Lucky Cat Museum in Ohio

The Lucky Cat Museum is owned and operated by a local collector named Micha Robertson. This "house" houses over 700 cats and cat-themed items. More specifically, it's a gathering place for Lucky Cats – also known as Maneki Neko, which in Japanese means "waving cat," with one paw raised in a welcoming gesture. In Asia (including Vietnam), you'll find these cats behind shop windows or at checkout counters and reception desks in restaurants everywhere.

Maneki Neko were considered lucky charms during the Edo period in Japan. And collectors today continue to believe that these cheerful cats bring good fortune to those who display them. If so, then Micha Robertson must be the luckiest! She began collecting Lucky Cat-related items over a decade ago. When her collection of waving cats exceeded the storage space in her home, she decided to move them to Cincinnati's Essex Studios – a former garment factory converted into an artist's workspace. This collection has since grown and has become the Lucky Cat Museum – one of several Maneki Neko museums around the world.

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Currently, this place is home to over 700 lucky cats in various forms, from household items like lamps and clocks to plush toys, paintings, clothing, keychains, bells, books and stationery, and even expensive collections crafted by Japanese designers. The museum even boasts a cat-themed casino, a bank, and a giant inflatable Maneki Neko cat figurine on the premises.

You can interact with and experience many "forms" of Lucky Cat in this quirky museum, from a golden egg machine to a karaoke toy. One of the attractions of Lucky Cat is its charming mix of retro vinyl record collections, high-end artwork, and fun children's games. Whether you're an antique enthusiast or simply a cat lover, you'll find something to fascinate you here. And be sure to know whether to raise the cat's left or right paw when owning a Maneki Neko! Robertson shares that those who raise the cat's right paw are often hoping for prosperity, while cats raising their left paw will bring more customers to your shop.

The Lucky Cat Museum also has limited visiting hours to accommodate Robertson's work schedule. You can visit the museum from Tuesday to Saturday between 3 and 6 p.m. There are four extended visiting hours each year, from 3 to 10 p.m., usually during Cincinnati's arts events. A typical museum visit lasts 30 to 45 minutes, and remember to bring your camera to capture plenty of adorable cat photos.