On This Remote Island, Cats are King: Tashirojima, Japan
Visitors’ Guide
Many of the cats on Tashirojima and Aoshima are very friendly, but some are more “outgoing” then others when it comes to soliciting food scraps from tourists. Many people bring cat food or treats to offer, but the island cats have been known to gobble up rice balls or potatoes as well!
Most of the time, visitors don’t need to walk far to see tons of cats in all different sizes and colors — many of them cluster at the port when the ferry boat docks. Be sure to bring your own food, as well as treats for the cats, as Tashirojima only has one store, while Aoshima has none. Most people agree that two or three hours is plenty of time to pet the cats, walk around the island, and come back to the harbor to wait for the ferry back to the mainland.
Although most of the cats are friendly, they are feral animals, so make sure you don’t get too cuddly with them — trying to pick them up is probably not a great idea. Let the cats take the lead, don’t make any sudden movements, and you should be fine. And make sure to bring a camera!
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