Ainoshima

Ainoshima (あいのしま) in Fukuoka Prefecture is a small island famous for its cats, located about a 17-minute ferry ride from Shingu Port. Around 200 cats reportedly live here, earning it the nickname “Cat Island.”

February 22 is also celebrated as “Cat Day” in Japan because the date (2/22) sounds like a cat’s meow (nya nya nya)[^1].

It happened to be very windy that day, and the boat rocked so violently that I got seasick almost immediately. I’ve been prone to motion sickness since I was a kid; amusement park rides like roller coasters and pirate ships never brought me excitement—only misery. The only ride I could ever handle was the bumper cars.

The cats on Ainoshima are incredibly friendly and wait by the port for visitors to step off the boat. Whenever they see someone reaching out to pet them, they dash right over for affection. Once a visitor loses interest, they quietly move on to look for the next person to cuddle with.

Some cats will even jump right onto your lap to nap the very first time they meet you.

Spring is the ideal time to visit. In winter, the sea winds are piercingly cold, while in summer, the sun is scorching. The island is fairly small and can be explored on foot in about an hour. Reaching the rest of the island is difficult without a car.

If you come to Ainoshima, be sure to stop by the local diner for a set meal🍽️. The fish is exceptionally fresh and quite reasonably priced. Honestly, visiting the island just for the fresh fish would be well worth the trip alone.

Sitting on a bench by the port, a cat will keep you company as you watch the sunset. I don’t quite know how to put the feeling into words—in an era of such rapid AI-driven change, living peacefully away from the hustle, doing a bit of fishing, and playing with the cats beside you feels pretty wonderful.