Tashirojima Island (Cat Island), A Place That’s All About the Cats
Tashirojima Island is a small isolated island with a 11.5km coast line, located 2 hours northeast of Sendai. Many cats live there, giving it the nickname “Cat Island.” In recent years Tashirojima Island has been featured by international media, attracting many people from inside and outside of Japan. Why not come visit an island which is full of natural splendor, has a traditional village feel to it and also offers the chance to be around many cats?
There are only three ships going to the island every day, so if you travel there, it is highly recommended to check the returning ship schedule in advance. There are a few guest houses on the island, so you can stay overnight. However, there are few restaurants or shops, so if you plan to stay more than a few hours, you should bring food with you.
Access from Sendai:
1) Sendai Station to Ishinomaki Station
Train： JR Senseki Line from JR Sendai Station to JR Ishinomaki Station (approx. 1 hr, 840 yen)
By car： Sanriku Expressway from Sendai Higashi IC to Ishinomaki IC (approx. 40 min, 1080 yen)
Highway Bus： Sendai Station Bus Stop 33 to Ishinomaki Station (80 minutes, 1000 yen)
2) From Ishinomaki Station to the Boat Terminal
By Bus： Miyako Bus from Ishinomaki Station to Ajishima Line (17 minutes 250 yen)
By Taxi： 5 minutes, approximately 1000 yen. *Times, prices current as of March 2016
3) From the Harbor to Tashirojima Island (Cat Island)
45 minutes ferry ride, 1230 yen.
*Due to rapid changes in weather, sometimes ship cancellation occur, so it is highly recommended to ask the ship company to confirm the time and price in advance.
Ajishima Line Co., Ltd.
Tel: 0225-93-6125
Ishinomkai Bus Schedule: https://www.city.ishinomaki.lg.jp/cont/10053500/bus/20130322165030.html
① Cat God
From the olden days, the people of Tashirojima Island took care of cats as precious pets.
However, one day, some islanders were breaking rocks to make weights to set up fishing nets when one of the rocks hit a cat and killed it.
Taking pity, they buried the cat and enshrined it as a deity, which is how the cat god legend is said to have begun.
② Manga Island
Manga Island is an accommodation facility for tourists. The cute lodges resembling the cats of Tashirojima were designed by famous Japanese manga artists CHIBA Tetsuya and SAONAKA Machiko .
There are five lodges as well as a campground.
③ Access to Tashirojima Island (Cat Island)
