On a small island off the coast of Ehime Prefecture, cats once became far more numerous than the people living there. This is Aoshima, the Japanese island that became famous around the world as a “Cat Island.”
 |
| Cat Island |
Aoshima is a quiet fishing island in the Seto Inland Sea, about 13.5 kilometres from Nagahama Port in Ozu. For years, photographs of cats gathering around the island were widely shared online, bringing curious visitors from Japan and overseas. At the height of that attention, around 200 cats were reported on the island. But Aoshima has changed since then. A sterilisation programme was carried out in 2018, and since then the cat population has been gradually declining. That change makes Aoshima more than just a place to photograph cats. It is also a small island community with a long fishing tradition and only a handful of permanent residents.
Where Is Aoshima Cat Island?
How Did Aoshima Become Japan’s Cat Island?
Cats and the Fishing Community
Aoshima's connection with cats goes back to its days as a fishing community. Cats became part of island life, and over time their numbers grew. The island received little attention outside the region for many years. That changed dramatically when Japanese media and social media began featuring photographs of its unusually large cat population.
According to the Ehime Remote Islands Promotion Council, Aoshima was introduced as a “cat island” about a decade ago, creating a sudden tourism boom. At its peak, the island attracted around 5,000 visitors a year, despite its extremely small permanent population. For a place this small, that was a remarkable change. Photos showing groups of cats waiting around the harbour or following visitors helped turn Aoshima into one of Japan's best-known cat islands.
 |
| Island of cats |
What Happened to the Cats of Aoshima?
So, while Aoshima is still known as Cat Island, it is important not to assume that the old photographs represent the island today. The change is actually an interesting part of Aoshima's story. The island is no longer simply a place famous for an unusually large number of cats. It is a community dealing with an ageing population, fewer residents and a quieter way of life.
What Is Aoshima Like Today?
A Tiny Island Community
The official Ehime island guide lists five residents and three households, based on Japan's 2020 census. It also describes the island as increasingly quiet because of population decline and the ageing of its residents. That tiny population puts the island's famous cat story into perspective.
Aoshima was never a purpose-built tourist attraction. People lived there, worked there and maintained their community long before visitors arrived with cameras. Today, the island has a much slower atmosphere. The official island guide describes the atmosphere as a peaceful form of “island time". That may be the most remarkable thing about visiting Aoshima now. The cats are part of the story, but they are not the whole story.
 |
| Cat Island, Japan |
How to Get to Aoshima Cat Island
The Ferry from Nagahama
You can reach Aoshima by passenger ferry from Nagahama Port in Ozu City. The crossing takes about 35 minutes, and the island guide lists two regular services per day. Because Aoshima is a small inhabited island, visitors should check the latest ferry information before making the journey. Schedules can change, and weather or maintenance can affect ferry service. Therefore, treat the official Ozu City transport information as the final source for current departure times and service notices.
Ozu City — Aoshima ferry information
Things to Know Before Visiting Aoshima
The ferry itself is an important part of the trip, and visitors should plan ahead rather than arriving at Nagahama without checking the schedule. Most importantly, Aoshima is someone's home. The cats may be the reason many people first hear about the island, but local residents deserve the same respect that visitors would show in any other community.
 |
| Japanese Island of Cats |
Why Did Aoshima Become So Famous?
Japan's Original Cat Island Image
Aoshima became famous because the contrast was so unusual: a tiny fishing island with a minuscule human population and a remarkably large number of cats. The photographs were almost impossible to ignore. Cats appeared around houses, along paths and near the harbour, creating the memorable image that made Aoshima Cat Island an internet sensation.
The tourism boom documented by the Ehime Remote Islands Promotion Council shows just how quickly that attention spread. Yet the island's later decline in both human and cat populations tells a different story. Aoshima therefore offers a useful reminder that places seen online can change considerably over time.
 |
| Japan's Cat Island |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Aoshima Cat Island?
Aoshima is a small island in Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. It is about 13.5 kilometres from Nagahama Port.
Why is Aoshima called Cat Island?
Aoshima became known as Cat Island because its cat population once greatly exceeded its human population. The island became internationally famous after Japanese media and social media shared photographs of its cats.
How many people live on Aoshima?
The official Ehime island guide lists five residents in three households, based on the 2020 Japanese census.
How many cats live on Aoshima?
There is no current official figure in the source used here. The Ehime Remote Islands Promotion Council says around 200 cats were present during the island's peak period, followed by a sterilisation programme in fiscal 2018 and a subsequent year-by-year decline.
How do you get to Aoshima?
Visitors travel by regular passenger ferry from Nagahama Port in Ozu. The crossing takes approximately 35 minutes. Current ferry information should be checked before travelling.
Is Aoshima still a cat island?
Yes, Aoshima remains known as a Japanese Cat Island, but its circumstances have changed. The cat population has declined since the 2018 sterilisation programme, while the island's human population has also become very small.
 |
| Cat Island |
 |
| Aoshima |
 |
| Japanese cat Island |
 |
| Island cat |
 |
| Aoshima Island |
 |
| The Cat Island |
Conclusion
Aoshima Cat Island is one of those places whose story is more compelling than its nickname suggests.
The island became famous because of its cats, but Aoshima existed long before tourists arrived with cameras. It was, and remains, a small fishing community in Ehime Prefecture. The cats brought worldwide attention, while the island's shrinking population has gradually returned it to a quieter rhythm. Today, Aoshima is not simply a place to search for hundreds of cats. It is a tiny Japanese island with its history, landscape, and community. Aoshima remains a fascinating place to learn about for anyone interested in Cat Island Japan, unusual places, remote islands, and curious travel destinations—even as the island continues to change.
References & Sources
No comments:
Post a Comment