Yes, Aoshima, also known as Cat Island, is a real-life island in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, and no optical illusion. As the name suggests, it’s best known for its large number of feline residents. The cats here outnumber humans by a ratio of approximately 6:1, and they were first introduced on ships in the area, but remained on the island and vastly repopulated. Continue reading for another video and more pictures.
The island is roughly 1 mile (1.6 km) long. It was formerly part of Nagahama in Kita District, but, as of 2005, is part of Ozu. To get to the Aoshima cat island, you can take a one-way boat from Port Nagahama, which takes around 30 minutes. The boat ride is located in front of JR Iyo-Nagahama Station.
