Tashirojima, Tashirohama, Ishinomaki, Miyagi 986-0023, Japan
Ishinomaki, Miyagi
A cat paradise where felines outnumber residents. Home to a cat shrine.
Tajio Island, once a thriving fishing community, is now home to over 100 cats compared to about 80 human residents. Fishermen originally brought cats to control rodents, but they went feral, transforming the entire island into a cat colony.
A cat shrine sits on the island's hilltop, giving rise to a unique spiritual culture that reveres cats as sacred.
The island also features cat-shaped lodges and tent sites designed by manga artists Satoshin Satonaka and Tetsuya Chiba, offering accommodation for visitors.
