Discover a hidden coastal paradise at Yu Island (Yushima, 湯島), Kumamoto’s famous “Cat Island” floating in the serene Ariake Sea (有明海). Spanning just 4 kilometers in circumference, this tranquil car-free retreat is home to a feline population that famously outnumbers its human residents, making it a dream destination for animal lovers and photographers alike. Beyond its friendly cats, Yushima Island boasts a rich samurai history as the secret meeting site for leaders of the Shimabara Rebellion (島原の乱) in the beginning of the Edo period, earning it the nickname “Dango-jima.” Whether you are visiting to see the retro Taisho-era lighthouse, taste the rare and sweet Yushima Daikon, or enjoy a peaceful “heart-shaped” photo op at the ancient Akou tree, Yu Island offers an authentic escape into the slow-paced charm of the Amakusa archipelago.
What to Do and See on Yu Island
How to Get to Yu Island
The ferries depart for Yushima Island from Ebito Port (江樋戸港). Because there are no train stations close to the port, you will have to take the bus, Amakusa-gō (天草号) from either JR Uto Station (宇土駅), JR Ōda Station (網田駅) or JR Kumamoto Station (熊本駅) and get off at Sun Pearl stop (さんぱーる). This option will take around 90 minutes.
HERE is the timetable for Amakusa-gō. The English timetable is currently unavailable. If you can’t read the Japanese timetable by matching the characters, you can Contact Us, and we will get back to you. Alternatively, use one of Japan’s Transportation Apps to plan your visit!
If you plan to board the bus from JR Ōda Station, the bus stop is called Ōda Eki-Mae (網田駅前). From the Sun Pearl stop, it is another 10-minute walk to Ebito Port.
Tips:
☛ There are quite a few bus stops at JR Kumamoto Station. So it might be better to get off at JR Uto Station, since there is only one bus stop at its east exit. The bus stop is Uto Eki Higashiguchi (宇土駅東口).
☛ Sit on the right side of the bus for the magnificent ocean view on the way to Ebito Port.
If you plan to drive, there are plenty of parking spaces in the car park near Ebito Port.
Ferry from Ebito Port to Yu Island
From Ebito Port, it will take another 30 minutes before you arrive at Yushima Island.
- The ferry fare for junior high school students and above is 800 yen. Elementary school students are charged 400 yen for the ferry trip.
- If you are traveling with more than one child/toddler aged 1 or older, the first child is free, and from the second child onward, the ferry fare is the same as for elementary school students.
For the ferry’s timetable, please refer to the table above the map on the official website HERE. The first column is the ferry’s departure time from Yu Island. For services departing from Ebito Port, refer to the second column.
Tips:
☛ We recommend taking one of the first three ferry services to fully enjoy Yu Island.
☛ Head to the upper deck for a better view during the boat trip.
☛ Cover your ears once the ferry goes past Yu Island’s breakwater. You will be surprised by how loud the sound of the horn will be!
Important:
☛ Remember to take preventative measures for travel sickness.
☛ If you find a cat on the ferry, bring it to the staff. It is most likely that they wanted to explore the world from Yu Island!
About the Cats on Yu Island
If your dream is to be surrounded by heaps of cats or even to have a few of them resting on your lap, Yu Island might just be where that dream will come true! After all, out of the 500 residents of Yushima, 200 are cats! Soon after you get off the ferry, you will be greeted by a cat god stone statue (Yushima Myōjinzō, 湯島猫神像), a big indication of how much love the locals have for cats. The laid-back island is like a residence for an enormous family, and those cats that walk freely across Yushima are indispensable family members.
Since ancient times, fishermen in Japan have believed that cats can beckon big fish. So cats are cherished in many fishing ports across the country. This is one of the reasons that Yu Island is a cat’s utopia!
Although many live outdoors freely and are cared for by the villagers, the locals categorize the cats on Yu Island as non-stray.
Because there aren’t many cars on the island and thus no traffic lights, you will find many cats lying in the middle of the road. Even when a car is driving toward them, they won’t bother to walk away at all. It is up to the driver to move the cat to the side of the road so the car can proceed further (´▽｀*).
Tips:
☛ If you see an orange cat resting on a stone bench near the cat god stone, it is likely Aka-kun (アカくん). He is the cat that will most likely hop onto your lap if you sit on the bench.
☛ Cat feed (Neko no Esa, 猫の餌) can be purchased from the shop near the port. Next to the cat god statue, some might be placed inside a white box for you to buy.
The Cute Cat Signs on Yu Island
A unique thing about Yu Island is the orange Cat Spot Sign (猫スポット).
When you arrive at a cat spot sign, give it a few minutes if there are no cats. At least one of them will soon show up for some affection!
When you arrive at one of the cat spot signs, give them a few minutes if there are no cats. At least one of them will soon show up for some affection!
Yu Island and Shimabara Rebellion
While everything seemed so peaceful on the island, at the beginning of the Edo period, it was where the plotting of the Shimabara Rebellion (島原の乱) took place. Close to the cat god statue, you might see a painting of a couple of guys sitting around a bonfire, appearing to be discussing something. The painting depicts an important part of the history of Yu Island.
Back at the beginning of the Edo period, harsh annual tributes were collected from the people of the Shimabara Domain (島原藩). For those who couldn’t afford annual tributes, severe penalties applied. In addition to the tributes, Shimabara Domain forbade its citizens from being Christian. Those who insisted on staying Christian were either penalized or executed with capital sentences.
The situation had led to an outbreak of anger among the Christians, farmers, and the samurai without a lord/master. The leader who emerged from the group was Amakusa Shirō (天草四郎), who was 16 years of age at the time.
Because Yu Island was their secret base where they planned the uprising, the island is also known as “Meeting Island (Dangōjima, 談合島).
Suwa Shrine (諏訪神社) and Mine Park (峯公園)
On the way to Mine Park at the top of the island and at an altitude of 104 meters, you will walk past Suwa Shrine.
What is famous about this shrine is an unimpressive stone water container (鍛冶水盤) in its precinct. Apparently, it was used when Amakusa Shirō and the repellents were making weapons.
In autumn, when the foliage of the 300-year-old ginkgo tree turns golden, it is another thing that will catch your attention!
The promenade beyond the shrine consists of some steep slopes. What is waiting at the top of the hill after around a 20-minute hike is an observation deck, from where you will get a panoramic view of Yu Island.
Apparently, it is where Amakusa Shirō and his fellow discussed details about their uprising in late 1637.
If you come between December and February, you might see the villagers harvesting Yu Island’s specialty, Yushima Raddish (湯島大根).
Yushima Lighthouse (湯島灯台)
You would have seen the white lighthouse from the observation deck at Yu Island’s west is called Yushima Lighthouse. It was completed in 1916.
It is another spot on Yu Island that cat lovers would want to visit. At the lower part of the lighthouse, illustrations of cats are painted. If you check them out in a clockwise direction, you will soon realize they tell a lovely story together.
The mountains across the sea that you can see from the lighthouse are where Nagasaki’s Shimabara is. The main stage of the Shimabara Rebellion ended with Tokugawa Shogunate’s victory in 1638.
Furthermore, the stairs leading to the lighthouse also have paws painted. It is almost like a cat is leading you to one of the best attractions on Yu Island!
Yushima Beach (湯島海水浴場)
Just a 6-minute walk from Yushima Port, the small but gorgeous Yushima Beach is where sea turtles lay their eggs. So if you visit Yu Island from May to July, watch your steps just in case some turtle eggs or baby turtles are on your way!
The Heart-Shaped Ficus Superba
Just a 2-minute walk from Yushima Port, there is a large ficus superb tree.
The tree was planted more than 100 years ago as a windbreak. But, as time passed by, the shape of the tree started to look like a heart! So couples started to take photos in front of the tree, hoping they could live happily ever after!
Tip: The tree is another spot on Yu Island where cats gather. So before you snap a photo of the tree, how about waiting for a few minutes for the felines to step into the photo?
Furthermore, close to the Ficus superb tree, there is a large rock that was used for mooring in the past. Nowadays, it is another popular spot for those seeking the ideal partner. It is said that if you put both hands on the rock, it will use its magical power and find that perfect person for you soon!
How Much Time Is Required to Explore Yu Island?
As mentioned previously, Yu Island isn’t all that big. But it does have a couple of attractions that you can stop by.
Strolling around the island will only take around 60 minutes. But you will want to leave yourself enough time to play with cats and have photography sessions.
Thus, in total, around 2 to 2.5 hours should be enough. Note that this doesn’t include time for dining in one of the two restaurants on the island. The restaurants don’t have vegetarian options.
Discover Other Cat Islands in Japan
Yu Island isn’t the only cat island in Japan. Such islands are actually scattered across the country. So, if you are a cat lover, how about planning a trip to visit various cat islands in Japan next time?
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 interested, find out more information about this island with our article on Ōkunoshima, filled with a massive rabbit population!
