On one idyllic Japanese island, there's no such thing as a dog person. Tashirojima is a dwindling two-port, 100-person fishing community where cats outnumber humans many times over. It's a real-life ...

While the domestic cat is believed to have originated in the Middle East, the species’ affable nature and prowess for rodent extermination has allowed it to expand across the globe, reaching some of ...

One of Japan's 'cat islands,' Tashirojima Island is home to an unusually large number of cats. With their cuddly looks and standoffish attitude, cats are full of charisma, and tourists can't seem to ...

TASHIROJIMA, Japan (AP) — On a small island off Japan’s northeastern coast, visitors make offerings at a shrine for unlikely local guardians: cats. The “Neko Jinja,” or Cat Shrine, mythologizes cats ...

ISHINOMAKI, Miyagi — TASHIROJIMA, Japan (AP) — On a small island off Japan's northeastern coast, visitors make offerings at a shrine for unlikely local guardians: cats. The "Neko Jinja," or Cat Shrine ...

Welcome to Cat Island. No, make that Cat Islands—plural! Because in Japan, there are at least two locations in Japan with that nickname. Perhaps the most well-known “neko shima” (猫島) or “cat island” ...

On a small island off Japan’s northeastern coast, there is an unlikely guardian angel: cats. The animals outnumber humans on the island of Tashirojima, and there is even a “Neko Jinja,” or cat shrine, ...

Deputy director of the social group "Nyanko Kyouwakoku" Yutaka Hama plays with cats on Tashirojima Island, Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, on Dec. 13, 2017. (Mainichi) ISHINOMAKI, Miyagi -- Here kitty, ...

Imagine combining your love of travel with your love of cats. A trip to Japan gives you that opportunity in a fun and memorable way. Millions of tourists visit the country every year for its ancient ...

Atlas Obscura on Slate is a blog about the world's hidden wonders. Like us on Facebook, Tumblr, or follow us on Twitter @atlasobscura. A 40-minute ferry ride from Ishinomaki, near Sendai, will get you ...

On a small island off Japan's northeastern coast, visitors make offerings at a shrine for unlikely local guardians: cats. The "Neko Jinja," or Cat Shrine, mythologizes cats as guardian angels of ...