Ojika Island Cat Sanctuary Garden

A Sanctuary Built From Scratch

The Shimayado Goen guesthouse converted a plot beside its inn into a fully netted, predator-proof garden so that rescued cats can roam freely instead of living caged. Pallet-wood platforms, camp chairs, potted palms, and a doghouse-style shelter give the residents places to climb, hide, and nap throughout the enclosure.

Free-Roaming Feline Residents

Each cat in the garden was taken in from the island's stray population and given a name by the innkeepers. The camera lets viewers follow their day-to-day routines — stretching on the artificial turf, weaving through the potted greenery, or settling into one of the scattered resting spots — a rare, continuous look at grassroots animal rescue in action.

Life on a Remote Gotō Island

Ojika Island is one of the small, sparsely populated islands of the Gotō archipelago off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture, reached by ferry from the Kyushu mainland. Beyond fishing and small-scale tourism, the island is known locally for its community-driven efforts to care for its free-roaming cat population, of which this garden is a visible part.