Use the
Planning a Trip to Japan?
Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp
HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Camping with Cats
Tashirojima’s Manga Island, a destination in Tohoku for lovers of cats and nature
Miyagi Prefecture
Cat Island Tashirojima in Miyagi Prefecture is home to a public campground featuring adorable cat-shaped cabins. Dubbed Manga Island, the campground is operated by the City of Ishinomaki as an affordable lodging for visitors to the island in summer and autumn. The interiors of the cabins are decorated with cat-themed art drawn by famous manga artists, including Miyagi’s own Tetsuya Chiba, known in Japan for producing sports manga about boxing and sumo wrestling.
Even if you choose not to stay overnight, the campground features picnic tables and a grassy lawn area, making it a good picnic spot for a day trip. It overlooks the ocean and is a great spot for stargazing on clear nights. Better yet, the friendly, free-roaming cats of the island often come by looking for food and affection.
Each cabin accommodates five to six people and comes equipped with bedding, a shower, kitchen utensils, and cooking equipment.
How to get there
From Tokyo Station, take the Shinkansen bullet train to Sendai Station (about 1 hour 30 minutes). From Sendai Station, take the JR Senseki Tohoku Line to Ishinomaki Station (about 1 hour). From Ishinomaki Station, take the bus (about 7 minutes) or walk (about 15 minutes) to the Ishinomaki Chuo Ferry Terminal. Manga Island is about 45 minutes by boat from the terminal.
Tashirohama, Ishinomaki-shi, Miyage-ken
