15 Best Cat Island Across Japan


2021.01.07

NAVITIME TRAVEL EDITOR

15 Best Cat Island Across Japan

Stray cats can be found in many of the places in Japan and it's hard to distinguish which area is really considered as a “cat island”. However, relatively known to those in the know, there are about 15 islands considered as a “cat island” where cats are living in harmony with the residents.

  • 01

    Tashirojima Island

    The small island of Tashirojima is located near the Oshika Peninsula in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture and in recent years, it has become known as the island of cats and manga. Today, the island has a thriving tourism industry that caters to fishermen, anglers, and tourists, and is literally a "cat island," with more cats than people living there. It even has a cat shrine, “Neko Jinja” where the "cat god" is enshrined.

    Tashiro Shima
    place
    Miyagi Ishinomaki-shi Tashirohama Hoka
    phone
    0225951111
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  • 02

    Enoshima

    The closest "cat island" for tourists and city residents coming to Tokyo is located in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of the capital city. Enoshima is a walking distance from Katase Enoshima Station, and can be reached by crossing the bridge at the end of the passage in front of the station. It is very famous for the shrine in the cave and the legend of the Tennyo and the five dragons associated with Enoshima. The nearby beach is popular during summer for surfers, sunbathers, and festival-goers.

    Enoshima
    rating

    4.5

    1094 Reviews
    place
    Kanagawa Pref. Fujisawashi Enoshima
    phone
    0466224141
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    173 ON THE ISLAND enoshima private villa 江の島仲見世通り徒歩3分にある1日1組限定の貸切別荘

    Enoshima 1-7-3 Kamakura

    Agoda
  • 03

    Okishima

    Not all cat islands are located by the sea. Okishima floats in the middle of Lake Biwa, which holds the largest volume of fresh water in Japan. Only 350 people live in the small fishing town on the island, and the main means of transportation on the island is by bicycle. The cats living here have no fear of being run over by cars.

    Oki Shima
    place
    Shiga Omihachiman-shi Okishimacho
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  • 04

    Aoshima Island

    Aoshima in Ozu City, Ehime prefecture is a "cat paradise" and this is a very small island with a circumference of only 4.2 km. And surprisingly to know, for every 16 residents, there are more than 100 cats. To get to the island, visitors can take a regular boat twice a day from Nagahama Port, about a minute's walk from JR Iyo Nagahama Station, which basically gives priority to islanders. The island is small and not a tourist destination, so there are no guest houses, stores, or vending machines.

    Aoshima Island
    place
    Ehime Ozu-shi
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  • 05

    Sanagi Island

    Sanagi Island, a remote island in the Seto Inland Sea which belongs to Kagawa Prefecture, is only 4 km in circumference. And has a population of less than a hundred. This island got popular due to photos of cats flying over a break in the embankment which went viral on social media. Since then, many visitors take a trip here to grab a shot of the cats flying.

    Sanagishima Hon-ura Port
    place
    Kagawa Pref.
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  • 06

    Muzukijima Island

    Muzukijima Island is one of the islands of the Kutsuna Islands in the Seto Inland Sea.
    The Kutsuna Islands are made up of more than 30 islands, including uninhabited islands, with the main island being Nakajima (the main island). Unlike other islands where the fishing industry is thriving and attracts cats, this Muzukijima Island is famous for its citrus cultivation including mandarin oranges and iyokans. Coincidence or not, the island has many “orangish” colored cats.

    Muzukijima Island
    place
    Ehime Matsuyama-shi
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  • 07

    Ogijima Island

    The population of Ogijima Island is only about 180 people with more than 200 cats. This island is also one of the islands that partakes in the Setouchi Triennale – an art festival that happens every three years across the wider region. As a result various pieces of modern art can be found about the island.

    Ogijima
    place
    Kagawa Takamatsu-shi Ogicho
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  • 08

    Manabeshima Island

    Manabeshima Island is a small island in the Seto Inland Sea in Okayama Prefecture about 8 kilometers in circumference. The island has a reputation for having more stray cats than islanders. In addition to the cats, the island has been used as a set location for many movies and the guest houses there offer dishes made from fresh seafood from the surrounding seas are popular among many visitors.

    Manabeshima
    place
    Okayama Kasaoka-shi Manabeshima
    phone
    0865632111
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  • 09

    Shukushima Island

    Shukushima is a heart-shaped island with a circumference of 12 km in the Seto Inland Sea, belonging to Yamaguchi Prefecture.The topography of the island is such that the mountains close in on the sea, and the houses are concentrated on the narrow flat land to form villages. The main industries are fishing, agriculture, and tourism and there are inns, guest houses, and restaurants on the island.

    Iwaishima Island
    place
    Yamaguchi Kumage-gun Kaminosekicho
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  • 10

    Ainoshima Island

    Ainoshima Island located in Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City, is a small island northwest of the Kanmon Strait. The island is rich in nature and used to be a place where agriculture was practiced in the old days, but nowadays, fishing is the main industry. The number of residents on this island is about 250 and famous for its cats, which are as numerous as the residents. On weekdays and weekends, many people visit the island to see the cute cats as the island is a quick and easy 35minute ferry ride from Kokura port.

    Ainoshima Island
    place
    Fukuoka Kitakyushu-shi Kokurakita-ku Ainoshima
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  • 11

    Aijima Island

    Aijima, located in Kitakyushu, is a place where time flows very slowly and tranquilly and is one of the world's top six cat spots plus a popular tourist destination for people from all over Japan and the world. The island is very small, with a circumference of about 13 km, and is made up of only a few islanders, about 100 households and a population of less than 300. The island is also known for having as many cats as its population. In recent years, the island has become popular among cat lovers, and the number of tourists has increased rapidly along with its popularity.

    Ainoshima Island
    place
    Fukuoka Kasuya-gun Shingumachi
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  • 12

    Genkai Island

    Genkai Island is one of the islands in Nishi-ku, Fukuoka Prefecture, and is also very famous as a cat island. The island is rich in nature, has delicious seafoods, and is easily accessible from Fukuoka City. Surrounded by the sea, Genkai Island is also known as one of the best fishing spots in Fukuoka City, and you can see cats waiting for fishermen to give them away.

    Genkaijima Island
    place
    Fukuoka Fukuoka-shi Nishi-ku
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  • 13

    Kakarashima Island

    Kakarashima Island is located in the Genkai Sea, about 4 km north of the Higashimatsuura Peninsula in Saga Prefecture. The island is surrounded by steep cliffs and on a clear day, visitors can see the Korean Peninsula from a park on the island's hill. The island is also a great place for fishing, and there are many cats living on the island that attract many tourists.

    Kakarashima Island
    place
    Saga Karatsu-shi
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  • 14

    Yushima Island

    Yushima, located in Kamiamakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture, is a small island with a circumference of about 4 km, located in the center of the Ariake Sea. The residents live on the south side of the island, and the roads are narrow and steep, so the main means of transportation is on foot. The island has a thriving fishing industry, and the island's cats can always be seen coming to the harbor for a fresh seafood. There is a statue of a cat at the harbor which implies the visitors that this is literally a "cat island".

    Yushima Island
    place
    Kumamoto Kamiamakusa-shi
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  • 15

    Taketomi Island

    Surrounded by the cobalt blue sea, Taketomi Island has a relaxed atmosphere. Compared to other cats islands, there are more residents than cats. The islanders take very good care of these cats and do not call them "stray cats," but rather "wild cats. In such a warm environment, the cats are often seen sunbathing everywhere.

    Taketomi Island
    place
    Okinawa Pref. Yaeyamaguntaketomichou Taketomi
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