The cat islands of japan ( AOSHIMA AND TASHIRO-JIMA)

AOSHIMA ISLAND 

The cats of Aosima Island 


Aoshima might be the most famous cat island in japan . Its nickname "cat island" is not at all exaggerated because there are only 15-20 residents on the island but there are more than 120 cats , which is about 6 times the human population . 

Aoshima is a 1.6 km long island located  in the Ehime prefecture of southern japan . Cats were originally introduced on the ships because the local fishermen had too deal with a rodent problem . But the cats stayed on the island and reproduced , thus the population increasing almost exponentially . 

However aoshima island is not a tourists spot . There are no cars , hotels , restaurants or even vending machines on the island . The residents are mostly elders . they wont turn the away the visitors who want to get close to the cats , and the visitors always make sure to not disturb the residents during the visit .  

Its not a spot with convenient transportation as only two rounds of ferries go to the island per day . It is a destination for those who have an extreme love for cats . 

Although semi-feral, the cats on Aoshima are used to human visitors. Thanks to the recent boom in publicity, it’s not unusual to find a crowd of tourists attempting to befriend the kitties. Luckily, with over 100 felines living on the island, you won’t have to compete too hard for their affection!

Aoshima is not designed for tourists, and there are no hotels, restaurants, shops or even vending machines on the island. Visitors should bring their own food and drink, and take all their garbage home with them.

TASHIRO-JIMA ISLAND 

The cat shrine of Tashirojima island 


The Tashiro-jima or Tashirojima island of japan is another famous cat island . It is a small island off the mainland of japan in Ishomaki Miyagi prefecture . 
 The cats have been roaming free for hundreds of years . Despite being semi wild , they're are comfortable around humans and are usually interested in visitors

The population of the island is quite small , only a hundred people , but there are more than 100 cats on that island . 

The island used to raise silkworms for their silk requirements which naturally attracted mice and the introduction of cats helped this production as cats kept the mice population to a minimum 

The locals of the island believe that feeding the cats with fishes will bring their fortune and wealth . 

Most people living on the island take care of the cats very well and the cats have become a sort of a mascot for the island . Because of this no 'pet dogs' are allowed on the island , so the island is literally a ' Cat island' .

No matter where you go on the island , you'll come across some feline friends . The biggest kitty congregations usually happen in Nitoda village and the only store : Kamabutsu shoten

In the center of the island , there is a cat shrine called 'Neko-Jinja' , situated between two villages , devoted to the cats that died sue to falling rocks . You can get the sense that the cats are really loved by the locals and by the visitors on the island .


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