HOW TO VISIT TASHIROJIMA CAT ISLAND FROM MATSUHIMA OR SENDAI
Japan’s famous cat island in Miyagi Prefecture
Tashirojima was one of the main reasons I wanted to visit Miyagi Prefecture.
A tiny island, a ferry ride, cats everywhere, sea views, peaceful villages… honestly, what else do you need?
Tashirojima is often called Japan’s cat island, and yes, it completely lives up to the name. You literally arrive by ferry and start seeing cats almost immediately: cats sleeping in the road, cats hiding in the shade, cats casually sitting next to the port, cats walking around like they own the island — which, to be fair, they kind of do.
I visited Tashirojima as a day trip during my 3-day weekend in Miyagi, while staying in Matsushima. It was one of the best parts of the trip, and if you love cats, peaceful islands, or slightly unusual Japan experiences, you should absolutely add it to your itinerary.
You can read my full Miyagi weekend itinerary here.
Quick overview: visiting Tashirojima Cat Island
Where is Tashirojima?
Tashirojima is a small island off the coast of Ishinomaki, in Miyagi Prefecture.
How do you get there?
You take a local train to Ishinomaki, then a ferry operated by Ajishima Line to Tashirojima. The ferry route connects Ishinomaki with Tashirojima, Ajishima and Ayukawa.
Main ports on Tashirojima:
The ferry stops at two ports on the island: Odomari Port and Nitoda Port. If you want to see cats quickly, Nitoda is usually the best arrival point because it is the larger village and where many cats gather.
How long do you need?
A half-day on the island was perfect for us. We arrived around 9:40am and left with the 1:55pm ferry.
Is it easy without a car?
Yes. You walk everywhere. There is no need for a car, and actually there are no car rentals or public transportation on the island.
Important tip:
Check the ferry schedule on the day. Ferries can be cancelled or change ports depending on weather and sea conditions.
How to get to Tashirojima from Matsushima
We visited Tashirojima from Matsushima, where we were staying for two nights.
From Takagimachi Station, we took the local train to Ishinomaki Station. It is an easy route and you can use your SUICA card.
Once you arrive in Ishinomaki, you need to walk to the ferry departure point. The ferry usually departs from Ishinomaki Chuo Port or Ishinomaki Kadonowaki Port. Chuo Port is the more central one, 15 minutes away from the train station, while Kadonowaki is a bit further away.
On the day we visited, the Chuo Port departure was cancelled because of low tide, so we had to walk to the other port. Luckily, we had arrived early enough. It took us around 15 minutes to walk there along the river.
So my biggest advice is: arrive early.
Do not plan to arrive at the ferry port 5 minutes before departure. Buy snacks, check the port, ask if needed, and leave yourself enough time in case the departure point changes.
Tashirojima ferry tips
The ferry is operated by Ajishima Line.
A few things to know before going:
Ferry tickets are cash only.
There are no ticket reservations for regular passenger tickets; tickets are sold first-come, first-served at the departure points.
The ferry can stop at both Odomari Port and Nitoda Port on Tashirojima.
Nitoda is the better stop if your main goal is to see cats.
You really need to check your return ferry time so you do not get stuck on the island.
On the Saturday we visited in mid-May 2026, the ferry departures from Ishinomaki were at 9:00am, 12:30pm and 3:30pm. The 3:30pm ferry only really made sense if you were staying overnight, because the return options were limited.
We took the morning ferry, arrived around 9:40am, and returned with the 1:55pm ferry. For us, this was perfect.
On that day, which was a weekend but not a major holiday, the ferry was pretty full with still a few seats left. I could imagine it gets sold out on a major holiday.
Arriving on Tashirojima
We arrived at Nitoda Port, and honestly, it felt like the right choice.
The island is very small and quiet, but around Nitoda you start seeing cats almost immediately. Some were walking around the port, some were just sitting by the road, and others were hiding in the shade.
It is not a polished, touristy place. It still feels like a real island village where people live, fish, and go about their day. The cats are part of that everyday life.
This is what made it special for me. It does not feel like a “cat attraction” that was created for visitors. It feels like a tiny island where cats just happen to be everywhere.
You can also see that it was damaged by the 2011 tsunami.
Why are there so many cats on Tashirojima?
Tashirojima has a long connection with cats.
One story is that cats were kept on the island to protect silkworms from rats when the island was involved in sericulture. Fishermen also traditionally believed cats brought good luck and could even help predict the weather.
The island also has a small Cat Shrine, or Neko Jinja, built to honor a cat. According to the story, a cat was accidentally injured by a fisherman, and the shrine was built afterward out of respect.
Today, the cats are the reason most visitors come to Tashirojima.
I mean, I obviously went for the cats.
Our walking route on Tashirojima
Our route was simple and worked really well:
Nitoda Port → Cat Shrine → Shima no Eki Rest House → Odomari Port → back to Nitoda Port
The walk is easy, and you do not need to be super sporty. There are some hills, but nothing too difficult. Just wear comfortable shoes.
The paved road between the two ports is around 2 km, and visitors usually explore the island on foot.
One tip: do not take the road on the west side of the island.
We saw a sign saying that route was longer and that there were no cats there, so we stuck to the main roads on the east side of the island. That was definitely the right decision.
The east-side route is easy, peaceful, and full of cats.
Stop 1: Nitoda Port
Nitoda is the best place to start, especially if you are only doing a day trip.
There are cats around the village, near the port, along the road, and close to the cafés. Some are curious, some completely ignore you, and some will happily accept attention.
I loved that they were just chilling everywhere.
Not performing. Not doing anything special. Just existing like small island bosses.
Stop 2: Shima no Eki Rest House
Shima no Eki Rest House is a small café/rest house and shop on the island, and there were so many cats around it. Shima no Eki is the island café/general-store style stop.
It seems to be one of the places where the cats are fed, so naturally many of them gather there.
There is also a cute little shop where you will definitely buy a cat souvenir you did not know you needed. You can also buy drinks there but I would recommend to bring some food with you just in case (and a trash bag).
I loved this place. It was the perfect stop to sit down, look at the cats, take too many photos, and fully enjoy the absurd happiness of being on a cat island.
Stop 3: The Cat Shrine
The Cat Shrine is one of the famous stops on Tashirojima.
It is very small, so do not expect a big shrine complex. It is more of a sweet little stop in the forest, with cat figurines and offerings.
I thought it was cute, but I would not say it is the main reason to come. The nicest part is the walk itself and seeing all the cats along the way.
Still, you should stop there because it is part of the island’s story.
Stop 4: Odomari Port
After the cat shrine, we continued walking toward Odomari Port.
Odomari village was extremely peaceful.
There is not much to do there, but that is exactly what made it nice. It is tiny, quiet, and by the sea. I really enjoyed the calm atmosphere.
You can also walk up to an abandoned shrine.
We had initially considered sleeping on the island at a place called Hamaya, but when we called, they said it was closed. That is why we decided to stay two nights in Matsushima instead, which was perfectly fine.
But honestly? I would not have minded staying on Tashirojima.
It is quite tiny, and there is basically nothing to do after the day visitors leave, but I loved the peaceful feeling, the sea, and the slow island atmosphere.
How much time do you need on Tashirojima?
For a day trip, I think 4 hours on the island is enough.
We arrived around 9:40am and left with the 1:55pm ferry. That gave us time to:
walk from Nitoda to Odomari
stop at the Cat Shrine
spend time at Shima no Eki
take lots of photos and videos
cuddle many cats
have a small picnic
walk back to Nitoda without rushing
It was the perfect duration.
Of course, if you are a very intense cat person, you could stay longer. But because the ferry schedule is limited, the morning arrival plus early-afternoon return worked really well.
What to bring to Tashirojima
Tashirojima is small and has limited tourist facilities, so come prepared.
I would bring:
cash for the ferry
water
snacks or lunch from Ishinomaki
comfortable walking shoes
sunscreen or a hat in warmer months
a portable battery if you take 500 cat photos like me
a small bag for your trash
We bought 7-Eleven snacks in Ishinomaki and had a small picnic on the island. It was perfect.
Do not expect lots of restaurants or convenience stores. This is not that kind of island.
Can you feed the cats on Tashirojima?
No.
There are people on the island who take care of the cats, and Shima no Eki is one of the places involved in feeding them. There are signs everywhere asking visitors not to feed the cats so they stay healthy, noting that their needs are handled by island residents and Shima no Eki staff.
So just enjoy them, take photos, pet the friendly ones, and let them be cats.
Also, do not chase them, pick them up, or enter private property to follow them.
The island is cute, but it is also someone’s home.
At the cafe near the port, I saw that they sell cat food and it’s authorized to feed them near the cafe.
Is Tashirojima worth visiting?
Yes. Completely.
But I think it is worth visiting if you know what to expect.
Tashirojima is not a big sightseeing destination with lots of activities. It is a tiny, quiet island with cats, sea views, a small shrine, a few cafés, and peaceful roads. The nature is also very beautiful and wild on the island.
That is the charm.
You go there to slow down, walk, watch cats nap in random places, sit by the sea, and be surrounded by other people who also made the journey just for cats.
I kept thinking: only nice people would take a ferry to a small island just to see cats :)
There were also a few young Japanese people with fishing gear, because fishing is basically the other activity on the island. But for most visitors, it is all about the cats.
Where to stay: Tashirojima, Matsushima or Sendai?
We stayed in Matsushima, and I think it was a great base.
From Matsushima, it was easy to reach Ishinomaki by local train, and then take the ferry to Tashirojima. It also meant we could enjoy Matsushima, stay in a ryokan, and have an onsen bath at the end of the day. I explain everything in my article about my 3-day itinerary in Miyagi.
You could also stay in Sendai, especially if you want a bigger city with more restaurants and hotel options.
Staying overnight on Tashirojima is possible, but options are limited and you need to plan ahead. Hamaya seemed like a good choice but you need to call to reserve.
I think staying overnight on the island could be really special if you want absolute peace and quiet. But for most people, a day trip from Matsushima, Ishinomaki or Sendai is easier.
My final thoughts on Tashirojima Cat Island
Tashirojima was exactly what I hoped it would be.
Peaceful, funny, a bit surreal, and full of cats.
It is not the kind of place where you need a detailed checklist. The best thing to do is simply walk, stop every time you see a cat, take photos, enjoy the sea views, and let the island be slow.
We arrived in the morning, left in the early afternoon, and it felt like the perfect little adventure inside our Miyagi weekend.
I would 100% recommend visiting Tashirojima if you are already traveling around Sendai, Matsushima or Ishinomaki.
Just check the ferry schedule carefully, bring snacks, bring cash, respect the cats and locals, and prepare your camera.
You will use it a lot.
