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Japan's obsession with animals apparently knows no bounds.

After introducing the world to the delight of the cat cafe - where you can stroke a moggie while enjoying a coffee - Tokyo has opened an owl equivalent and it has the locals all aflutter.

A flurry of cafes with feathered hosts have opened in the city, welcoming locals and curious tourists keen to come face to face with an owl.

Feathered friends: Customers are allowed to hold the owls for a photo opportunity

Bird brain: Not all the owls settle exactly where customers want them too

Perfect pets? In Tokyo most people aren't allowed to keep animals in their apartments, so they go to cafes to spend time with cats and owls

Get to know you: Information about the birds is displayed by their perches

Animal eateries are hugely popular in Tokyo, where it is often forbidden to own pets in the city's many apartment buildings.

While cat cafes are abundant, there are still just a few owl retreats, such as the Fukurou no Mise ('Owl Shop') and Tori no Iru Cafe ('The Cafe with Birds') and even the Fukurou Sabou ('Owl Teahouse').

There has understandably been outrage among animal rights groups, claiming that owls are wild and shouldn't be petted for the entertainment of paying customers.

Popular haunt: The Owl Cafe (known as Fukuro no Mise in Japanese) has attracted both locals and foreigners since it opened

Wing it: The owls are tethered so they can't venture too far

Wide-eyed: The unusual Tokyo cafes have attracted interest - and some criticism - from around the world

But the cafes say they have a strict policy in place so that the owls are not harmed.

The number of people allowed into the cafes are severely restricted, meaning its not unusual to see long queues outside and people patiently wait for their fowl encounter.

Customers are also not allowed to touch the owls unless they are with a member of staff.

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Ready for my close-up: The owls have also inspired the menu with bird-themed specials available

Handle with care: Customers aren't allowed to touch the owls without a member of staff present

Loud noise is forbidden and cameras with a flash are not allowed to be used.

After petting the creatures, customers can then tuck into an owl-themed menu, with owl crockery and even food served up decorated with wide eyes and a beak.