Sanagi Island (佐柳島) in Kagawa Prefecture‘s Nakatado District (仲多度郡) was originally known for the Daitengu Shrine. The long‐nosed goblin enshrined here is famous for his ability to help pilgrims retrieve their lost possessions. However, more recently, Sanagi Island in Shikoku has gained a reputation as a cat island, where cats are known to jump between the stones on the embankments along the coastline.
With a circumference of only 4 km, Sanagi Island is smaller than the imperial palace in Tokyo. Currently, it has fewer than 70 human residents.
Substituting a local specialty as a selling point, what has been attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists is its feline inhabitants, which outnumber the human residents.
Why are there so many cats? If you watch the interactions between the residents and the cats, you will notice that cats are cherished on Sanagi Island. Even if the cats picked up a few fish that had just been caught in the morning, no one would get mad at them.
Things to Do on Sagani Island
- How to Get to Sanagi Island
- Things to Watch Out for on Sanagi Island
- What to Bring to Sanagi Island
- The Cats Won’t Jump Between the Disconnected Embankment?
- How Long to Spend on Sanagi Island
- Around Honura Port
- Daitengu Shrine (大天狗神社)
- Neko no Shima Hostel (ネコノシマホステル)
- Around Nagahama Port
- Buried Tomb (埋め墓)
Tip: Stay in an Affordable Hotel Near Okayama Station the night before, so it is easier to visit Sanagi Island the next day.
How to Get to Sanagi Island
As there is no bridge connecting Sanagi Island with Japan’s mainland, you have to take a ferry from Tadotsu Port (多度津港).
If you plan to drive there, you can park your car beside the breakwater, free of charge.
If you plan to take trains, transfer at JR Okayama Station (岡山駅) for JR Tadotsu Station (多度津駅). You can also fly domestically to Takamatsu Airport and take a shuttle bus to JR Takamatsu Station (高松駅) to get to JR Tadotsu Station.
Regarding the ferry ticket, purchase it from the small hut on the way to the pier. Don’t worry if it is closed when you arrive; the staff will be there before the ferry’s departure time. The ferry company still wants to be paid for their service (´▽｀*).
Important: Please note that from JR Tadotsu Station to the ferry terminal, it is around a 20-minute walk.
How to Get From Osaka to Sagani Island
You can do a day trip to Sanagi Island from Osaka. Take a bullet train from JR Shin-Osaka Station to JR Okayama Station. Then, change trains for JR Tadotsu Station, where ferries depart from Tadotsu Port nearby.
The Two Ferry Terminals on Sanagi Island
Sanagi Island consists of two villages, one in the north and the other in the south. Thus, there are two ferry terminals, Honura Port (本浦港) and Nagasaki Port (長崎港). A one-way trip to the other port will take approximately 30 minutes on foot.
For sightseeing purposes, it is more recommended to get off at Honura Port (which is also cheaper).
Please note only four ferry services depart from and arrive at Tadotsu Port. All services are operated by Tadochi Kisen (たどつ汽船). The boat trip will take around an hour. Refer to the timetable HERE to plan. The cost is as follows (also in the timetable link).
- A one-way trip from Tadotsu Port to Sanagi Island’s Honura Port costs
- 690 yen for adults
- 345 yen for children
- A one-way trip from Tadotsu Port to Sanagi Island’s Nagasaki Port costs
- 790 yen for adults
- 395 yen for children
Things to Watch Out for on Sanagi Island
- Don’t give the cats too much food at once. Let them finish what is given before giving them more to keep the environment clean.
- Watch for oncoming traffic when taking photos of the cats on the road.
- Please refrain from trespassing on private property.
- Bring your garbage back with you.
What to Bring to Sanagi Island
- Although curry rice is served at Neko no Shima Hostel’s cafe, there are only 10 daily servings available (plus it isn’t vegetarian). So bring your lunch/snacks.
- While there are three convenience stores on the island, it’s a good idea to bring enough drinks/water with you in case they are closed. There are no vending machines on Sanagi Island.
- Enough cat food
- If you forgot to bring cat food, you might be able to get some from Neko no Shima Hostel on the island.
- Insect repellent
Tip: You can also have an early lunch around Tadotsu Port.
The Cats Won’t Jump Between the Disconnected Embankment?
Apparently, the cats on Sanagi Island aren’t as energetic as we thought. Most of them won’t bother to jump over to the other side of the embankment when it is disconnected. According to the islanders, the cats will only jump to the other side if there are some incentives.
So, if you see a cat near the point where the embankment is being disconnected, give it some food.
As soon as it finishes the feed, direct the cat’s attention to the other side of the embankment by shaking the bag of cat food. Of course, put some cat food on that side of the embankment before you do so.
It will follow you around when the cat realizes you have the cat feed. Thus, it will get much easier to get a photo of the cat “flying” above the disconnected point of the embankment.
On the other hand, if the cat in front of you just won’t jump, it will be easier to find another cat and try the strategy again. After all, on Sanagi Island, it is harder to find a spot without a feline.
Tip: The best place to see the cats jumping across the disconnected points of the embankment is near the Honura Port at the southern end of Sanagi Island. This is where many cats are gathered, and the distance between the embankment is just about right. Plus, you will get the Seto Inland Sea as a backdrop!
How Long to Spend on Sanagi Island
If you want to explore the entire island, allocating 2 to 3 hours would be better.
For those who only want to play with the cats, a 30-minute session might be enough for some, while others would like to spend around an hour.
Around Honura Port
Honura Port is where many of Sanagi Island’s cats linger. Because of a large cat colony, you will have a harder time finding a place without a cat than finding a cat to play with.
If you sit on a bench, they might even surprise you by jumping onto your lap!
Before you wander off to the rest of the island, remember to utilize the public toilets close to the ferry terminal.
The Yamaji Shop (山路商店) is the only convenience store in the Honura village. The official business hours are from 8 am to 6 pm (lunch break from 12 pm to 1 pm). But, they might finish early or close for the day without notice. So, it is better to bring your drinks/food to Sanagi Island.
Daitengu Shrine (大天狗神社)
If you have been to Mt. Kurama (鞍馬山) in Kyoto, you must have seen the red-faced long-nosed goblins known as Tengu. South of the Honura Port, a shrine on the top of a small hill enshrines the Tengu.
After you walk through the torii gate, you will see a Taiko drum. In the past, the islanders hit the drum at the bottom of the 367 staircases to notify the Tengu of their visit.
While climbing up to the shrine is tiring, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of the Seto Inland Sea. And remember to make a prayer to the Daitengu if you have lost valuable possessions.
Tip: Remember to check out the Tengu on the stone wall at the side of a small passageway to the shrine’s west. There is even a leaf fan on his left hand!
Isn’t Tengu Only Living in the Mountains?
For those who know Japanese mythology, having a tengu shrine on a small island on the sea is weird because the tengu is commonly known as a legendary creature living in the mountains.
The reason why Sanagi Island has a Tengu shrine is that it is thought to be connected to who the Tengu might be. One theory suggests that Tengu are actually practitioners of Shugendō (修験道), who were trained in the deep mountains. After enduring various rigorous training in the mountains, their appearance was usually quite slender, making travellers mistake them for immortal creatures that had a human appearance but weren’t human.
For more information about the Shugendō, please refer to our article on Mt. Yoshino.
On Sanagi Island, the theory suggests that the Tengus were pirates who sailed in the Seto Inland Sea in the past. Back then, the sea was considered sacred ground governed by God and “guarded” by pirates. So, to enter the holy ground, money is paid as an honorarium to God. The idea is similar to paying a toll. Thus, from the eyes of commoners back then, the pirates were seen as individuals who bore a human appearance but weren’t quite human (i.e., Tengu).
Neko no Shima Hostel (ネコノシマホステル)
Before 2015, there was no accommodation facility on Sanagi Island. However, with an increasing number of tourists visiting the island for the cats, the abandoned elementary school was transformed into a hostel. Not only is it the only place to stay overnight, but it is also the only facility that serves desserts and light meals (not vegetarian).
Originally a school, things such as anatomy, human models, and laboratory equipment are used as interior decorations, which might give you a heart attack at night if you book the science classroom…
If you are interested, please refer to their website HERE and use Google Chrome’s translation function to translate it into English.
Important: Don’t forget to bring a pair of slippers if you stay overnight in the hostel. It will be especially handy during your shower session.
Around Nagahama Port
While the number of cats around Nagahama Port isn’t as high as the number at Honura Port, they still outnumber the tourists.
If you head a bit north of the ferry terminal, you might find more cats hanging around the embankment.
Nagasaki village has two convenience stores. Yamaguchi Shop (山口商店) is close to Nagasaki Port. Its business hours are from 8:30 am to 5 pm. Another convenience store is Yuki Shop (柚木商店), which has the same business hours as Yamaguchi Shop. Similar to Yamaji Shop, don’t be surprised if you find them closed upon arrival.
Buried Tomb (埋め墓)
Around a 10-minute walk from Nagasaki Port (20 minutes from Honura Port), there is a rather unique graveyard next to the breakwater. Not only does it resemble a stone quarry, but the tomb custom also differs from other places in Japan.
Known as Ryōbosei (両墓制), the double grave system involves creating two tombs for a person: one for the burial of their remains (Umebaka, 埋め墓) and the other for memorial services (Mairibaka, 詣り墓). Apparently, it is to keep the space for the dead separate from the living space of the living.
The piled-up pebbles around the tombstones characterize the buried tomb in Nagasaki Village (長崎集落). The distinctive custom is currently Kagawa Prefecture’s Tangible Folk Cultural Property.
Discover Other Cat Islands in Japan
Sanagi Island is one of Japan’s cat islands. Other regions in Japan also have islands known as cat islands. Such islands are actually scattered across the country.
For more information about other cat islands in Japan that you can add to your itinerary, refer to our article on the Top 10 Cat Islands in Japan!
The Rabbit Island in Japan
In addition to all the cat islands in Japan, the country also has a rabbit island in Hiroshima! That’s right, Hiroshima isn’t all about the sad history of WWII.
If you are interested, find out more information about this island with our article on Ōkunoshima, filled with a massive rabbit population!
