Cat inn “Tsunomiyaso” in Minamisanriku, Miyagi | A fisherman’s inn with Mike-chan who welcomes you outdoors and features seafood caught in the morning

This article is a research guide based on the Tsunomiyaso official website and Minamisanriku Town Tourism Association official reservation website as of 2026-08-19. This is not an actual accommodation coverage article. Mike-chan’s attendance, physical condition, location, transportation, and accommodation conditions will change, so please check the latest information about the accommodation before making a reservation.

“Tsunomiyaso” in Minamisanriku-cho, Motoyoshi-gun, Miyagi Prefecture is a small inn run by a couple overlooking Shizugawa Bay. The owner, a fisherman, keeps the seafood he catches in the morning in a fish tank in the ocean, and when the guests arrive, they unload the catch and cook it. We value the food experience typical of a seaside guesthouse.

Also on the premises is Mike, a calico cat who has chosen a kennel as his home. The official website states that while guests are not allowed inside the inn, they may greet guests who like cats. This is not the type of place where you can spend time with the cat in the guest room, but rather an inn where you can wait for chance encounters outdoors.

Mike, a calico cat, chose a kennel as his home

According to Tsunomiyaso’s official website, Mike-chan is a calico cat who originally lived in the inn’s kennel and was given a name, becoming the inn’s idol. Rather than a cat living in a guest room or lobby, life is centered outdoors.

From the official guide, you can see Mike-chan appearing in the introduction of the current inn and greeting cat lovers. However, it is not possible to confirm whether they will be petted, what time of day they are likely to appear, or the range within which guests can approach. Therefore, Neko Yado Research classifies it as C “meeting resident cat (unconfirmed contact).”

Cats that spend time outdoors change their location depending on the weather, temperature, and presence of people. Even if you stay overnight, you may not be able to meet them, so it does not mean they will always come to greet you. If meeting Mike-chan is important to you, please check with the inn about his current status and daily routine when making a reservation.

If you meet outdoors, leave a clear path and wait.

If you meet Mike-chan, first ask the inn staff if you can get close to her or take pictures of her. It is important to wait for the cat to approach you and do not block the entrance to the kennel or the route of movement.

Please avoid giving other people’s meals or snacks that you have brought to them, or guiding them inside the inn. Since the official website states that “no one comes inside the inn,” it is important that guests do not change their living area. When taking photos, keep your distance and avoid using a flash to avoid chasing them into the road.

If the cat lowers its ears, lowers its body, or tries to move away, do not approach it any further. When meeting outdoor cats, the value is not so much in touching them, but in being able to quietly watch them live in their natural habitat.

The guest room is a Japanese-style room with 8 tatami mats, and the toilet and washroom are shared.

The official website states that the guest room is an 8 tatami Japanese-style room. While the rooms facing the sea have a view of Shizugawa Bay, the inn itself frankly explains the age of the building, and the toilets and washrooms are shared. It is suitable for people who prefer a quiet environment and a stay in a guesthouse rather than the new facilities of a hotel.

The guest room is equipped with air conditioning, TV, yukata robe, small towel, toothbrushing set, kettle, and tea set. There are official instructions to bring your own bath towels, so don’t forget them when packing.

The number of guest rooms is not consistent between the official website and the Minamisanriku Town Tourism Association page. Please be sure to check the number of rooms currently available, whether or not you can specify a sea-side guest room, stairway access, non-smoking requirements, etc. on the reservation plan screen or by contacting the inn.

Dinner with seafood caught in the morning

A distinctive feature of Tsunomiyaso is the seafood caught by the fisherman owner in the sea right in front of the inn. The official website describes the process of releasing the ingredients landed in the morning into the sea’s living tanks, then going back to retrieve them around 15:00 to begin dinner preparations.

Examples of dishes include seasonal sashimi, scallops, oysters, octopus, and boiled fish. However, the content changes depending on the day’s fishing and the season. If you are looking for a specific type of seafood, or if you have an allergy to crustaceans or shellfish, please inquire before making a reservation to see if this can be accommodated.

Dinner and breakfast are served at the inn’s dining area. Mike-chan does not go inside the inn, so this is not an inn where you can eat in the same space as cats. Apart from meeting cats, this is an inn where you can enjoy seafood from Minamisanriku as the main purpose of your trip.

The bath may be reserved for each guest room.

Inside the inn there are separate baths for men and women, and the official website states that each guest room can be reserved for private use. As we cannot confirm information about the hot springs, we do not treat it as a hot spring inn.

Please check when you arrive to find out when it can be reserved for private use and how to use it on the day. Conditioner shampoo, soap, and body wash are provided in the bathroom, but you will need to bring your own bath towel.

Prior consultation is required for pick-up from Rikuzen-Tokura Station

The address is 34 Kappazawa, Tokura, Minamisanriku-cho, Motoyoshi-gun, Miyagi Prefecture. By car, it is approximately 10km from the Shizugawa Interchange on the Sanriku Expressway. In winter, it is necessary to prepare winter tires and chains in case of snow and ice.

For public transportation, the closest station is Rikuzen-Tokura Station on the JR Kesennuma Line BRT. On the official access page, there is a notice stating that “We do not provide transportation to and from the inn,” and “We can provide transportation to Rikuzen-Tokura Station if you contact us in advance.” Therefore, please do not assume that the shuttle is available all the time, and directly confirm the date and time, number of people, and availability before making a reservation. The “pick-up available” attribute in this article also indicates this station pick-up service that can be negotiated in advance.

Suitable people and things to note before making a reservation

Suitable people

• A person who can quietly wait for a chance encounter with Mike-chan who lives outdoors
• Even if you can’t meet a cat, you can enjoy seafood caught in the morning and a stay by the seaside.
• People who would like to choose the atmosphere of a rustic fisherman’s guesthouse rather than new facilities.
• People who can use shared toilets/washrooms and bring their own bath towels.
• Someone who can arrange transportation from Rikuzen-Tokura Station by consulting with them in advance.

People who need confirmation before booking

• People who require contact with cats or guest-room visits
• People who are allergic to cats or other animals
• People who need a guest room with a toilet/washroom
• People with seafood allergies or those who request a specific menu
• People who visit by public transportation and want to be sure to use the shuttle service

Basic information

Summary

Tsunomiyaso is a small inn overlooking Shizugawa Bay, and is home to Mike, a calico cat who lives in a kennel on the premises. Mike does not enter the inn or guest rooms, but may greet cat-loving guests outside, which is different from the typical inside-the-inn cat.

Since it is not promised that you can touch or see the cat, the classification is C. Do not focus solely on the cat; instead, make the seafood from Minamiyagi prepared by the innkeeper and the quiet seaside time the main focus of your trip. You will be more satisfied even if you cannot meet the cat. If you do meet the cat, please respect Mike’s choice of outdoor living and distance.

Related articles

• List of cat accommodations in Miyagi Prefecture
• Difference between “meeting a cat” and “being able to touch a cat”
• How to have fun when you can’t meet the cat at the cat inn

Sources

• Tsunomiyaso official website
• Official website/guest room/inside the inn
• Official website/Cooking
• Official website/Prices/Reservations
• Official website/access/surrounding information
• Minamisanriku Town Tourism Association Official Reservation Site “Minatabi”/Tsunomiyaso