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Shiraishi Island

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Overview

Shiraishi Island (白石島 Shiraishijima) is an island in the Seto Inland Sea. Administratively, it is part of Kasaoka in Okayama Prefecture.

Wikivoyage guide · 13 sections

▸Introduction136 chars

Shiraishi Island (白石島 Shiraishijima) is an island in the Seto Inland Sea. Administratively, it is part of Kasaoka in Okayama Prefecture.

▸Understand679 chars

Shiraishi is a quiet island of roughly 350 inhabitants (as of 2026). It is mostly visited for its summer activities: swimming, sea kayaking, windsurfing, and lounging on the beach. The vast majority of visitors come on weekends in July and August. The island's Bon dance, commemorating a bloody battle centuries ago, is well-known and attracts a large crowd each August.

The island also has its own miniature version of the 88 Temple Pilgrimage.

Since the 1990s, the Okayama prefectural government has specifically encouraged foreign tourism on Shiraishi Island. They help maintain the Shiraishi Island International Villa, a guesthouse specifically targeted at foreign visitors.

▸Tourist Information Site47 chars

The island has its own multilingual guide site.

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Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage

Media

From Wikipedia318 words

Introduction

Place in Honshū, JapanShiraishi Island 白石島View from a hill of Shiraishi IslandAerial photo of the islandCoordinates: 34°24′10″N 133°31′18″E / 34.40278°N 133.52167°E / 34.40278; 133.52167CountryJapanRegionHonshūPrefectureOkayama PrefectureMunicipalityKasaokaTime zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)Websitewww.shiraishiisland.com Shiraishi Island (白石島, Shiraishi-jima) is an island in the Inland Sea of Japan and is considered part of the municipality of Kasaoka, Okayama Prefecture. It is one of six inhabited islands in the Kasaoka Islands, a chain of islands most easily reached from the port city of Kasaoka on Japan's main island, Honshū.

Geographics

[edit] This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (September 2021)

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Most travelers will arrive by direct ferry from Kasaoka, which is easily accessible by JR train; it is also possible to come from Shikoku if you are willing to travel on Saturdays and change ferries a few times.

There are two ferry companies serving the route from Kasaoka to Shiraishi. The more useful of the two is operated by Sanyo Kisen (三洋汽船), and departs most frequently. The path from the train station to the Sanyo Kisen ferry terminal is well signed in English and takes less than ten minutes to walk.

Although this ferry does not carry cars, free parking is available in the summer months near their terminal. There is generally no reason to take a car to Shiraishi; the island can be walked from end to end in an hour or less.

The Sanyo Kisen ferry timetable is also available in English from the official website.

Sanyo Kisen also operates a car ferry, but it leaves from a different port.

▸Do524 chars

This is a small island, and the ocean is the name of the game. The public beach has the island's main ocean-related leisure facilities.

For sea kayaking and windsurfing, find C.G., a Japanese man with a ponytail and Hawaiian shirt.

There are annual festivals. If you're visiting during one, it should be an exciting time.

Shiraishi Odori (白石踊り). Aug 14-16. This is the biggest event on the island. These dances are performed in honor of those who died in the Genpei Wars. There are 13 dances performed over the three days.

▸Eat695 chars

If expecting to self-cater for a significant length of time, plan on shopping in Kasaoka before getting on the ferry. There is a large supermarket very close to the ferry terminal and train station there.

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1 San-chan's (さんちゃん), 457-1 Shiraishijima (At the north end of the beach), ☏ +81 86-568-3169. Jul-Aug 11:00-20:00. The only real restaurant on the island, serving simple Japanese beach fare such as curry noodles and fried rice, along with alcoholic beverages. English menu. If planning on having dinner there on a weeknight, it may be best to let them know ahead of time; they may otherwise close early. They can also arrange barbecues. ¥800–1500. (updated Sep 2017)

▸Sleep1,333 chars

1 Shiraishi International Villa (白石島国際交流ヴィラ), 317 Shiraishijima, ☏ +81 803-838-7898, shiraishijima.whitestoneisland@gmail.com. Built to give international visitors an affordable place to experience rural life in Okayama, this is the most popular and well-known accommodation on the island among non-Japanese. On a hill with a deck and views over the beach and the sunset. It also has a full kitchen. Mostly Western-style rooms, with a shared bath. English spoken by reservations staff. ¥5,000 per person. (updated Apr 2018)

2 Amagiso Ryokan (天城荘), 75-1 Shiraishijima (Just west of the beach), ☏ +81 865-68-3027. Traditional Japanese-style rooms and shared bath. During the high season, meals may be available upon advance request. No kitchen, but a barbecue area is available. ¥4,500 to 10,500 per person. (updated Sep 2017)

3 San-chan's and Shiraishi Guest House (白石島民宿海の家さんちゃん), 457-1 Shiraishijima (At the north end of the beach), ☏ +81 86-568-3169. The cheapest accommodation on the island. Reputation for being slightly less clean than the other options. The guest house is newer and has a shared kitchen. No English spoken. Free Wi-Fi. ¥5000 per person. (updated Sep 2017)

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4 Camping. Camping on the beach is free, but no equipment is provided. There are public toilets on the beach. (updated Sep 2017)

Travel and Transport

[edit] This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (September 2021) Shiraishi can be reached by scheduled ferry service from Kasaoka. The island is serviced by both passenger and car ferries and takes from 20 to 40 minutes depending on which ferry (standard or express) one takes. There are a small number of cars and other vehicles on the island. The island has one 6-km road that follows the circumference of the island. Most places are accessibly by walking. There is no bicycle rental.

Economy: Tourism, Fishing and Agriculture

[edit] Most of the resident men work as fisherman while many of the women work in vegetable gardens. In the summertime, Shiraishi Island is a popular tourist and weekend destination. Summertime visitors enjoy the island's sand beaches and the views out on the Inland Sea. The island is often visited by international visitors to Japan, partly because the government operates an inexpensive guesthouse on the island exclusively for international visitors called the Shiraishi International Villa. This is Western style accommodation with a shared bathroom, toilets, and kitchen. Japanese style accommodation is available along the beach.