Tashirojima is one of 3 cat islands where the number of cat inhabitants overwhelms the humans. Meet these fluffy felines, the shrine dedicated to them, stay the night in a cat shaped cabin, and enjoy the ocean scenery. For health reasons, of course not recommended for those with cat allergies.
Table of Contents
- Introduction to Tashirojima Cat Island
- Touring the Cat Island
- Follow the Island Rules
- Getting to Tashirojima
- Takeaway
Introduction to Tashirojima Cat Island
History of Cats
It is well known that Japan loves cats, but did you know that Japan has cat islands? Yes, multiple!! This time, we introduce Tashirojima 田代島 of Miyagi Prefecture. The start of this cat island is an interesting one. In the late Edo era, the island’s main industry was silkworm production for textile. Pests like mice were a threat to the business and so cats were introduced to the island. The island people were of course grateful to the cats for their help and would feed them food scraps. Even after the silkworm industry died, the cats have remained on the island and are growing in numbers. As the young generation of island residents move to the cities for better life prospects, only the older generation whose numbers are gradually dwindling are left.
Population
There are approximately 200 cats on the island. In contrast, as of March 2020, there are only 61 registered human residents on the Island.
※ JNTO, "Cat Island (Tashirojima)" ※ Ishinomaki City, "Introduction of Tashirojima" ※ Mainichi, “Fluffy felines rule on 'cat island' Tashirojima”
Writer's Pick
Touring the Cat Island
Tashirojima is heaven on earth for cat lovers. There is even a
recommended course prepared by the University of Electro-Communications 電気通信大学 if you want to increase your chances of meeting cats. The pink marks are tourist spots, blue marks are cat gathering spots, and green marks are accommodation facilities.
Aside from meeting the lovely kitties, there’s also several attractions to visit.
Cat Shrine
Aside from getting rid of pests, the cats were also used by fishermen to predict weather and fishing patterns. One day, an unfortunate incident happened when a cat died from a falling rock. To give tribute to the cat, the islanders built Miyori Shrine 美與利大明神 that enshrines the cat as its deity. You can offer cat toys to the Cat Deity and play with the cats in the area.
Access: 21-mins walk from Nitoda Port
※ Visit Miyagi, "Cat Island Tashirojima"
Shima no Eki
Shima no Eki is a rest area. The building was formerly an elementary and middle school that was remodeled in 2016 into a resting area that tourists frequent. Open from 10:00 to 15:00, they also operate a cafe selling proper meals, desserts and drinks. Have a look at the various original cat goods on display, perfect for a souvenir. Outside Shima no Eki is a popular gathering spot for the cats, but just remember not to let them inside the shop!
Access: 4-mins from Miyori Cat Shrine (above)
Manga Island
Tashirojima is also called Manga Island. Why? You can find a manga themed camping area where you can spend the night at reasonable prices. The tent site costs 1,520 yen a night. Don’t have any equipment? No worries as they offer rentals at only 1,500 yen extra. To make the trip extra special, consider spending the night in a cat cabin. A small cabin costs 8,140 yen, whilst a large cabin costs 9,160 yen. The inside of the cabins are dedicated with cat drawings by artists like Tetsuya Chiba who is best known for Ashita no Joe.
NOTE: As part of the Measures to Prevent Spread of Coronavirus, reservations are allowed for Miyagi Prefecture residents only until further notice.
Access: 15-mins walk from Nitoda Port
※ Umimachi Enpaku, “Tashirojima Manga Island Reservations” ※ Ishinomaki City, "Manga Island"
Kuroneko-do
Or Black Cat Hall, is another rest area in Tashirojima. They also sell original goods that make for great souvenirs. Aside from that, they run a Tashirojima History Museum where you can learn about the history of Cat Island and browse the photo collection.
In collaboration with the University of Electro-Communications, they have also prepared “Resident Cards” for the cats that frequent the Hall. How cute!
Access: 5-mins walk from Nitoda Port
Follow the Island Rules
The Cat Republic Society was set up in 2011 to look after the island’s cats. They were also responsible for setting up the Shima no Eki (above) as a tourist rest stop. For the cats health and wellbeing, they have requested visitors to abide by the following:
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Do not feed the cats.
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Don’t take photos in the middle of the road.
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Do not move kittens away from where you found them.
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Do not trespass on private property whilst chasing cats.
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Please bring home your rubbish with you.
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NO DOGS.
Keep in mind that though these cats roam freely, they are also being taken care of by the Society. Overfeeding or being fed the wrong thing is bad for the cats. In the case of the kittens, separating them from their mothers is very dangerous for them. We recommend bringing a rubbish bag to bring your rubbish home with you. A ship comes to collect rubbish once a week, so if there’s too much litter, it’ll be problematic for the islanders.
※ Tashirojima Cat Repu, “「猫島」田代だっちゃ！”
Getting to Tashirojima
Since Tashirojima is an island, and a small one at that, the only way to get to it is by ferry. But first, you will need to make your way to the ferry terminal:
From Sendai Station, get to Ishinomaki Station via the JR Senseki-Tohoku Line. Walk 15 minutes to Ajishima Line Chuo Port. From here, you can get a ferry operated by Ajishima Line to Tashirojima for 1,250 yen (cash only).
※ Ajishima Line, “Schedule” “Fees”
Takeaway
Tashirojima is THE holiday destination for cat lovers. Many of the cats here are friendly and will allow you to pat or cuddle them. Spend the night in a cat cabin after a day of kitty cuddling and nature sighting. Abide by the rules, and most importantly have fun in this Neko Paradise!
