9 Cat Islands in Japan! A Healing Trip to the "Best" Mecca for Cat Lovers

Where are the cat islands? Introducing 9 cat islands across Japan

Japan's cat islands are widely scattered from Miyagi Prefecture in the north to Okinawa Prefecture in the south. There are various theories as to why cats settled on islands in the first place, including that there were many fishermen on the islands, so the cats were fed the fish that were exterminated, that they were kept to protect stockpiles of grain from rats, and that the low traffic volume made it an easy place to live.

On the islands, cats can be seen everywhere, lazily lying on the beach or running around happily in the back alleys, living freely. In this article, we will explore the charms of cat islands across Japan, where islanders and cats live in harmony.

Cat motifs can be found everywhere! "Tashirojima" (Miyagi Prefecture)

The only cat island in Tohoku is Tashirojima, located off the coast of Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Although the island has only about 60 residents, the number of tourists visiting the island exceeds 40,000 people per year at its peak, making the island synonymous with cat islands among cat lovers.

Long ago, silkworm farming was carried out on Tashirojima, and one theory is that the reason for the increase in cats is that cats were kept to protect the cocoons from mice.

Also, Tashirojima has long been a fishing island, and legend has it that the fishermen of the island were able to predict the weather at sea by the cat's behavior. A local fishing boss enshrined a cat that died in an accident at the Cat Shrine in the center of the island, and the cat has become so important to the islanders that it has come to be regarded as the guardian deity of large catches.

On the island, cat motifs can be found everywhere, including in accommodations and souvenir shops. The island is 11.5km in circumference, so it can be walked around in about 2-3 hours, so try exploring while searching for hidden cat motifs as well as the cats that live there freely.

Tashiro Island

Manabe Island (Okayama Prefecture), which was also used as a filming location for the movie

Manabe Island, located in the Kasaoka Islands of Kasaoka City in western Okayama Prefecture, is a tranquil island that retains the appearance of a traditional fishing village. It has also been used as a filming location for many movies, including "Gokumon Island" (1977), "Setouchi Boys Baseball Team" (1984), and most recently "Radiation House" (2022).

This island has a population of about 170 people, and cats live freely here; they may even greet you at the dock.

The island is compact, with a circumference of just 8km, so you can easily get around on foot. If you follow the guide boards on the island to visit the island's famous sites, cats will come to you wherever you go, making it a must-see for cat lovers.

If you come to Manabe Island, you should definitely stop by Manabe Junior High School, which was used as a location for the TV drama "Setouchi Boys Baseball Team."

The retro wooden school building, which makes you feel as if you have traveled back in time, is still in use more than 70 years after it was built. Enjoy meeting the cats as you stroll around the island.
*Due to the deterioration of the building, it is not possible to tour the interior.

Manabe Island

"Iwaishima Island" (Yamaguchi Prefecture) - a place where exotic scenery still remains

Iwaishima Island, located in Kaminoseki Town, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a small island with a circumference of 12km, located on the border between the Suo-Nada Sea and the Iyo-Nada Sea. As it is located at a key point for maritime traffic in the Seto Inland Sea, the island has a very long history, and even appears in the Manyoshu. Currently, the island is thriving not only in fishing, but also in organic farming and tourism.

It is famous for its "Kamimai Shinto Ritual" that has been passed down for over 1,000 years, and its stone-built villages, and in 2006 it was selected as one of the "100 Best Historical and Cultural Assets of Fishing Villages to be Preserved for Future Generations."

As you walk around the island, the first thing that catches your eye are the stone-built mortar walls. These walls are made by stacking alternating layers of kneaded earth and stones, then coating the surface with plaster. They are said to have been built to protect houses from typhoons and winter seasonal winds, and are a sight that evokes a somewhat exotic atmosphere.

As you stroll through the stone-built village, you may encounter cats popping out from time to time or walking on the top of the mortared walls. The nostalgic stone walls and the sight of the cats playing together make for a very picturesque sight. The houses on the island are generally built low, so it is common to see cats taking naps on the roofs. Try to capture the natural cats blending into the townscape on your camera.

Iwai Island

Sanagi Island (Kagawa Prefecture) where "cat jumping" became a hot topic on social media

Sanagi Island, located in Tadotsu Town, Kagawa Prefecture, is an island located exactly halfway between Kagawa and Okayama prefectures. It is located southeast of the aforementioned Manabe Island. It is a small island with a population of less than 100 people, and is also known for having a shrine dedicated to Tengu.

What made Sanagi Island famous was the sight of a cat gliding along the pier at the port. This became a hot topic on social media, and now many tourists and even professional photographers visit the island to take photos.

Of the two settlements on the island, this jumping cat can apparently be seen at Motoura Port, located in the south. However, cats are quite moody, so you'll have to wait patiently for the right timing.

Ferries to Sanagi Island operate four times a day, so if you take a morning ferry you can relax. There is also the island's only guesthouse, run by a cat-loving owner, so we recommend staying the night. There are other cat islands in Kagawa Prefecture, so you can enjoy island hopping between them.

Sanagi Island

Aoshima (Ehime Prefecture), a paradise for cats in the Seto Inland Sea that has attracted attention from overseas

Aoshima, located in Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture, is a small island that was originally uninhabited. It is said that people began to live on the island in 1639 when fishermen discovered that it was a good fishing ground for sardines and moved there. It is said that cats, who were kept to exterminate mice that chewed on nets, began to breed and increase in number because there were no natural predators such as cars or dogs.

Aoshima, where the population is currently around 10 people but about 100 cats live, is full of cats everywhere. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many foreign tourists were seen on the island after a video of animal photographer Mitsuaki Iwago visiting Aoshima spread around the world.

Aoshima does not have any restaurants, shops, or vending machines, so please bring only the bare necessities with you: drinks, lunch, disinfectant wipes, etc. When you want to eat lunch, the waiting room, where cats are not allowed, is convenient.

On this island, where you can enjoy spending time with cats to your heart's content, there are a few rules to follow: Feed the cats at designated feeding areas, take your trash home, do not disturb the islanders' lives... Please follow these rules when playing with the cats so that the islanders and cats can live comfortably.

Qingdao

Aoshima, a happiness spot known as the "Island of Love" (Fukuoka Prefecture)

Ainoshima Island in Fukuoka Prefecture was chosen as one of the "6 Best Cat Spots in the World" by the American website CNN.com in 2013, and is home to around 100 cats living freely there.

Ainoshima is also known as "Love Island" because its shape resembles a heart.

In addition to historical sites such as the group of stone mounds from the Kofun period and the wharf of Korean envoys from the Edo period, there are also scenic spots such as the 20m-high sea cave called Megane-iwa and Hanagurise, making it a popular island visited not only by cat lovers but also by travel enthusiasts and couples. Many of the sights are located along the 5.4km circular road, so it's a good idea to go on a cat hunt while touring the tourist spots.

Ainoshima Island has many fishing spots, so it is visited by many anglers. You can also see cats waiting for a catch around the port. Ainoshima Island, which is located in the Genkai Sea, is very windy, so in the cold season, cats gather together in clusters here and there. This adorable sight has become a seasonal feature of winter.

Ainoshima

Meet friendly cats on "Kara Island" in the northernmost part of Saga (Saga Prefecture)

There is another cat island in the Genkai Sea: Karakara Island, located on the northern side of the Higashimatsuura Peninsula in Saga Prefecture.

Karakuri Island was formed by an eruption about 2.55 million years ago. The entire island is made of lava flows, and is surrounded by steep cliffs. There is also a legend that King Muryeong, king of Baekje during the Three Kingdoms period of ancient Korea, was born on this island, and on clear days you can see the entire Korean peninsula from the park on the hill.

In fact, there are no dogs on Katara Island, so it is said that the cats on the island can live there in peace. One theory is that a dog once angered Yasaka Shrine on the island, and since then it has been taboo to keep a dog. Instead, people started keeping cats, and before long the island became a cat island.

Many of the cats are used to cameras, so try capturing their daily lives with your camera. Why not go out and see the cats living their lives leisurely?

Karatsu Island

Yushima (Kumamoto Prefecture): An island where the whole island celebrates cats

Yushima, located in the middle of the Ariake Sea, is also known as the "Discussion Island" because the rebels from Amakusa and Shimabara gathered here to discuss matters during the Amakusa-Shimabara Rebellion. Many cats come to the port in search of fish caught during fishing.

Yushima has a circumference of about 4km, and the southern part of the island is a residential area. The roads are narrow and there are many steep slopes, so there are hardly any cars on the island. Therefore, cats can relax proudly even in the middle of the road.

Yushima has many idol cats that are famous among cat lovers, and they will strike a spectacular pose when you point your camera at them. Be sure to find your favorite cat among the many cats.

In Yushima, where the residents take care of the cats, there are information boards posted all over the island that tell you where you can find the cats. If you follow these signs while walking around, you're sure to come across some lovely cats.

There are also restaurants and guesthouses on the island, so please try them out depending on the length of your stay.

Yushima

Taketomi Island (Okinawa Prefecture): Relax with the cobalt blue sea and cats

Many cats live on Taketomi Island in Okinawa Prefecture, a popular resort area. You can see cats living freely among Okinawa's iconic landscapes of rows of wooden red-tiled houses and the cobalt blue sea.

The cats of Taketomi Island are loved by the islanders as part of the island. There is even a hut for stray cats at Kondoi Beach, the island's only swimming beach, where hungry cats sometimes come to play, looking for food.

As expected of a tropical country, the cats are hot during the day, so you are more likely to encounter them at night. If you walk through the village at night, you may come across cats lying down on the eaves of houses to cool off, or cats perched on top of stone walls. There are plenty of accommodation options, so you can play with the cats at any time.

Taketomi Island

Things to note when visiting Cat Island

Even though it's called Cat Island, cats aren't the only creatures that live there. In order to respect the lives of the islanders and the cats, please observe proper etiquette while sightseeing on Cat Island. Here are some points to keep in mind when sightseeing on Cat Island.

Additionally, some islands with elderly people and inadequate medical systems are urging people to refrain from traveling due to the impact of COVID-19. If you plan to visit an island, be sure to check the latest precautions in advance on websites and social media.

The cats that live freely on Cat Island are friendly and show a variety of behaviors and expressions. Why not take a trip to forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life, feel the slow flow of island time, and be soothed by the adorable cats?

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