Cat Islands in Japan

Tashirojima in Miyagi Prefecture and Aoshima in Ehime Prefecture are the two most famous cat islands. Tashirojima is known for its cat shrine (Neko Jinja), while Aoshima gained worldwide attention for having over 120 cats and only 6 human residents.

Most cat islands are reached by ferry from a nearby port. Ferry durations range from 10 to 70 minutes. Some locations like Enoshima and Onomichi are connected to the mainland and accessible without a ferry.

The islands themselves are free to visit. You only need to pay for the ferry ride (typically ¥500-2,000 round trip depending on the island). There are no entrance fees.

Bringing cat food is generally welcome and appreciated. Avoid feeding human food to the cats. Some islands have designated feeding areas. Always clean up after feeding.

Cat islands have existed for decades as natural communities where cats and humans coexist. Many islands have volunteer organizations managing cat health, including TNR (trap-neuter-return) programs. Respectful tourism helps support these communities economically.