Aoshima might be the most famous cat island in Japan. Its nickname “Cat Island” is no exaggeration because there are only 15-20 residents on the island but more than 120 cats, about 6 times the human population!
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Since the cats on Aoshima Island have been cared for and pampered down many generations, they are docile and friendly. You can feed, pet, or just straight up chill out with them, and who knows, you might even discover a thing or two about yourself, in the process.
Felines were introduced to combat rodents on fishing boats, but remained on the island and reproduced in large numbers. The feline inhabitants of Aoshima are fed by food donations from all over Japan. The cats also eat the small creatures of the island and some food from visitors.
Aoshima: The Most Famous Cat IslandThe island itself is 1.6km long. The reason cats first made it to the island is because of fishermen who wanted to deal with the local rodent problem. However, after the rats were gone, the cats stayed and had a population boom.
Cats were originally introduced on ships because the fisherman had to deal with a rodent problem. But the cats then remained on the island and reproduced, thus the population increasing almost exponentially.
Aoshima (Cat Island) Featured inIn fact, the place is almost deserted, with only around 16 individuals living there, but the habitat undoubtedly belongs to 160 cats. Veteran human residents will tell you stories of how it came to be so. Around 800 fishermen who once lived there, left the island for better fortune.
With relaxing walks and ocean views, Tashirojima is a great place to visit for the day from Ishinomaki or even stop overnight in a guest house or in the Manga Island resort. However, it is worth noting that the island is largely traditional and there are few tourist facilities other than Manga Island.