Enter the fascinating world of Instagram famous pets, where a galore of cute animal pictures will keep you scrolling for hours. Check out these 10 Japanese pet Instagram accounts to fill your feed with fluffy furballs and wholesome kawaii content.
Choko wearing an elaborate sushi hat
Image credit: @tamapupu
It is pretty much a given that cats don’t enjoy wearing hats. Any attempt to make them wear one will be tolerated at best, or met with resistance in the form of scratches and hisses.
Pupu craving for some pasta
Image credit: @tamapupu
That is why the internet has fallen in love with these 5 patient cats – Tama, Pupu, Kirara, Kuu, and Choko – who put up with their owner’s antics.
Festive Kuu dressed for the occasion
Image credit: @tamapupu
Scroll through their account and you’ll find intricately designed felted headgear, from a platter of assorted wagashi (traditional Japanese confectionery) to delectable Christmas shortcakes.
Image credit: @tamapupu
Modelled by these adorable cats and handmade by their talented owner, the hats are so intricate that they look like real food.
Image credit: @marutaro
Meet Maru, arguably the most famous Japanese Shiba Inu in Japan. He is so popular that he has over 2.5 million followers on Instagram and an official shop that carries his merchandise.
His internet fame is not without reason – photogenic Maru is always ready to flash a charming smile at the camera.
Maru eating Hiyoko, a popular baby chick-shaped cake from Fukuoka.
Image credit: @marutaro
The page was first started in 2011 by his owner, Shinjiro Ono, after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck the Tōhoku region. Social media feeds back then were flooded with depressing content, so Maru’s dad started posting cute pictures of Maru to bring happiness and help people cope with their loss.
Maru at Nezu Shrine, Tokyo.
Image credit: @marutaro
You probably won’t have the chance to interact with Maru in person, so the closest thing is to visit Maru’s torii gate in Tokyo. According to Maru’s official website, if you upload a picture of yourself beside the gate along with the hashtag #marutorii, Maru will give your post a like.
This animal–donated torii gate in Japan can be found at Nezu Shrine, a lesser–known shrine in a quiet residential area. Walk down the red torii gate path and you’ll spot one engraved with Maru’s name.
Image credit: @kabosumama
Kabosu is a Shiba Inu pedigree puppy who was sent to an animal shelter after her puppy mill was shut down.
Image credit: @kabosumama
Adopted in 2008 by a Japanese kindergarten teacher, Kabosu was named after the Japanese citrus fruit of the same name due to her round face.
The dog behind the doge meme
Image credit: Kabosu112
A picture of her first went viral on Reddit after her owner posted it on her blog. Pictures of Kabosu were shared and reposted all over the internet – much to the surprise of her owner – and the iconic doge meme was born.
Ginnan, Tsutsuji and Onigiri (left to right).
Image credit: @kabosumama
Image credit: @kabosumama
Unexpected internet fame aside, Kabosu is just your average cuddly pup who lives with her 3 cat siblings, Tsutsuji, Ginnan, and Onigiri.
Image credit: @ponchan918
Managed by owner Ayako, the account chronicles her daughter Reina’s daily interaction with two small-clawed river otters.
Image credit: @ponchan918
Followers have fallen in love with the adorable male river otter named Takechiyo and his younger “sister”, Aoi. The account handle, “ponchan”, is frequently mistaken for the otters’ name, but it is actually Ayako’s nickname.
Image credit: @ponchan918
The duo is so popular that they’ve teamed up with publishing companies to release their own calendar and book.
Image credit: @ponchan918
Exotic pets like Takechiyo and Aoi are becoming more popular in Japan, but Ayako urges her followers to do proper research before they consider getting one. After all, wild animals are not the easiest pets to take care of.
Maru (left) and Mugi (right).
Image credit: @rojiman
Cat owners are no strangers to the woes of having everything they own blanketed in cat fur. Instead of discarding the fur shed by their 3 fluffy Scottish Fold cats, a couple in Japan fashions adorable hats out of it.
Nya posing for the camera
Image credit: @rojiman
The hat frenzy all started when owner Ryo Yamazaki started to save his cats’ shed fur. After accumulating a boxful of fur, Ryo decided to make hats out of it.
Mugi as Sherlock Holmes
Image credit: @rojiman
Now, Ryo photographs handcrafted hats modelled by his feline companions while his wife, Hiromi, designs and creates said statement headpieces.
Maru sporting a simple hat
Image credit: @rojiman
The couple has even uploaded a tutorial on how to make a cat fur hat of your own – provided that you can get your hands on a pile of feline fur.
Line stickers of the three cats
Image credit: @rojiman
The couple lives with Maru and Mugi in Tokyo. Although Nya passed away earlier this year, a part of him will forever live on in these charming hats.
Image credit: @itsomamethepug
Cabbage–loving Omame lives in Tokyo with his younger brother, mum, and dad.
First meeting with his younger brother
Image credit: @itsomamethepug
Due to his distinct black bean-shaped facial marking, the pug was aptly named Kuromame (黒豆, black bean). However, everyone affectionately calls him Omame.
Image credit: @itsomamethepug
Originally the only child in the family, Omame was initially confused by the sudden arrival of his human baby brother.
Image credit: @itsomamethepug
Gradually, Omame grew accustomed to his younger brother’s presence and they have since become inseparable.
Cookie (left) and Kanpei (right).
Image credit: @usausausa1201
It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole when you first stumble upon Cookie and Kanpei’s feed. After all, resisting long fluffy ears and wiggling noses is no easy feat.
Image credit: @usausausa1201
Judging by the countless pictures of the adorable bunny duo, Cookie and Kanpei are possibly the cutest pair in the bunny world.
New found hedgehog friend Momo-chan.
Image credit: @usausausa1201
The two inseparable bunnies do everything together, from munching on greens to wearing silly outfits.
With Haru the duck
Image credit: @usausausa1201
Unfortunately, Cookie passed away in July this year. But fret not as Kanpei still has his animal friends, Haru the duck and Momo the hedgehog, to keep him company.
Image credit: @suzume0513
Suzume and Unagi are rescue cats who happen to look exactly the same. When Suzume’s mom first saw Unagi – a carbon copy of Suzume – on the website of a rescue centre in Yamaguchi Prefecture, she knew she had to adopt the kitty.
Image credit: @suzume0513
Like something out of a tale, the two doppelgänger cats met and became brothers for life.
Image credit: @suzume0513
To tell them apart, simply check their eye colour and coat pattern. Older brother Suzume has green eyes and a coat pattern that extends to his arms like a pair of long sleeves, while Unagi has yellow eyes and “short sleeves”.
Image credit: @suzume0513
Besides looking almost identical, the brothers are also equally talented in giving the most endearing “puppy eyes” look that will give actual dogs a run for their money.
Image credit: @kotamamefuku
Don’t be taken aback when you see 3 Shiba Inus’ heads popping out of a wall in a quiet residential area in Shimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture.
Fuku (middle) sticking out a bit too much.
Image credit: @kotamamefuku
The 3 dogs in question, named Kota, Mame, and Fuku, stick their head out through the tiny windows in the fence of their home.
Originally, the windows were meant as holes to facilitate air circulation. But upon noticing how the dogs would always peep through the openings, the owner created more windows around the concrete fence. Now, the trio can gawk at passersby whenever they want from the comfort of their backyard.
Image credit: @kotamamefuku
The sight of the three peeping dogs first captured the hearts of netizens when a tweet of their heads popping out of a slab of concrete went viral in 2016.
Image credit: @kotamamefuku
Now, the residence is a popular attraction for both humans and furry friends. However, visitors should not feed the dogs as they can get upset stomachs easily.
Image credit: @kotamamefuku
You can tell Kota, Mame, and Fuku apart by looking at their collars. Kota, the oldest of the 3, wears a blue collar. Mame, the middle child, sports a red collar, and Fuku wears a yellow collar.
Image credit: @naomiuno
Taking the perfect food photo is not easy. Some carefully arrange the layout of dishes, while others swear by the cardinal rule of using natural lighting.
Image credit: @naomiuno
A Japanese couple has a unique rule they abide by – they only take food pictures with their feline companions in it.
Image credit: @naomiuno
It all started when they noticed that their two curious cats, Hacchan and Okomechan, were observing them during meal times. The couple thus decided to invite them to the table for some family bonding time.
Image credit: @naomiuno
Apart from being excellent models, the patient feline duo also seem to have a knack for food critiquing, often taking a good look at the dishes their owner has whipped up and even trying to sneak a bite.
Many of us may love animals, but we can’t all keep adorable furry companions by our side. However, with these 10 Japanese pet Instagram accounts, you too can get the same warm and fuzzy feeling of having a pet sans commitment.
Check out these articles for more kawaii news:
Cover image adapted from (left to right): @tamapupu and @kotamamefuku
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