The first permanent snake café is in Tokyo, Japan – and, while it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, for reptile lovers it could prove the ultimate chance to get up close and personal with their scaly favourites. Tokyo Snake Center in the trendy district of Harajuku has 35 snakes or “attendants” to choose from – all non-venomous – and customers can pick one to enjoy as a table companion. Waiters are on hand to outline the café rules and snake handling etiquette.

The cover charge includes one drink to sip as guests sit and admire their new no-legged friends. The menu includes non-alcoholic beverages, such as iced coffee, fruit tea and mango milk, and alcoholic drinks, including beer, sangria and rum apple squash. There are also cakes on offer, plus savoury dishes such as hotdogs, quiches and curries. For an extra Y540, visitors can pet any of the 20 varieties of snake – from the Trans-Pecos rat snake to the jungle carpet python, the Brazil rainbow boa to the Honduran milk snake.