If you are a “cat servant,” you definitely won’t want to leave when you visit these two places in Japan.
Aoshima Island
Dubbed “Cat Island,” Aoshima, located off the coast of Ehime Prefecture in Japan, is home to hundreds of different cats. Although the Land of the Rising Sun has many islands with large cat populations, Aoshima is one of the two most famous “paradises” for “cat servants.”
Aoshima Island, where there are more cats than people.
According to CNN, Aoshima Island is nearly 2 km long and currently has about 20 residents, mostly elderly people living with hundreds of cats. Since 1945, cats were brought to Aoshima to catch mice, but they reproduced, and their numbers grew, making the island gradually famous.
Cats here are very easygoing, eat whatever is given to them, and are very friendly with visitors, not at all afraid when facing humans. However, that’s all there is to it because Aoshima is simply an island where Japanese people live with cats, not a tourist destination. There are no shops, hotels, etc., and the residents are not used to too many tourists visiting at once.
Additionally, it is only a 30-minute ferry ride from Ehime’s Ozu, so visitors often just go to the island to see the cats and return the same day.
The residents love the cats, treating them like friends.
Tashirojima Island
Tashirojima Island, nearly 12 km² in size, is located off the coast of Japan’s Oshika Peninsula. Like Aoshima, the cat “residents” here outnumber humans. According to legend, a wounded cat was saved and adopted by a fisherman, and it began to reproduce, leading to the first litters.
Historically, Tashirojima Island was a center for silkworm farming, and cats were kept to protect the cocoons. Currently, the number of cats here has exceeded 200, turning this sparsely populated island into a tourist attraction.
To reach Tashirojima, you will take the Ajishima Line ferry departing from Ishinomaki city, which takes about 40 minutes. The scene greeting you at the port will be cats everywhere, lounging in the sun, playing, and even fighting for food.
As a result, when they see tourists, they will rush over for food with very eager eyes, making it hard to turn away. The “royalty” on Tashirojima are very friendly, so you can be assured of “immersing” in this interesting “paradise.”
Besides visiting the island to play with cats, you can also stop by the cat shrine nestled peacefully in a lush green forest. This shrine is dedicated to the cat deity, believed by locals to bring them peace and good fortune. The shrine is just a 10-minute walk from the island’s center and offers plenty of cute souvenirs to buy as gifts.
Fortunately, on Cat Island, visitors can book accommodations at a nearby campsite or family guesthouses near the pier. However, you will have to book in advance through the island’s website as there is no option to decide on the spot.
