Set among the thousands of small islands that make up the Seto Sea, Tashiro Island in Miyagi Prefecture is distinct for one particular reason. With a ratio of six cats for every human being, felines are king on Japan's most famous animal island. Located off the coast of Sendai, the island is open for tourist admissions and is a must see for both ailurophiles and nature lovers alike.
During the Edo period, many of the residents of Tashiro Island raised silkworms for their textiles, however, a mice epidemic ensured that only a few reached their full potential. As a solution, the local population introduced un-neutered cats to chase away the mice. However, given their busy breeding cycle, the felines soon began to out populate their human co-tenants.
Despite being considered a lucky charm in Japanese culture, the cats of Tashiro are not domesticated and roam throughout the island freely. The island itself is small and is divided between two small port towns that sit at either end.
Much of the information available needed for a visit to Tashiro Island is difficult to obtain or in Japanese, so the following is a brief guide on how to structure your trip.
Nitoda Port
Nitoda Port, your likely arrival destination (see below), is where most of the feline activity takes place. The small town, which appears to be losing a slow battle with reforestation, is home to a myriad of winding alleyways and deteriorating houses. There is not a lot to do in Nitoda expect to wander through the quiet streets where the cats lounge nonchalantly. To the west of the town exists a small museum which exhibits a small collection of printed photography for a small entrance fee.
Manga House
Whilst technically a guest house, non-staying visitors are permitted entrance on the hotel's grounds. Manga House is one of the only accommodation services available on Tashiro and is widely known for its cat-like architecture. Set atop a hill amongst a grassed clearing, Manga is the perfect place to stop for a midday rest and to take in the sweeping views of the crashing ocean below.
Cat Shrine
This is Tashiro's crowning jewel. Located in the forested heart of the island, the cat shrine is a small temple dedicated to Tashiro's furry inhabitants and is a good place to see a lot of cats in one place.
Getting There
Unless you wish to spend the night with your newly made furry friends, transportation to and from the island is extremely limited; so listen up.
Step 1.
Trains leave Sendai for Ishinomaki relatively frequently and take around 1 hour for ¥840. The ferry terminal is a 25-minute walk from the JR Station or a 10-minute bus ride, however, the service is infrequent.
Step 2.
Boats leave three times daily from Ishinomaki to Tashiro Island: 9:00am, 12:00pm, and 3:30pm. Equally, there are three returning ferries: 7:40am, 2:12pm, and 3:33pm. The boat trip costs ¥2460 round trip.
Miscellaneous
The legendary Cat Island itself can be covered in around two hours, however given the distance traveled to arrive in the first place it is recommended that you give yourself around 3-4 hours to make sure you see everything and can comfortably make the last returning ferry.
Whilst feeding the cats is not condoned, we would recommend bringing a small bag of snacks as a means to attract the at times shy feline population out from hiding.
