The hedgehog cafe
If cat, rabbit, owl, hawk and even snake-themed cafes aren't enough for animal lovers, Japan is now even more spoiled for choice with the addition of a hedgehog-themed cafe for people to chill out with the cute and little animals.
Customers at "Harry" - a play on the animal's name in Japanese - have been lining up to spend time at a bright room in the Roppongi entertainment district where 20 to 30 hedgehogs of different breeds scrabble and snooze in glass tanks.
A board shows a selection of hedgehogs for sale at the new cafe in Tokyo, April 5, 2016. Customers have been queuing to play with the prickly mammals, which have long been sold in Japan as pets. The cafe's name Harry alludes to the Japanese word for hedgehog, harinezumi. Prices are shown in yen.
Hedgehog cafe
A hedgehog sits in a glass enclosure at the Harry hedgehog cafe in Tokyo, April 5, 2016.
"The cutest thing about hedgehogs is getting them to finally open up and show you their face," said cafe worker Mizuki Murata.
Hedgehog cafe
Anna (C), 11, and Yuna Cheung (R), 11, from Great Britain hold hedgehogs as their mother Kimberly Russel watches at the cafe in Tokyo, April 5, 2016.
"All of these hedgehogs are friendly even though some of them might spike you," said Anna Cheung.
Hedgehog cafe
A woman holds one of the cafe residents at the Harry hedgehog cafe in Tokyo, April 5, 2016.
A fee of 1,000 yen ($9) on weekdays and 1,300 yen ($12) on holidays provides an hour of playtime with the cute, but prickly mammals.
Hedgehog cafe
A hedgehog walks next to a mobile phone with a hedgehog cover at the cafe in Tokyo, April 5, 2016.
Staffer Mizuki Murata, who also works in a rabbit cafe in the same building, said the shop had been popular since its February opening, with customers often having to queue.
"We wanted to show people the charm of hedgehogs, which give the impression of being hard to handle. We wanted to get rid of that image by letting people touch them," Murata said.
Hedgehog cafe
A woman takes a selfie with a hedgehog at the cafe in Tokyo, April 5, 2016.
Though hedgehogs are not native to the island national they are very popular as pets.
Hedgehog cafe
A hedgehog stands up in a glass enclosure at the cafe in Tokyo, April 5, 2016.
Most hedgehogs are six to eight inches in length. Adults can sometimes weigh up to two pounds.
Hedgehog cafe
Hedgehogs sit in a glass enclosure at the cafe in Tokyo, April 5, 2016.
Hedgehog cafe
Hedgehogs sit in a glass enclosure at the cafe in Tokyo, April 5, 2016.
Hedgehog cafe
Hedgehogs on display in a glass enclosure at the cafe in Tokyo, April 5, 2016.
Hedgehog cafe
A staff member (L) takes a hedgehog from a glass enclosure at the cafe in Tokyo, April 5, 2016.
Hedgehog cafe
A woman holds a hedgehog at the cafe in Tokyo, April 5, 2016.