Ainoshima Island (相島) is a cat island in Fukuoka Prefecture. It is one of our favorite cat islands in Japan. The small heart-shaped island is around 7.5 km off the coast of Shingū Town (新宮町), north of Fukuoka City. The island that once hosted up to 500 Korean emissaries is now one of the world’s most famous cat destinations. So if you are a cat lover, how about a trip to Ainoshima when you visit northern Kyūshū on your next Japan trip?
Since CNN broadcast the cats on Ainoshima to the world, the island has been receiving visitors from around the globe. Currently, there are more than 230 cats on Aionoshima Island. With only around 280 human residents, the cat population is enormous! So, if you are a cat lover, check out Ainoshima Island when you visit Fukuoka next time.
In addition to the cute felines, we will also go through other things to do on Ainoshima in this article (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
Table of Contents
- How to Get to Ainoshima
- About the Cats on Ainoshima
- Things to Watch Out for on Ainoshima
- Cycling Around Ainoshima Island
- Ainoshima Information Center (相島観光案内所)
- Wakamiya Shrine (若宮神社)
- Dragon Lord Rock (龍王石)
- Tōmi Guardhouse Ruins (遠見番所跡)
- Taikō Shioi’s Stones (太閤潮井の石)
- Ana Kannon (穴観音)
- Ainoshima Stone Tumuli (相島積石塚群)
- Hanagurise Rock (鼻栗瀬)
Tip: If you understand Japanese and plan to visit Ainoshima on a Sunday, you can join Shingū Town’s Ainoshima Walking Tour. It only costs 500 yen per person. Refer to HERE for more information.
How to Get to Ainoshima
The ferries bound for Ainoshima Island depart from the Shingū Port (新宮港) in Shingū Town. The trip will take around 20 minutes.
Assuming you are coming from Hakata Station (博多駅), there are a few ways that you can get to Shingū Port.
Important: There are no convenience stores around Shingū Port.
Refer to HERE for the consolidated timetable of the bus and ferry service from and to Nishitetsu’s Nishitetsu-Shingū Station (西鉄新宮駅) and JR Fukko-Daimae Station (福工大前駅).
- 3月1日から10月31日まで means from March to October.
- 11月1日から2月末日まで means from November to February.
If you don’t read Japanese, use one of Japan’s Transport Apps to plan your trip.
You can also refer to the below if you want to board the community bus from other stations.
How to Get to Shingū Port
- From Hakata Station, take Nishitetsu’s trains to Nishitetsu-Shingū Station (西鉄新宮駅). Then change for the Community Bus’s Ai-land Line’s (コミュニティバス 相ランド線) second route and get off at Ainoshima Tosenba (相島渡船場).
- The train trip takes around 40 minutes and requires one transfer.
- The bus trip takes around 15 minutes.
- From Hakata Station, take a JR train to JR Fukkō Daimae Station (福工大前駅). Then change for the Community Bus’s Ai-land Line’s (コミュニティバス 相ランド線) first route and get off at Ainoshima Tosenba (相島渡船場).
- The train trip takes around 20 minutes and requires one transfer.
- The bus trip takes around 10 minutes.
- From Hakata Station, take a JR train to JR Shingū-chuō Station (新宮中央駅). Then change for the Community Bus’s Ai-land Line’s (コミュニティバス 相ランド線) first route and get off at Ainoshima Tosenba (相島渡船場).
- The train trip takes around 25 minutes and requires one transfer.
- The bus trip takes around 35 minutes.
- For the service’s weekday timetable, refer to HERE. The Saturday’s timetable is HERE, and HERE is the timetable for Sundays and public holidays.
- The “相らんど線(第1ルート・時計回り) 行先番号1⃣” is the timetable for services traveling in the clockwise direction and the “相らんど線(第2ルート・逆回り) 行先番号2⃣” is the timetable for services traveling in the anti-clockwise direction.
- コミュニティバス時刻表（平日ダイヤ）is the timetable for the bus services on weekdays
- コミュニティバス時刻表（土曜ダイヤ）is the timetable for the bus services on Saturdays
- コミュニティバス時刻表（日曜日・祝日ダイヤ） is the timetable for the bus services on Sundays and public holidays.
- The “相らんど線(第1ルート・時計回り) 行先番号1⃣” is the timetable for services traveling in the clockwise direction and the “相らんど線(第2ルート・逆回り) 行先番号2⃣” is the timetable for services traveling in the anti-clockwise direction.
For the timetable above, “夏季” is for March to October, and “冬季” is for November to February.
The bus fare is 100 yen.
Tip: While in Japanese, you can check where the community bus’s current location HERE.
Ainoshima Ferry Timetable and Ferry Cost
The cost of a one-way ferry trip from Shingū Port to Aionoshima Island is as follows. You can purchase your Ainoshima ferry ticket at the port.
- 480 yen for adults
- 240 yen for elementary school students and below
- Free for infants less than one year old
For the ferry’s timetable, please refer to the official website HERE.
- The first table is for March to October. The second table is for November to February.
- The first column is the departure time from Ainoshima Island. The second column is the departure time from Shingū Port.
Tip: Head to the second floor of the ferry for a better view after you are aboard.
Important:
☛ Services may be canceled due to bad weather.
☛ If the ferry has reached its capacity, you will have to take the next service. This sometimes happens on weekends and public holidays.
About the Cats on Ainoshima Island
The cats on Ainoshima are extremely used to humans to the point that some might even approach you and rub themselves against you!
Originally, the Ainoshia’s residents introduced cats to the island to protect their fishing gear and crops from mice. With few natural enemies and ample food, the number of cats on Ainoshima skyrocketed.
Tip: It is best not to visit Ainoshima on a hot day because the cats will hide in the shade.
We also want to note that sterilization surgery was performed on the cats on Ainoshima in 2021. The island has been advertised as a cat’s paradise globally. But there are way too many cats on the island for the carers to care for. This has resulted in some cats being malnourished and/or sick. Thus, the hard decision was made by Ainoshima’s residents.
Things to Watch Out for on Ainoshima Island
- Please don’t feed the cats for their health
- Don’t try to catch them and bring them somewhere else. They have their territory.
It is probably best to only play with the cats that approach you at their own will. For those who want their own space, let’s respect their privacy and take photos of them from a distance. This is especially important if you see a cat family. Trying to touch the little kitten will result in an attack from the mother cat.
Important: Although there are restaurants on Ainoshima Island, the main dishes on the set menus are either sashimi or meat dishes. If you are strict with your vegetarian diet, please bring your own food, as the noodle soup broth also contains seafood extract.
Cycling Around Ainoshima Island
Ainoshima has a circumference of around 6 km. The best way to enjoy what the island has to offer is probably by hiking along the 5.4 km promenade, where you have a chance to meet the wild animals (other than cats) and discover Ainoshima’s historical heritage.
As it will take around 2 to 3 hours to stroll through the promenade, how about renting a bicycle to reduce travel time between the small attractions on Ainoshima Island?
While not intuitively, a sushi restaurant called Sushi Sakanano Shippo (寿し さかなのしっぽ) offers bicycle rental service. The cost is 1,000 yen per hour.
For more information, please refer to the official website HERE and translate it using your browser’s translation function.
Ainoshima Information Center (相島観光案内所)
Ainoshima’s tourist center is called ‘Shima no Eki Ainoshima’ (島の駅あいのしま). It is where you can get all the tourist information you need.
Furthermore, the Shimano Eki has various cat-themed souvenirs such as biscuits and cups.
- Ainoshima Information Center is open from
- 10 am to 5 pm from March to October
- 10 am to 4:30 pm from November to February
- Light meals are served from 10:30 am to an hour before the center closes for the day.
Wakamiya Shrine (若宮神社)
Located near the ferry terminal is the Wakamiya Shrine. On the precinct, there is a sacred tree called ‘Umino Shiba’ (産の柴). An interesting custom is that locals use the tree’s leaves as a charm for safe delivery.
Dragon Lord Rock (龍王石)
At the south end of Ainoshima, a Dragon Lord Rock is enshrined. The locals treat the rock as an object of worship for the God of Water named Hachidai Ryūō (八大龍王).
With most islanders working as fishermen, the rock has been revered. A Ryūō Festival is held on the 15th of November to pray for a good fish catch for the following year.
Even if you don’t believe in the myth of a dragon lord, we would still recommend you pay the rock a visit for the magnificent ocean view from where the rock is. Also, while it is hard to tell the size of the rock from a photo, with a height of 216 cm, it is taller than most of us!
Tōmi Guardhouse Ruins (遠見番所跡)
After the Shimabara Rebellion (島原の乱) in 1638, Japan entered an era of national isolation. To monitor the arrival of foreign ships, five guardhouses were established in Fukuoka Prefecture, with one located on Ainoshima Island.
The guardhouse was built on high ground at an elevation of 77 meters. This allowed the guards to see as far as possible.
Back then, two guards and three foot soldiers were stationed at the guardhouse each day. Fukuoka Domain’s ship would be dispatched if a foreign vessel was discovered to chase the unwelcome ship away.
Nowadays, you can still see the stonewalls of the guardhouse. Next to it, a white lighthouse replaces the guardhouse.
Taikō Shioi’s Stones (太閤潮井の石)
Although Toyotomi Hideyoshi united Japan, he wasn’t satisfied. In 1592 and 1597, he sent troops to Korea, hoping to expand Japan’s territory.
On the way to Nagoya Castle (名護屋城) in Saga Prefecture, he stopped by Ainoshima. It is said that Hideyoshi piled thousands of stones and prayed to the Thousand-arms Kannon statue for victory and safe sailing.
At the place where Hideyoshi made the prayer, a shrine (Iwamiyamiya Shrine, 岩宮神社) was erected.
Ana Kannon (穴観音)
Close to Taikō Shioi’s Stones, there is a cave underneath a cliff that enshrines a Kannon Bodhisattva. The cavern used to be accessible. However, after a recent earthquake, it was determined to be too dangerous to go down the small path, and entry is currently forbidden for your safety.
Ainoshima Stone Tumuli (相島積石塚群)
The tumuli in the southeast of Ainoshima were determined to be a graveyard from the 4th to the 7th century. A total of 254 tombs were discovered during research. Unlike other ancient tombs in Japan, which are covered with soil, the entire Ainoshima tomb is made of stone.
Due to its uniqueness, the Tumuli were designated a National Historic Site in 2001.
Hanagurise Rock (鼻栗瀬)
Around 300 meters from Ainoshima’s southeast coast, there is a gigantic basalt. The sea cave, with a height of 200 meters, resembles a monocle, which is why the locals call it Megane Rock (めがね岩).
Discover Other Cat Islands in Japan
Ainoshima Island isn’t the only island in Japan known as a cat island. Such islands are actually scattered across the country.
To find out about other cat islands in Japan, refer to our article on the Top 10 Cat Islands in Japan!
The Rabbit Island in Japan
In addition to all the cat islands, Japan also has a rabbit island. If you are an animal lover, you can meet the adorable deer on Miyajima Island and rabbits on Ōkunoshima Island during your next Japan trip!
If you are interested, find out more information about this island with our article on Ōkunoshima, filled with a massive rabbit population!
