Tashirojima

Island

Prefecture

Miyagi

Type

Island

N/A

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Cafe

About This Destination

A small fishing island off Ishinomaki where cats wander the lanes and a tiny shrine honours one of them. The ferry runs only a few times a day and there is almost nothing to buy, so plan the day around the boat.

Tashirojima is a small inhabited island about 11 kilometres around in Ishinomaki Bay, and the cats are the reason most visitors come. Islanders have kept them since the Edo period, first to keep mice away from silkworms, and fishermen came to treat them as guardians of a good catch. Neko-jinja, a shrine in the middle of the island, honours a cat killed by a falling rock. Getting there means the Ajishima Line ferry from Ishinomaki, about 15 minutes' walk from Ishinomaki Station. Boats call at Odomari in the north and Nitoda in the south, about 40 minutes to an hour out, and the normal timetable has only three round trips a day. There are no reservations, and strong wind cancels sailings. Shops are close to nonexistent, so bring food and water from town. The cats are fed by islanders, and the city asks visitors not to feed them. This is a village, not a theme park: keep your voice down and stay off private land.

Location

Prefecture: Miyagi

Address: Ishinomaki, Miyagi, Japan

Nearest Station: Ishinomaki Station

Best time to visit: April to November for calmer seas; any clear day with the ferry running, and go early to have a full day on the island

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does the ferry to Tashirojima run?

The Ajishima Line normally runs three round trips a day from Ishinomaki, rising to four on weekends and holidays in the summer timetable from mid-July to mid-August. The crossing takes about 40 minutes to an hour. Check the timetable for the last boat back before you set out, because missing it leaves you on the island for the night.

Can I feed the cats?

Please don't. The cats are fed by the islanders who look after them, and Ishinomaki City asks visitors not to feed them, for the cats' health.

Is there food on the island?

Barely. There are a couple of drink vending machines and a small rest stop, Shima no Eki, near the cat shrine that serves simple food, but do not count on it. Bring lunch and water from Ishinomaki.

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