Fukuoka’s Ainoshima: Take Photos at One of the World’s Best Cat Spots!

What Is Ainoshima?

In 2013, the article “Five Places Where Cats Outshine Tourist Attractions” was featured on the website of the news broadcasting station CNN.

Fukuoka’s Ainoshima is a cat spot that is famous across the world and was chosen as one of those five places. Although access is slightly complicated, as you will have to take either the bus or train and then take the ferry from Shingu Port for seventeen minutes, a paradise where nearly 100 cats live awaits you!

An Island Where Cats and Islanders Coexist

Ainoshima is an island located in Genkai Nada (*1) and is 7.5km northwest from Fukuoka’s Shingu Fishing Port. Nearly 100 cats live on the roughly 1.25 square kilometer-sized island

*1 Genkai Nada (Genkai Sea): an area of the ocean that stretches across the northwestern part of the Kyushu region.

Ainoshima’s main industry is fishing. In the process of developing the fishing industry, it appears that rats that would damage their fishing gear became a great problem. Cats were raised on the island in order to eradicate these rats.

Aside from eradicating rats, the cats on the island also lived by eating the heads and bones of fish thrown away by fishermen. As the cats and islanders have come to coexist with one another, the number of cats also gradually increased.

Feeding Is Prohibited! Manners on Ainoshima

Currently, posters that say “feeding is prohibited” can be seen throughout the island. The number of tourists have increased in recent years, with the number of cats increasing more than necessary, and we have been told that there are fears that the ecosystem of the island will be disturbed.

Though the cats have a cuteness that will make you want to instinctively give them food, please think of the island and enjoy your visit there while also abiding by the manners.

Three Ways to Enjoy Ainoshima

There are various ways to enjoy Ainoshima that not only consist of seeing the cats. We also recommend walking along the roads around the length of the island, which is a 5.4km walk that will take approximately two hours to complete. Next, we’ll introduce three ways to enjoy the island.

1. Fish at Abundant Fishing Grounds

Ainoshima is also a famous fishing spot in Kyushu. You can fish for species such as horse mackerels, cuttlefish, long-tooth groupers, and more.

2. Have a Picnic

If the weather is clear, we recommend bringing a picnic sheet, sitting on the lush grounds, and going to the breakwater structures along the ocean. However, there are chances the cats will come to you demanding food when you open your bags. Please eat with great caution.

3. Look at the Wonderful Sight of Glasses Rock

There is a gigantic rock located at sea 300 meters away from the island. Its official name is Hanagurise Rock, but it is called by its nickname, Glasses Rock. It is approximately 20 meters in height and 100 meters in circumference. The entire natural structure is made from a type of volcanic rock called basalt.

The hole in its center was caused by erosion from the ocean water. It has an unusual shape, so how about taking a commemorative photo together with it?

Have Manners and Peek into the Lives of Free-Living Cats

The cats of Ainoshima freely live on the island. There are cats that are happy couples and there are also cats that fight. This is an island that cat lovers won’t be able to resist.

Both islanders and cats coexist on this island. As tourists, please enjoy Ainoshima fully, while not forgetting to have manners and respect for the island and its culture.

Ainoshima

Ainoshima, Shingu-cho, Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka 811-0118

* This article was translated and revised from an article originally in Chinese.