The pet shop "Animal Crossing: Ho-san's House" (1 Furukawa, Aomori City) will relocate from Aipura to Furukawa and open on November 23rd.

Based on the concepts of ``enjoying seeing and touching'' and ``learning about life through interacting with animals,'' the store not only exhibits and sells animals, but also provides ``interacting'' as a service. The store's name, ``Ho-san,'' comes from the fact that the store's symbol, the miniature pig ``Hawk,'' is called ``Ho-san.''

``I want to create a place where children can learn about the importance of life by interacting with animals,'' said the owner, Takei Makuto, who opened the store in a corner of his home (Aipura) in September. It opened. It all started when he was an elementary school student and saw the rabbit he was raising at school get injured and die suddenly. After graduating from high school, she entered a vocational school to study veterinary nursing, believing that ``we need to cherish small lives even more.'' He started the store after having the opportunity to learn about the current situation of pets at an animal welfare facility and working at a pet shop. As the number of rabbits, guinea pigs, and other animals they handle increased and the store became too small, they decided to move to Furukawa.

The relocated store will display and sell approximately 40 types of small animals in cages. In addition to hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, and hedgehogs, you can also experience interacting with and feeding reptiles such as leopard geckos and snakes. In order to prevent zoonotic diseases, we have a rule that customers must be disinfected upon entering the store and after each animal is touched.

The price for one 2-hour "animal interaction" is 990 yen for adults, 770 yen for middle school and high school students, 550 yen for children 4 years old to elementary school age, and free for children under 3 years old. A separate order for drinks (cans/plastic bottles) is required (110 yen). Feeding fees (starting at 110 yen) are also required for the feeding experience.

On November 19th, the pre-opening day, many families were seen visiting the store. Ryuhei Toki, who came from the city with his family, said with a smile on his face, ``I brought the children because I wanted them to be interested in and love all kinds of animals.I'm glad they had fun even though they were scared.'' .

Mr. Takei says, ``Some people are unable to keep pets due to various reasons.We want people to enjoy the fluffy feeling of rabbits and guinea pigs, and spend some relaxing time interacting with cute animals.Feel free to ask questions about things you don't know, such as how to care for them. I want you to listen to me,” he says, inviting people to come to the store.

Business hours are 10:00 to 19:00. Closed on Thursdays.