Visit Aoshima, an Island Where Cats Outnumber Humans

VIVA – In Japan, there is a place called "Cat Island". The island is called Aoshima and is a deserted island in Ehime Prefecture that is only one mile long. Aoshima has a cat population that outnumber of the human population.

Originally, the island was called a fishing island. However, over time, the human population has decreased, and the cat population has increased every year. This has attracted tourists to visit Aoshima Island.

The semi-feral cats on Aoshima may also be accustomed to the presence of the human. With over 100 cats living on the island, tourists don't have to compete for the cats' attention and affection, as reported by GaijinPot Travel.

Cat lovers will love being on the island as there are so many cats, and there is even a  feeding area near the island's community center. It's just a few minutes walk from the harbor, so if you want to feed the cats, you can do so at that location.

Tourist Cannot Stay

As information, Aoshima Island is not for tourists. There are no hotels, restaurants, shops, or even vending machines on the island. Visitors should bring their food and drinks, and of course, take home all their trash.

Most of the people living on Aoshima Island are elderly. So, tourists are expected to respect the people of Aoshima. Not only the human population but also respect for the cats that live there. Besides Aoshima, there are also other cat islands in Japan, including Tashirojima in Miyagi prefecture in northern Japan.