If you are a cat lover, you must have noticed the influence that cats have in Japan. Throughout Japan’s history, some islands have been dominated by cats, having more cats than people. In this article, we will look at 20 of these islands.
For these islands, the Japanese created the expression Nekojima [猫島], which literally means island of cats. According to my research, there are about 20 islands that can be called Nekojima, but there are certainly other places full of cats.
Also read: Neko – Cats in Japan
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Why are there so many islands filled with Cats in Japan?
What few people know is that cats dominate several islands beyond Japan. This happens a lot on islands where there are many fishermen. We already know that the cat is the favorite animal of Japan, so where there is fish, there are cats.
Most fishing islands are crowded with felines. Cats are definitely animals that you will likely find in the midst of mountains and islands. I myself came across several cats when climbing the torii mountain in Kyoto.
Another factor is that many of these islands are small and have a low population, often uncontrolled, so the presence of cats ends up increasing over the decades through breeding. This has even happened with rabbits.
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Tashirojima – The Largest Cat Island
One of the largest islands is called Tashirojima, located in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture. On this island, there are more cats than residents. The island has approximately 100 inhabitants and is famous and known as the Cat Island.
It is believed that the cats make the island prosper; there is even a sanctuary for cats called Neko-Jinja. This sanctuary was built after an accident where a rock that fishermen were using fell and killed a cat.
In a way, they are right; thanks to the huge population of cats, the island became famous and attracts many tourists from all over the world, as well as cat lovers.
Various blogs have been created, and the island even gained a movie called “Nyanko the Movie. Besides that, the island is known for its lodges that look like cats. Despite tourism, this island has an uncertain future.
The cats of Tashirojima are well treated, but the humans are aging, and the island is running out of inhabitants; we hope this problem is resolved.
Aoshima – More Cats than Humans
Aoshima, located in Ehime, is another island with more cats than humans. There are only about 20 residents on the island and over 100 cats. It is believed that the cats were brought by fishermen to get rid of the rats.
Unfortunately, the island has not turned this proliferation of cats into a tourist spot. If you want to visit Aoshima, you will need to take a ferry that only appears twice a day. There are no hotels or restaurants on the island.
When trying to search, be careful not to get confused, because there are many islands named Aoshima, as well as places, train lines, and even ships with that name. Despite being eye-catching, I don’t believe it is the best option to see cats.
Enoshima – Cat Island in Tokyo
For those who live near Tokyo, there is Enoshima in Kanagawa Prefecture. The island is located in Kanagawa Prefecture and is famous for its beaches, caves, museums, and shrines. Since 1980, the island has started to fill with cats, which can be found all over the island.
This island is a perfect tourist spot; it is known as the island of locks. It is accessible by a 600-meter bridge, has many tourist attractions, and even a beautiful view of Mount Fuji.
Also read: Enoshima Island and Love Locks
On the island, it is possible to donate money for food and contraceptive surgeries. Most cats are not afraid of people because tourists and fishermen who love cats feed them. A perfect spot for cat lovers.
Okishima – Island in Lake Biwa
This is not an ordinary island, as it is located in the center of Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located in Shiga, easily accessible for those in the Kyoto region. The small island in the middle of the lake also has its history.
Seven samurai fought in a small civil war called the Hōgen Rebellion; after the sad defeat, they had to take refuge in Okishima. According to legend, they left human and feline descendants.
Other Cat Islands
Let’s briefly describe some other cat islands below:
Iwaishima – Nuclear Cats
Currently, it is an uninhabited area that earns a living from fishing and organic farming. The island once faced the “danger” of having a nuclear power plant, but the population prevented its construction.
Muzukijima – Island of Orange Trees
Unlike the others, Muzukijima is famous for its orange and tangerine orchards. Can you imagine the wonderful smell this island must have? Imagine this island with a bunch of kittens running around?
Ainoshima – Cat Paradise Island
This island is known as Cat Heaven Island or Cat Paradise. It is easily accessible by ferry that is near the train station at the Kokura port in Kitakyushu Fukuoka. The terrain is flat, perfect for walking with the felines.
Kadarashima – The Island without Dogs
This island has a legend that says a dog incurred the wrath of a deity from the Yasaka shrine on the island. For this reason, the species became extinct on the island, leaving only felines. It is possible to see South Korea from some points on this remote island.
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List of Islands Dominated by Cats
We promised to talk about 20 cat islands in this article, but we cannot cover them all, as some are just small islands with nothing to declare, others with cat control plans, or some have no residents at all.
Therefore, we will list the 20 promised islands below; if you want to know more details about them, you can do a precise search on Japanese Wikipedia. There you will find geographical, geological information, history, residents, and animal life.
- Tashirojima (田代島) Miyagi;
- Yushima (湯島) in Kumamoto Prefecture;
- Kakarashima (加唐島) in Saga Prefecture;
- Muzukijima (睦月島) in Ehime Prefecture;
- Genkaishima (玄界島) in Fukuoka Prefecture;
- Ainoshima (相島) in Fukuoka;
- Ainoshima (藍島) in Fukuoka;
- Umashima (馬島) in Fukuoka;
- Iwaishima (祝島) in Yamaguchi Prefecture;
- Manabeshima (真鍋島) in Okayama Prefecture;
- Sanagishima (佐柳島) in Kagawa Prefecture;
- Okishima (沖島) floating island in the middle of Biwako in Shiga;
- Teuritou (天売島) island in Hokkaido;
- Jikinejima (式根島) southeast of Niijima;
- Sakushima (佐久島) remote island in Mikawa Bay;
- Ogijima (男木島) island in Bisan Seto;
- Shishijima (志々島) in the Shiozawa Islands;
- Aoshima (青島) island in Ehime;
- Fukashima (深島) in Kamaeura Oita;
- Oushima (黄島) in Goto, Nagasaki;
I hope you enjoyed this short article; we appreciate your comments and shares.
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