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If crowded social gatherings leave you feeling claustrophobic and you’d much rather spend your time in the quiet company of cats, there is a place in the world that feels almost tailor-made for you. Tucked away off the coast of Japan lies Aoshima, a remote island where feline residents reign supreme — and humans are very much the minority.
Ask any devoted cat lover and they’ll tell you there’s no such thing as too many cats. Aoshima stands as living proof. Often referred to as Japan’s famous “cat island,” this tiny stretch of land is home to a feline population so large that cats outnumber humans by nearly six to one.
Cats have long occupied a special place in Japanese culture, art, and literature. Centuries ago, celebrated author Natsume Sōseki captured society through feline eyes in his iconic work I Am a Cat. More recently, Genki Kawamura imagined a hauntingly cat-less world in If Cats Disappeared From the Earth. Add to that the abundance of cat cafés lining the streets of Tokyo, and it becomes clear that cats are woven into Japan’s cultural identity as deeply as its people.So perhaps it feels only natural that Japan would grant cats a place entirely their own.
A Brief History of Aoshima
Despite its current reputation, Aoshima wasn’t always a feline paradise. Cats were originally brought to the island decades ago to control a growing mouse population that threatened local fishing boats. Over time, however, the human population dwindled. Following World War II, many families left the island in search of better opportunities in more developed regions of Japan.
The cats, on the other hand, stayed — and thrived.
By 2015, Aoshima was home to more than 120 cats, a number that vastly exceeded its shrinking human population. With no natural predators and limited human interference, the island gradually transformed into the quiet, cat-dominated haven it is known as today.
How to Reach Japan’s Famous Cat Island
Getting to Aoshima requires a bit of planning, but the journey is well worth the effort. Travelers must first fly into Matsuyama Airport, then take a bus or train to Matsuyama Station. From there, a local train will take you to Iyo-Nagahama Station, where you can reach Nagahama Port.
A 30-minute ferry ride from the port brings you to Aoshima. Ferries typically operate twice a day.
A Future in Decline
Despite its charm, Aoshima faces an uncertain future. Japan’s ongoing demographic decline has left the island with just four human residents. In an effort to responsibly manage the feline population, local authorities conducted a mass spaying and neutering programme in 2018, which is expected to gradually reduce the number of cats over time.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
For now, visitors continue to arrive, stepping off ferries to find cats wandering freely through the streets — unfazed, unhurried, and perfectly at home. They lounge on sun-warmed concrete paths, only stirring at the scent of fishy treats or the approach of curious tourists.
Aoshima may be quiet, remote, and fleeting, but it offers something truly rare: a glimpse into a world where life moves at a gentler pace, guided by whiskers, paws, and the soft rhythm of feline companionship. It’s a sight — and an experience — every cat lover should witness at least once in their lifetime.
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