Travel and food are two of my passions in life. If I have all the time and money, I will travel to places I have never been before, and better yet, make food discoveries along the way. But I have a third passion: cats. Cats have been a part of my life since I was little, and I have taken care of a fair share of them―a total of 10 so far up to now―so they have a special place in my heart.
Japan has something that beckons the attention of cat lovers like me, and they are cat islands. Cat islands are filled with cats; in such cases, they outnumber the human residents there. There are a few cat islands in Japan, and one can be found in eastern Japan. For this article, I will introduce you to the island of Tashirojima (田代島), a paradise not just for cat lovers but also for anyone yearning for something different for their next travel to Japan!
Say hello to Tashirojima
Tashirojima is a small island located off the coast of Ishinomaki city in Miyagi prefecture. The rural island is popularly known as one of the cat islands of Japan because of its high population of cats, where hundreds of them roam the island and even outnumber their human counterparts on the island.
I have never visited Tashirojima, or any cat island in Japan before. I have only seen these islands on television or other media, and I am fascinated to see how hordes of cats freely wander the island. They are the true residents of the island, and I am personally vested to know what it would feel like to be in such a place.
For those interested in paying a visit to the cat island, their journey would start from JR Ishinomaki Station (JR石巻駅) in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture (宮城県). From there, they can make their way to the Ajishima Line (網地島ライン) ferry terminal and take a ferry to the island. There are two ports that visitors can get off at from the ferry. One is the northern port at Ōdomari, and the other is the southern port in Nitoda. Visitors can get off at one of the ports and venture the island on foot, where several roads and walking paths enable visitors to explore.
A brief history
Historically, the island was centred around silkworm production, which attracted a lot of pests, and cats were brought in to address the pest problem. Over time, the feline population increased in contrast to the ageing human population, to the point that the ratio of feline to human population has become approximately 3:1.
On top of being pest controllers, cats are also culturally known to bring good luck to people. Because of that, the locals on the island take good care of the cats. A cat shrine (猫神社 neko-jinja) is built in the centre of the island between Ōdomari and Nitoda villages, in commemoration of a cat that was killed by a falling rock. Word has it that a fisherman felt sorry for the tragic death, and thus built it and buried the cat here.
One important announcement for visitors of Tashirojima, however: rubbish bins, public toilets, restaurants and lodgings are not readily available on the island. Visitors can use the public toilet only at the Nitoda waterfront. Moreover, visitors must bring back all their rubbish when leaving the island.
What’s there on Tashirojima
Visitors will be interested to know that Tashirojima is also home to a campground featuring cat-shaped cabins. Located at the south of Tashirojima, this area is called Manga Island (漫画アイランド) and is operated by the city of Ishinomaki for visitors who want to rent out the cabin for the summer.
Each cabin can accommodate 5-6 people and is equipped with facilities like bedding, shower, kitchen utensils, and cooking equipment. Picnic tables and a lawn area are also available for stayers to use. For those interested, they can find more details at the link here.
Bonus: Muslim-friendly meals in Ishinomaki
There is also a bonus for Muslim travellers: if they are worried about where to get food for their trip to the cat island, fret not. There is a Muslim-friendly restaurant named Yahataya in Ishinomaki, located 12 minutes away from JR Ishinomaki Station by foot. Yahataya has always been about serving quality dishes using local specialty ingredients, and they can customise them to suit our Muslim friend’s diets. Their signature dish is the Hitakami bento, which uses oysters (Miyagi is famous for their oysters). Reservation is required at least a day before departure date for preparing Muslim-friendly dishes. For more information, you can have a look at the restaurant’s website here.
It gets even better, especially for cat lovers. Yahataya’s owner Ms Abe has something special in store for cat-loving visitors: burgers shaped after cats. Named Maki no Neko Burger (まきのねこバーガー), Ms Abe came up with the idea when thinking of a way to revitalise Ishinomaki after the 2011 disaster, wondering how to make the city more fun for visitors.
After learning that people from all over the world visit Tashirojima for the cats, she came up with these cute burgers. For more information on the special burger menu, you can have a look at the dedicated website here.
Yahataya (八幡家)
Address: 2-8-23 Chuo, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi
Access: 12-minute walk from JR Ishinomaki Station (石巻駅)
Closing
It would be a dream for me to visit Tashirojima if I had the time. Cats are my favourite animal, and to be surrounded by them would be a gratifying experience. I think every cat lover (including myself) should make it imperative to visit this island whenever they can; it would be a blissful experience they will not forget.
Tashirojima (田代島)
Address: Tashirohama, Ishinomaki, Miyagi 986-0023
Access: 45-minute ferry ride from Ajishima Line Ferry Terminal
JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area)
The JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) is an affordable pass that offers unlimited train rides on JR East lines, including bullet trains, within the valid area for 5 consecutive days. It’s only ¥30,000, making it a considerable option for rail travellers. Pass holders can also reserve seats online for up to a month in advance for free on the JR-EAST Train Reservation.
Header image credit: 石巻市
