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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Tashirojima
Spend one day to see the cats and the Cat Shrine; add a night if you want a relaxed walk or to stay at the minshuku.
Tashirojima is a tiny island in Miyagi known for its free‑roaming cats. The ferry takes 45 min, the main sights are within walking distance, and overnight accommodation is limited, so a single day covers the basics; a night adds leisure and a chance to stay at the local minshuku.
- Country
- Japan
- Best months
- Apr–Oct (mild weather, cats active)
- Avoid
- Jan–Mar (cold, limited services)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥2,500–¥4,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥4,500–¥7,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Ferry round‑trip (Ishinomaki ↔ Tashirojima) | ¥2,450 |
| Hamaya minshuku night with meal | ¥8,500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SDJ · Sendai Airport
- Bus or train to Ishinomaki, then ferry to Tashirojima
Typical fares
- Ferry Ishinomaki → Tashirojima
- about ¥2,450 round trip, 45 min (check schedule)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
All sites are reachable on foot; allow 2 h for a round‑trip walk from the port to the Cat Shrine and back.
See and do
Known for
- Cats
- Cat Shrine
- Hamaya minshuku
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ishinomaki | JR Ishinomaki Station, then local bus or taxi 15 min to Ajishima ferry office | About 1 h total |
| Matsushima | JR Ishinomaki to Matsushima‑Kōda, then bus 20 min | ≈1 h 30 min |
| Sendai | JR Sendai to Ishinomaki (≈45 min), then bus/taxi to ferry | ≈2 h |
Sleep
- Hamaya minshuku
- ¥8,500 per night with meal; reservation required
- Manga resort cat‑shaped cottages
- Open Apr–Oct; sleeps 6–8, price check
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| Where is the cat shrine? | 猫神社はどこですか？neko jinja wa doko desu ka? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Do not feed the cats; feeding leads to health issues and aggression.
- Dogs are prohibited on the island.
- The third daily ferry arrives too late for a same‑day return; plan accordingly.
Cats are semi‑feral; keep children supervised, avoid feeding, and carry basic first‑aid for scratches.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tashirojima yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Cats
- Cat Shrine
- Hamaya minshuku
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Tashirojima, revision 5311136 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5311136
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tashirojima). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.