Tashirojima, Island in Ishinomaki, Japan
Tashirojima is an island off the coast of Ishinomaki in the Pacific Ocean, made up of two small settlements and known for its large number of free-roaming cats. Residents live scattered across the villages of Oodomari and Nitoda, while cats wander through narrow lanes and sunbathe along the paths.
During the Edo period, islanders raised silkworms and kept cats to protect the valuable cocoons from mice. This practice led to a large cat population developing over generations, which continues to shape life on the island today.
The island includes a cat shrine named Neko-jinja, constructed to honor a cat that died from a falling rock, reflecting local beliefs about feline protection.
A ferry line connects the mainland at Ishinomaki with the island, the journey takes around 45 minutes and runs several times a day. There are no cars on the island, so visitors move on foot along narrow paths between the two settlements.
Cats live here in far greater numbers than people, with a ratio of around four cats per resident. A small shrine by the roadside commemorates a cat that died during the construction of a wall, and visitors often leave small offerings there.
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