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When you step off at Odoriba Station on the Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line, you find yourself in a mysterious space, as if being invited to a secret ball of cats. The station’s name, “Odoriba,” originates from a legend that cats used to gather here every night, don towels on their heads, and dance together.
After passing through the ticket gates, you’ll see small cat paw prints scattered across the floor, as if guiding you somewhere. On the walls, enormous cat eyes are painted, their gentle gaze watching over visitors. At the landings of the stairs, images of dancing cats are depicted on the ceiling, filled with a sense of lively movement as if they might start dancing at any moment.
The roofs of exits 1 and 3 are designed to resemble cat ears, making the entire building a symbol of a cat. These thoughtful details revive the legend of the cats in the present day, quietly telling their story to all who visit.
Just outside the station stands a stone monument called “Odoriba no Hi.” It was erected in 1737 to console the spirits of cats and to pray for the safety of the community, and it is still carefully protected by local residents today. Around the monument, cat figurines and flowers are placed, bringing comfort to visitors.
The story of “Neko no Odoriba” passed down in this area tells of Tora, a cat once kept at the Mizumotoya soy sauce shop in Totsuka-juku, who would take a towel every night and dance with other cats. One moonlit night, the owner witnessed this scene and was surprised to see the cats joyfully dancing with towels on their heads. As this story spread, villagers began to call the hill “Odoriba.”
Around the station, there are various spots related to the cat legend. For example, at Odoriba Park, about a five-minute walk from the station, there is a log house called “Nyanpaku Fortress” where children can play, featuring cat-themed playground equipment and decorations. Walking along the lush, green paths in the park, you can feel as if you are following in the footsteps of the cats.
Every year on February 22, “Cat Day,” the “Odoriba Neko Festival” is held inside the station, with photos of cats submitted by local restaurant owners and others on display, and the whole community celebrates the cat legend with various events.
Odoriba Station is more than just a transportation hub—it is a heartwarming space where the legend of the cats and the present day are fused together. Visitors can search for cat motifs in and around the station, letting their thoughts wander to the cat balls that once took place in this area.