Visit Kyushu
The Official Kyushu Travel Guide

This small island, a little over an hour north of Hakata Station, is heaven for cat lovers. The island is home to about 500 people and hundreds of stray cats, who spend their days relaxing in the sun, posing for photos and seeking out fishy treats. You will find most of the cats around the main ferry port and—not surprisingly—near the Ainoshima Fisheries Association. It is also worth exploring the 5.4 kilometer road that loops around the island. It includes many of the area's most famous sights, such as the Ainoshima Tumuli (stone burial mounds), the arched Hanagurise rock formation, and several ancient shrines.