Japan has several cat islands, but one of the easiest to reach is Ainoshima, which is a simple day trip from the major city of Fukuoka. Here’s what you need to know…
This post was first written in 2019, but prices, transport and other time-sensitive details are updated regularly. The last update is in June 2025.
I’m surrounded by kitties – they’re sleeping in fishing nets, chilling out in wheelbarrows, prowling the paths around the bright blue, fishing boat-filled harbour, hoping for snacks or just sitting in the sunshine doing whatever cats who live on an island do all day.
This is Ainoshima, one of Japan’s many cat islands – and it’s brilliant.
No wonder it’s also known as Cat Heaven Island.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links which mean I earn a small commission if you use them to book. This does not cost you any extra.
My flights on this trip were also paid for by the Japan National Tourism Organisation – see below for more details.
The Cats of Ainoshima Island.
About 150 cats live among the 500 people who call the small island of Ainoshima home. That home is located a 20-minute ferry ride from Shingu port on the coast of Kyushu island in Western Japan.
Chances are the cats were brought here by fishermen trying to stop mice and rats munching through their nets, but over the years, the felines had families, and now, they’re all over the show.
Most of them are feral (but friendly), some of them have collars, but they’ve definitely made the place their own.
You’ll trip over them as you walk along the harbour pathway; they’ll wind round your feet if you stop for more than a few minutes and, in certain grassy areas, a faint odour makes you realise you’re standing in the middle of the neighbourhood ‘neko bathroom!’
Even leaving out your garden equipment isn’t safe. Turn your back, and next thing you know, it’s full of furry cuteness!
There are few different cat ‘tribes’ that live on the island and they have their own territories.
But considering how much growling was going on when I was there, there’s obviously still the odd turf war going on.
Unlike in Taiwan’s Cat Village, the people who live in the town don’t actively look after the cats, although you’ll still find most of the Ainoshima ‘cat island population’ in the small town that surrounds the port.
Which is good as it gives you an excuse to wander around the tiny wooden houses.
Backstreets hide shrines with gates and statues, gardens are filled with vegetables tended to by little old ladies. The men are working on the net-strewn fishing boats moored in the pretty harbour. Every corner has something that conveys the simple life people lead here.
Look up and you’ll see eagles swooping overhead; look out to sea and the blue stretches for miles. And then you hear a miaow and you’re distracted again by a kitty demanding adoration!
They’re pretty compelling…but, if you have time, it’s a good idea to take a wander. See, while the cats are the main draw to the island, it also has a few sights to encourage you to wander the
What Else is There to See on Ainoshima?
One of the most important sights, in historical terms at least, is the tumuli, an old tomb made of rocks you’ll find in the east of the island.
Thought to date back to the 5th Century, it’s one of the finest examples of this kind of burial mound in the area and was designated a national monument in 2001.
Another cool
If you can’t make it to this, don’t worry, you’ll get a great view of it from the ferry as you leave if you sit on the left-hand side.
The island itself is dotted with pretty houses, a few interesting shrines, lots of wildflowers, gorgeous sea views, and, as you get further inland, bird life. It would make a fantastic full-day trip in summer.
I was here for the cats, though, and with only two and a half hours on the island. I stayed mostly around the port, taking around 200 pictures of cute furry things – like these…
Okay, I’ll stop posting cat pics for a bit now. Let’s talk logistics.
How Do You Get to Ainoshima From Fukuoka?
You catch the ferry from Shingu port, which is about 40 minutes away from Fukuoka.
To get to the port, I went via Nishitetsu Shingu Station, which is the closest on the map.
To get there from Hakata, take the JR Kagoshima line to Chihaya.
You’ll then need to take a short walk to nearby Nishitetsu Chihaya Station, which is located on the Nishitetsu Kaizuka line. Each sector of the journey costs 270 yen.
From here, it’s either a 20-minute walk to the port, or a local bus runs from the station to the port for 100 yen.
Both Google Maps and Navitime can plot the route for you, allowing you to connect to the bus. However, the walk was flat and easy.
Checking the transport details in 2025, I can see that there is now an alternative route to the Shingu port. To do this, take the JR Kagoshima Main Line to Moji Port (340 yen), then change at the Fukuoka Institute of Technology and catch a bus from JR Fukkoudai-mae Station. The bus costs 100 yen.
Again, use Google Maps or Navitime to plot the route so everything matches up on the day you’re traveling. Although to do that, you probably want to know what time the ferries run – so, let’s get to that now…
What Times Do Ferries to Ainoshima leave Shingu Port?
Well, it seems they don’t shake up the times much. The picture below is the ferry timetable, which I took in 2019. However, it also matches the online timetable at Navitime, as I checked it in June 2025.
The first column is the time that the ferry leaves Ainoshima, and the second is when it
The part that starts with four is the summer timings (April to September), and the part that begins with ten (marked in red below and meaning October to March) is the winter ones.
How Much Does it Cost?
The fare for an adult is 480 yen, and for a child, it’s 240 yen.
The day I travelled, there was no one manning the ticket booth, and the machine displayed nothing in English, so at first I thought I’d bought a return ticket. I was a bit confused when they took it off me as I left the ferry.
Turns out you only buy a single fare, and so you’ll need to go to the ticket office on the island to buy your return ticket before you get back on.
I saw a few people who hadn’t realised this having to run to the office, so make sure you pick up your ticket before you try to board the boat.
The ticket office is in this building to the left of the ferry if you’re facing the sea/boat.
Make sure you have cash, as the establishment doesn’t accept credit cards, and there may not be a staff member available.
Catching the Ferry
In summer, you’ll want to arrive in plenty of time for your boat. The ferry only seats 150 people, and apparently, it does get full.
If there are a lot of people, buy your ticket and then queue in the covered walkway that runs from the ticket office to the boat to secure your spot.
Also, be careful in rough weather – when the seas are high, they will only let people sit inside the ferry, and that cuts capacity to just 80 people.
Watch out if you get seasick too – I went in February and it was a pretty bouncy trip. It’s fairly short, but I was glad I had some stomach-settling chocolate in my bag!
Getting to Ainoshima from Kokura
I wasn’t staying in Fukuoka itself during this part of the trip but in nearby Kokura.
Now, according to a map I found at Kokura Station, there is a direct ferry from Kokura to Ainoshima, but I only discovered this as I stood at the station waiting for the train I’d chosen to use to get there.
I therefore can’t vouch for the service, but you’ll find the timetable for the Kokura to Ainoshima ferry here. Make sure you check the right dates as the schedule varies throughout the year – also note that on busy days, you will need to pick up a numbered ticket to be allowed on the ferry, so make sure you get there early.
Can I Buy Cat Food? It’s Cat Heaven Island after all…
Probably, but don’t.
You shouldn’t feed the cats on the island, although I saw plenty of people doing just that in order to get better pictures.
However, it’s bad for the cats.
Don’t be that person. Photograph the kitties, pet the kitties if they’ll let you, but don’t feed the kitties.
Also, respect the fact that the island is someone’s home.
The residents who live here didn’t ask for it to become a tourist attraction, so please don’t litter, don’t go onto their property, buy some things locally to help them out and respect the fact that they get priority on the ferry.
Are There Any Restaurants?
There are four restaurants in the port. You can choose from Restaurant Umi (closed on Thursdays), which serves a mix of Western dishes, such as pizza and pasta. There’s also a sushi restaurant, a seafood restaurant, and Maruyama, located right by the ferry port, offering a variety of dishes, including udon and croquettes. It is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
If you’re visiting outside the summer season, though, double-check the opening hours. I was there in February, and very little was open.
There are a lot of drink vending machines on the port, so you can at least pick up liquid.
Once you leave the port, there’s nothing obvious marked on the map, so if you are venturing further afield, I’d make sure you take a drink and any food you might need with you.
Is This the Only Cat Island in Japan?
No, while this is the cat island of Fukuoka, there are about 11 more in other prefectures of Japan.
Aoshima in Ehime Prefecture has been the most famous island, but the cat numbers are falling here and it will soon no longer call itself a cat island.
And Tashirojima, which is close to the town of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture. The closest big town to this is Sendai. I tried to go here in 2023, but the ferry doesn’t run in bad weather – and I was not lucky. Build in a little bit of leeway with your dates if you want to visit this one.
What to Read Next
If bunnies are more your thing, don’t miss a trip to Okunoshima aka Rabbit Island. Read our ultimate guide to Bunny Island here. Unlike Ainoshima, feeding the bunnies here is strongly encouraged, and it makes for some very cute photos.
If you’re staying in Fukuoka and looking for other fun things to do, then see our guide to cool things to do in Fukuoka
If, like me, you’re staying in Kokura, then we also have a guide to fun things to do in this fabulous town. Find our Kokura guide here.
Who Writes Differentville?
My name is Helen Foster and I’m a journalist and author living in Sydney.
My travel articles have been published in titles including The Australian, Body & Soul at the Sunday Telegraph, RAC Horizons, Jetstar magazine and more.
I like the weird, the wonderful and anything that makes me jump and down with glee like I’m about three. That’s what you’ll find here.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links which mean I earn a small commission if you use them to book. This does not cost you any extra.
My trip to Western Japan was hosted by the Japan National Tourism Organisation who paid for my flights and hotel and organised the itinerary. However, they have not had any input into what I write about, or what I say about it, all opinions and excitement are
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Very helpful post; thank you. However, could you confirm this bit please:
“Times do change though so if you want to check the current ferry timetable from Shingu to Ainoshima, it’s listed here. It’;s all in Japanese but if you don’t have access to any translation apps, the first column shows you when the ferry leaves the island, the second one is when it leaves Shingu port.”
I don’t read Japanese, but the table in link you had provided seems to be same as in the photo you had posted. For the photo, your information was that the first column shows the time when the ferry leaves Shingu, and the second if for when the ferry leaves Ainoshima.
I would be grateful if you could confirm which is the correct column for ferry departures – I am planning a trip to the island next month.
Thank you.
Well spotted – thank you for noticing and querying it. In the photo the right-hand side column is boats leaving Shingu (I got the 11.30 ferry)- the first column is boats leaving Ainoshima. Apologies, I’ll correct that now. Hope you have a fantastic time. I’m putting some more Fukuoka posts up over the next few weeks, so sign up for the mailing list if you want to get a heap more quirky things to do when they go live.
Thank you! I really enjoyed my time in Fukuoka and Ainoshima.