Tashirojima Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
island in Miyagi, Japan
About Tashirojima
Like many rural areas of Japan, Tashirojima is slowly disappearing. At its height, the population was around 1,000; today, it is home to about 100 people, many of them elderly. The port area is in reasonably good condition, but heading up the hill into the forest reveals a number of abandoned and partially collapsed buildings. Enter the cats. Various stories exist as to why there are so many of them; whether the cats are the cherished friends of the island's fishermen, the bearers of good luck, or the descendants of abandoned pets, felines now vastly outnumber humans on Tashirojima. The bemused islanders appear to have set aside an older manga-based tourism campaign and fully embraced the cat island concept.
Top Attractions in Tashirojima
Explore the best things to see and do in Tashirojima:
- ★Cat Shrine
Tashirojima Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 9 sections including: