Cat Lovers Can’t Miss Tokyo’s Giant Interactive 3D Cat Billboard

Written by

Arielle Tschinkel
Arielle Tschinkel
Arielle Tschinkel is a freelance pop culture and lifestyle writer whose work has appeared on Shape.com, WomansWorld.com, FirstforWomen.com, Insider, HelloGiggles, and more. She loves all things Disney and is making her way to every park around the world, and is a die-hard…read more
published Jul 30, 2021
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
Credit: Samuel Ponce/Shutterstock.com

When it comes to destinations that should be on everyone’s travel bucket list, Tokyo, Japan certainly holds high ranking; the glittery metropolis is chock full of things to do and see for visitors of all ages, and there’s always something new to discover.

Cat lovers, in particular, will find plenty to behold in Tokyo. Aside from the many famous cat cafes sprinkled around the city where you can enjoy a treat or two and cuddle with some feline friends, the latest attraction taking over Tokyo is none other than a giant interactive 3D cat billboard, which looms large over one of the busiest thoroughfares in the city all day long.

CNN reports that the “Shinjuku cat” — aptly named for its central location over the bustling Shinjuku train station — is a calico cat that comes to life each day on a 1,664-square-foot curved LED screen in sparkling 4K resolution, making it look extremely realistic to the nearly 200,000 daily passersby.

The cat’s daily routine happens between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m, changing throughout the day to mimic an actual cat’s movements. It’s startled awake in the early morning, before meowing at onlookers throughout the day, ending its day by falling asleep with its head tucked between its paws.

The official launch date was July 12, though the super high-tech installation attracted tons of attention during test runs. The development company, Cross Shinjuku Vision, has a Twitter feed with updates on the newly famous feline in Japanese, but don’t fret if you’re unable to visit in person.

There’s also a YouTube channel where viewers from all over the world can see the cat in action whenever they’d like to check in. It’s unclear how long the installation will stay up, but given the impressive technology and innovation at hand, it’s sure to be awe-inspiring no matter what ideas they dream up next.