on sale at 13:00 and entry starts a little after that. Advance tickets also stop being sold once they sell out.
- Q. Can I just turn up on the day?
- Same-day tickets are sold from 13:00, and the exact entry time moves depending on how crowded the hall is. If the venue goes well over capacity, entry can be restricted, so turning up is not risk-free.
- Q. Do I need a separate ticket for Animare 2?
- No. Animare 2 is held the same day on the 4th floor of the same building, and your Nyanfes ticket admits you.
- Q. What kind of things are sold there?
- Cat-themed accessories and small goods, clothing and fashion items, stationery, illustration, paintings and photography, ceramics and tableware, and books and zines, from around 500 booths.
- Q. How do I get there from the nearest station?
- It is about a five-minute walk from Asakusa station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line (370 m) or the Tobu Skytree Line, and about eight minutes from the Toei subway.
- Q. Should I bring cash?
- Yes. Payment methods differ from booth to booth at handmade markets, so bring cash in small denominations rather than assuming cards or QR payments will work.