Nuimap, a nui-katsu app operated by Hoshikaru LLC, held its first offline event, "Nui-Tori Cafe Meetup," at Plumeria Cafe Yokohama on July 2, 2026 (Thursday).
Six participants joined on the day, enjoying a photography lesson from stuffed animal photographer Chiiko — who has around 19,000 followers on Instagram — along with hands-on shooting practice using the cafe's menu and time to connect with fellow participants.
Making use of the cafe's stuffed-animal-friendly interior, rental items available on-site, and photogenic menu items, participants each found their own way to express the world of their favorite things.
A Time to Bond Through Stuffed Animal Photography
Nui-Tori Cafe Meetup was designed not only as a chance to learn stuffed-animal photography, but also to create a space where participants who share the same hobby could connect and enjoy nui-katsu with peace of mind.
Each participant brought along a cherished stuffed animal, and while introducing their favorite series, characters, and everyday nui-katsu routines to one another, they enjoyed both photography and the meal.
Even among participants meeting for the first time, conversation flowed naturally around their stuffed animals and photography, with attendees showing each other their photos and asking one another for shooting tips.
A Photography Lesson from Stuffed Animal Photographer Chiiko
The event opened with a photography lesson led by stuffed animal photographer Chiiko.
The lesson covered tips for capturing cute cafe photos of stuffed animals, including how to compose a shot, choose a background, work with light, pair a stuffed animal with food and drinks, and make use of small props.
Chiiko focused on techniques that could be tried right away with just a smartphone, no special equipment required, and illustrated each point with real photo examples.
With Chiiko's cooperation, a dedicated photo booth for stuffed animals was also set up at the venue. Participants made use of the prepared backgrounds and props to take photos that matched the personality and world of the stuffed animals they brought.
During the hands-on shooting session that followed the lesson, Chiiko went table to table, offering advice tailored to each participant's stuffed animal and the image they wanted to capture.
Participants put what they had learned into practice on the spot, adjusting where they placed their stuffed animals, changing shooting angles, and fine-tuning what appeared in the background.
There were also moments when participants photographed their own stuffed animals alongside Chiiko's. Conversations grew naturally around the stuffed animals and photos, making the session a time for connection between instructor and participants — and among participants themselves — as much as a time for photography.
Stuffed animal photographer Chiiko
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chiiko_nui_photo/
An Environment Made for Nui-Tori at Plumeria Cafe Yokohama
The event was held at Plumeria Cafe Yokohama.
The cafe offers menu items designed to be photographed alongside stuffed animals, including its "Kumachan Mont Blanc" and drinks that come in colors matching fans' favorite characters.
On the day of the event, participants chose menu items to match their stuffed animals or their favorite character's image color, enjoying photography that combined their sweets and drinks with their stuffed animals.
Rental Items That Support Nui-Tori
The cafe also lends out items such as stuffed animal stands to make nui-tori even easier to enjoy.
During the event, participants made use of stands that let stuffed animals sit stably and a table setup suited for photography. Free from worrying about their stuffed animals toppling over, they were able to adjust their compositions and naturally combine their stuffed animals with food and drinks to express their own worlds.
With photogenic menu items alongside facilities and rental items suited to spending time with stuffed animals, the experience extended beyond the meal itself to include time spent thinking through each photo's composition.
Nuimap sees this kind of effort — venues that clearly welcome nui-katsu and make it easy to spend time with stuffed animals — as something that gives users peace of mind and encourages them to visit.
Going forward, Nuimap will continue sharing information about nui-katsu-friendly shops and facilities, helping users discover more places where they can confidently go out with their stuffed animals.
Plumeria Cafe Yokohama
Ozmall: https://www.ozmall.co.jp/restaurant/4357/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plumeria__cafe
Background
Nuimap is a service built around searching for nui-tori spots, posting photos, and connecting with others, all aimed at making nui-katsu — going out and about with stuffed animals — more accessible.
On the app, users share information and photos of places they've visited with their stuffed animals, including cafes, parks, tourist spots, and commercial facilities.
At the same time, hearings conducted with users about enjoying nui-katsu had surfaced feedback such as the following:
- Wanting more opportunities to connect with other nui-katsu users
- Wanting to get better at photographing stuffed animals more cutely
- Wanting to enjoy nui-tori with peace of mind, without worrying about others around them
- Wanting to know which shops and facilities welcome nui-katsu
With this in mind, Nuimap planned Nui-Tori Cafe Meetup as its first real-world event — not just to share spot information on the app, but to create an opportunity for people to enjoy nui-katsu in an actual location and share their favorite things with one another.
Organizer's Comment
Yuki Kunugi, Representative, Hoshikaru LLC
This was Nuimap's very first real-world event, and I was struck by how naturally participants began talking with one another because of their stuffed animals, and how they enjoyed taking photos together.
Nui-katsu is a hobby you can enjoy on your own, but I feel that connecting with people who share the same favorite things, and with places that welcome nui-katsu, opens up even more ways to enjoy it.
Going forward, I'd like to keep connecting people who enjoy nui-katsu with shops and facilities, and increase the opportunities for people to express their favorite things with peace of mind.
Looking Ahead
Nuimap will put the feedback gathered from participants at this event to use in its future service operations and event planning.
Looking ahead, in addition to expanding spot information that nui-katsu users can visit with peace of mind, Nuimap is considering nui-tori photography lessons, meetups, seasonal photography events, and programs run in partnership with shops and facilities.
Nuimap also aims to expand the areas and formats of its events so that those who couldn't join this time, or who would like to see events held in other regions, can take part as well.
Nuimap further plans to explore possibilities for partnering with cafes, restaurants, commercial facilities, accommodations, and tourist facilities that welcome nui-tori, working to connect nui-katsu users with shops and regions.
Nuimap will continue working to make the culture of going out with stuffed animals more accessible, and to build places where everyone can express their favorite things with peace of mind.
Event Overview
- Event Name: Nui-Tori Cafe Meetup
- Date: July 2, 2026 (Thursday)
- Time: 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Venue: Plumeria Cafe Yokohama
- Organizer: Hoshikaru LLC / Nuimap
- Instructor: Stuffed animal photographer Chiiko
- Content: Nui-tori photography lesson, photography using cafe menu items, networking among participants
- Participants: 6
