The Daily Moooo

New ferry schedule, Shiraishi Island

2011-09-30T15:20:00.000-07:00

Starting Oct 1, 2011 the Sanyo Kisen Ferry schedule changes and prices increase. The Shiraishi Ferry (the car ferry) schedule and prices will not change, only Sanyo Kisen passenger ferry.

New fares are 650 yen for the regular ferry (40 mins) and 1,130 yen for the express ferry (20 mins).

The new schedule is as follows:

Leaving Kasaoka:
7:25, 8:10, 9:10, 11:10, 12:30, 14:15, 16:30, 18:00

Leaving Shiraishi:
7:05, 8:37, 9:55, 11:52, 13:42, 15:55, 17:05, 17:42

Moooo! Fest Sunday, Sept 25

2011-09-15T22:30:00.000-07:00

Moooo! Fest 2011--Theme: Hawaiian!

Last day to party with the cows on the beach this season

Sunday, Sept 25
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
at the Moooo! Bar on the beach on Shiraishi Island (under a tent if it rains).

Lunch is at 1:00 pm (reservations required)
3,000 yen includes Hawaiian food, dessert, pineapple boats, music, a lei and more! Drinks extra.

Wear your Hawaiian shirts!

Reserve by emailing shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

Hope to see you at the Moooo Fest!

Moonrise

2011-09-15T22:26:00.000-07:00

Moonrise, Sept 14, from the New Port, Shiraishi Island

Calm returns to Shiraishi Island

2011-09-03T22:44:00.001-07:00

Typhoon 12 is gone and peace has been restored! Ferries are running again and we look forward to a beautiful week with sunny weather. A few things to keep in mind over the next month or so:

1. The ferry schedules will change on Oct. 1st. I'll post the new schedule when we get closer to the date.

2. The Moooo! Fest is the last weekend in September on the 25th. I need to post something really soon about that, or see the Facebook page now. The Moooo! Fest is the last big party of the year on the beach and the last day the Moooo! Bar is open for the year. Theme: Hawaiian

3. Geelong vs. Hawthorn Friday Sept 9 at San-chan's 6:30pm. Yes, you'll have to stay overnight. Moooo!

4. The Shiraishi Fall festival, a Shinto festival, is on the first weekend in October. This is a great festival that anyone can come and enjoy! Help pull the mikoshi, party with the Gods! The international villa is full for Saturday night but there are some other places available on the island. Or you can come out for the day on Sunday, although you'll miss the moring O-meeki (toast) to the gods.

Hope to see you on the island!

Typhoon No. 12

2011-08-31T19:27:00.000-07:00

Typhoon No. 12 is headed towards Shiraishi Island but at 965 hecto pascals, it doesn't look too strong. In addition, as it will first hit Shikoku, it will lose power by the time it hits here. The weather forecast for this area says it will start raining tonight and will continue all day tomorrow, Friday, with high winds as the typhoon hits. By Saturday, the rains should be gone. The ferries will surely be all stopped tomorrow and will start up again on Saturday. We'll keep you appraised of weather conditions and ferry schedules!

Shiraishi accommodation all full for Live Band Fireworks Aug. 27

2011-08-25T20:11:00.000-07:00

Some local herd members having fun in front of the Moooo! Bar

All acommodation is fully booked for the Live Band and Fireworks Festival on Shiraishi Island tomorrow night. I heard there was a cancellation at the international villa, so you can try them at 　booking@international-villa.or.jp Otherwise, you are welcome to camp on the beach.

Festivities get underway at around 5pm with the live bands. Fireworks will start at around 7pm.

There is a charter ferry leaving around 10pm for those who need to get back to the mainland that night.

If you can't make the Fireworks festival, you might want to come to the last event of the year, the Moooo! Fest which is Sept 25, the last Sunday in September. The theme this year is "Hawaii" so be sure to wear your best Hawaiian shirt and get ready to eat Hawaiian pizza, Hawaiian burgers and Hawaiian pineapple boat cocktails. Moooooooooo!

Reservations at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/moooobar
FB: www.facebook.com/amychavezjapan

Live Band and Fireworks on the beach Aug. 27

2011-08-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

Shiraishi Sunset, last day of the Obon holiday

We are now getting ready for the last summer event on Shiraishi Island: the Live Band and Fireworks night, this Saturday, August 27. The fireworks show has been dubbed "Japan's smallest fireworks festival," but it is so much fun! The fireworks are set off just off the beach and when they explode, they are so close it feels like you can touch them. Fireworks are set off as the live band plays in front of the Moooo! Bar. We always have a good turn-out and most accommodations are fully booked for the night. Many people choose to camp on the beach.

The accommodation situation at this point is as follows:

San-chan's and Minshuku Harada, Amagiso Ryokan and the Beach House are fully booked. The Cottage is still available and the International Villa has had some cancellations. Check out the Moooo! Bar website for more information under Accommodations. For reservations, email shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

Hope to see you on the island!

(This blog entry will be updated throughout the week).

Returning the Seaweed to the Sea--an art exhibit on Shiraishi Island

2011-08-20T02:03:00.000-07:00

The seaweed boat being brought to the beach by locals and tourists

Here are some photos to go with my article in the Japan Times about artist Tanotaiga and his seaweed boat art project. The article is called Returning the Seaweed to the Sea which talks about the history of the seaweed trade on Shiraishi Island. Tanotaiga made his boat out of Shiraishi nori (seaweed) and launched it over Obon.

On the beach, lowering the seaweed boat into the water. The artist, Tanotaiga is in front.

Tanotaiga in his boat! Where is the wind?!

Nonetheless, the boat is a success! He was able to take some children onboard as well.

Thanks for a great Obon holiday!

2011-08-17T19:33:00.000-07:00

Yoro-chan, a pet of one of our customers who found him on Yoronto Island off Kagoshima

Thanks to all who joined the herd over Obon at the Moooo! Bar. We really had a great time with everyone! During Obon, the traditional activities were dutifully carried out such as the Shiraishi Bon Dance and toronagashi, the setting off of the lanterns on the sea to send off the spirits. In addition, Shiraishi Island hosted a special art exhibit by Sendai artist Tanotaiga who made a "seaweed boat" from Shiraishi nori (seaweed). He launched his boat on the last day and was able to take some children on board as well! Lastly, we had a visit from a Hermit Crab from Yoronto Island off Kagoshima. He enjoyed the Moooo! Bar for a couple days and crawled around in the sand quite a bit. He left beautiful "foot prints" in the sand everywhere. I was surprised to see that the Hermit Crab, or yadogari in Japanese, is blue! Being that Kasaoka-shi is the home of the Horse Shoe Crab (also called the Helmet Crab), we were especially proud to host Yoro-chan on his Obon vacation.

Shiraishi Reservations is open again and we are now taking reservations again. Remember, the Live Band and Fireworks night is Saturday, Aug. 27th. Rooms are still available, including the Cottage and Amagiso Ryokan. Email us at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

Hope to see you on the island!

Shiraishi full for Obon, signing out for now....

2011-08-10T02:09:00.000-07:00

Every nook and cranny is booked for Obon on Shiraishi Island (Aug 12-16). There are a few grains of sand you can still claim on the beach if you have a tent. Camping is free but you must take your garbage home with you as we have no public trash facilities. We do have public toilets, however, so you are lucky there should you decide to camp.

Shiraishi Reservations is going off-line from Aug. 12-16 so please don't email us! We won't be able to even read your email until after Obon, and that's only if we're still alive. It's a very, very busy time for us at the Moooo! Bar and Calfe. We prefer to spend our time mooing with our beautiful bovine guests than trying to answer emails from people who have suddenly decided they want to come to the island for Obon even though there are no rooms left. If you are already booked in for Obon and still have questions, please amble up to the bar and we'll be happy to help :) You may also call us anytime, if you have the secret Moooo! phone number we gave you on the Shiraishi Tip Sheet when you made your reservation.

Presuming we do live through the hectic Obon period, we'll be happy to receive your emails starting Aug. 17.

Have a nice Obon holiday in Japan! Moooooooooo!

Shiraishi Island August reservations status

2011-08-04T17:38:00.001-07:00

Everything is booked for the Obon period August (12-16). Please do not email us about reservations during this period, as we are too busy to attend to them and besides, there is nothing available! You are welcome to bring a tent and camp on the beach. It's free but you must take your garbage home with you :)

Here is the current reservation status for August:

The International Villa is fully booked Aug 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 20.

The Cottage is fully booked Aug. 6, 11, 12,13,14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

The Beach House is fully booked Aug. 10-14.

San-chan's is fully booked Aug 12-16 and 27

Amagiso Minshuku is booked Aug. 12,13,14

Amagiso Ryokan is booked for August 12-16.

Minshuku Harada is fully booked Aug 12-16, and 25, 26, 27

Otafuku Ryokan is fully booked for all of August.

This blog entry will be updated throughout August.

Beware of island mosquitoes...

2011-08-04T17:31:00.000-07:00

If you're coming out to Shiraishi Island, you may want to read about our terrorist mosquitoes who tend to hang out at the bottom of stairways and at the ferry terminal. More here in the Japan Times.

Island Hopping in the Seto Inland Sea #Japan

2011-08-03T03:55:00.000-07:00

BBQ at the barbecue hut on the beach at Awashima Island

Yesterday we took some customers island hopping in our Japanese fishing boat. We left Shiraishi at 4:30pm and first went to Manabe Island, then to Awashima Island for dinner. At Awashima, we had a BBQ on the beach set up by Awashima-taro. From his BBQ hut, you can watch the sun set over the Inland Sea. He even had karaoke set up in the hut! We returned to Shiraishi that evening around 11:00pm. It was a great evening and a great chance to see some of the other beautiful islands in Japan's Seto Inland Sea. A great evening, great people, and a lovely night on the sea!

You can do it too--just contact us at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com and let us show you some of the hidden spots in the Inland Sea!

On Rock Worship and the Shinto Gods (on Shiraishi Island)

2011-08-02T19:09:00.000-07:00

A mountain side cave on Shiraishi Island, and designated "antenna" for the Shinto Gods

If you're planning on coming out to Shiraishi Island, you might want to read my article about rock worship and the Shinto Gods on Shiraishi Island in The Japan Times.

July/August reservations update, Shiraishi Island

2011-07-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

Locals at the Moooo! Bar, Shiraishi Island

The only accommodation left on the island for next weekend, July 29-31, is The Cottage. The Obon period in August (12-16) is also filling up rapidly. Here is the current availability as of July 27:

The International Villa is fully booked July 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 and Aug 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20 and Oct. 1

The Cottage is fully booked Aug. 6, 12,13,14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

The Beach House is fully booked July 29, 30 and Aug. 10-14.

San-chan's is fully booked July 27, 30 and Aug 12-16.

Amagiso Minshuku is booked July 30, Aug. 12,13,14

Amagiso Ryokan is booked for July 16 but has limited availability for other days in Obon. Ask us.

Minshuku Harada is fully booked July 30 and Obon Aug 12-16.

Otafuku Ryokan is fully booked for weekends in July and all days in August.

Nakanishiya Ryokan, although not listed on our site, may have some rooms available on the dates the others are fully booked. It is budget accommodation on the beach for 4,500 yen per person per night (no meals). Ask us about availability.

Check out the Moooo! Bar homepage for more descriptions of accommodations and other options! Email us for reservations at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

This blog entry will be updated throughout July.

Hope to see you on the island!

Cottage on Shiraishi Island available for this weekend!

2011-07-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

The Cottage at Shiraishi Island, overlooking the Inland Sea

Due to a cancellation, the Cottage is now available this weekend July 22-24. The location is a bit remote, set up on a hill overlooking the Inland Sea. There is a BBQ area and an outdoor rock bath (rotenburo). It's a 10-minute walk to the main beach. Rental is 20,000 yen per night for up to 4 people.

Reserve by contacting shiraishi reservations at yahoo dot com

Have a great weekend!

Calm returns to Shiraishi Island

2011-07-19T20:46:00.000-07:00

Shiraishi Ferry coming into Shiraishi port Wednesday morning

Typhoon No. 6 has passed and we didn't have many problems on the island. Just high winds, but nothing too wild. It was enough to close down the ferries for the day and to keep everyone inside till the typhoon passed, but there has been no damage to clean up, so the island is up and running again today. The Moooo! Bar will open again tomorrow.

Thanks for a great Sea Day weekend!

2011-07-18T16:06:00.000-07:00

The Moooo! Bar on the beach

We had a great Sea Day weekend at the Moooo! Bar, until the rain chased everyone away on Monday. We're waiting out Typhoon No. 6 right now, which should be gone in the next day. Sunny skies are to return on Thursday. Batten down the hatches and see you later in the week!

Happy Sea Day Weekend!

2011-07-16T14:04:00.000-07:00

Candles on the beach, Shiraishi Island, Japan

Thanks to all those who came out yesterday and stayed to watch the Shiraishi Dance on the beach at sunset. After the dance, 634 candles were lit up on the beach and down the road to the port as a symbolic Obon gesture to the spirits of the people on the island. It was a beautiful evening and I have to say that the whole atmosphere did remind me of Obon, which will happen Aug. 12-16. It is the best time to be on the island because there is so much to see and do then. But last night was pretty special too.

Looking forward to another couple days of beautiful weather and rockin' at the Moooo! Bar. See you on Shiraishi Island!

Sea Day Weekend on Shiraishi Island

2011-07-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

Shiraishi Dance on the beach at Shiraishi

Starting this Saturday, there will be special performances of the Shiraishi Bon dance on the beach. These demonstration dances will be every Saturday evening until until Aug 12, the beginning of Obon. The dance will also be performed every day during Obon.

This Saturday, locals will be teaching the dance as well. The locals will be dressed in the traditional costumes and there will be the taiko drum master bellowing out the song while the sun sets in the background. It's a great event for photos as the sun sets over the sea while the dancers perform.

Sunday is Sea Day, a national holiday, so we expect it to be a busy weekend on Shiraishi Island and at the Moooo! Bar

Hope to see you on the island!

Rainy season over on Shiraishi Island

2011-07-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

Moooo! Bar sunset, July 8

Good news: the rainy season is over here in Okayama, Japan! The forecast is for sun every day for the next week. The Moooo! Bar is now open every day from 9am through sunset, later on weekends. Come on out and enjoy the beach and the laid-back island lifestyle on Shiraishi!

Accommodations are filling up fast for Obon (Aug 12-16), but the rest of the summer is still open. Make your reservations from at the Moooo! Bar website.

See you on the island!

Opening of the Sea ceremony, Shiraishi Island July 3

2011-06-23T17:24:00.001-07:00

Sunday, July 3 is the Opening of the Sea ceremony on Shiraishi Island. Read more about it in my article in the Huffington Post:

Japan's Sea Whisperers

Moooo! Bar closed today June 19 due to rain :(

2011-06-18T16:18:00.000-07:00

We keep looking at the forecast for today and it keeps getting worse! So the Cows at the Moooo! Bar have made the executive decision to not open today. All this continuous rain for the past several days has prevented us from even preparing to open: the paddocks are flooded, the cows have hoof-rot...it just goes on and on.

If you're brave enough to come out to the island today anyway, please drink at San-chan's where you can sit inside and stay dry.

We hope to see you next weekend or in July/August. Don't forget that July 3 is the opening of the sea (umibiraki) and the Shiraishi Yacht Race. Moooo!

June activities on Shiraishi Island

2011-06-02T18:14:00.001-07:00

In June, the Moooo! Bar opens on Sundays, from 9am to sunset. The island is very quiet at this time a year and the climate is cool, so it is perfect for hiking in the mountains, kayaking and sailing the Seto Inland Sea. Here is an update on bookings:

The International Villa is fully booked June 18, 25, July 16,17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31 and Aug 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and Oct. 1

The Cottage is fully booked June 26, July 9, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23 and Aug. 12,13,14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

Amagiso Minshuku (but not the ryokan) is booked Aug. 12,13,14

There are plenty of other accommodations on the island, so please check out the Moooo! Bar homepage for more options and dates! Email us for reservations at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

This blog entry will be updated throughout June.

Update on Shiraishi Island bookings

2011-05-21T02:29:00.000-07:00

Sunset over Shiraishi Island

The Cottage is booked for May 28, July 9, 16, 17 and Aug. 12,13,14

The International Villa is fully booked June 18, July 16, 17, 30, 31

Sailing is booked May 27, 28, 29, 30

For more info, check out the Moooo! Bar website

Life as an ambassador on Shiraishi Island

2011-05-15T22:42:00.000-07:00

Japan Lite: Life as an Ambassador
The Japan Times, Saturday, May 14, 2011

By Amy Chavez

"An American yacht has come into the port. They don't speak any Japanese. Come help."

Ah, the first call of spring! As the resident foreigner on our island, I was appointed ambassador 14 years ago to represent the citizens of Yachtland, a kingdom ruled by King Neptune. Situated mainly in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, but with a border so liquid it encompasses most of the world's large bodies of water, Yachtland is proud to be the only country with a current.

Although Yachtland doesn't have a huge population, it is known worldwide for its natural features: the Gulf Stream, the doldrums, and the Marianna Trench, to name just a few. Visitors flock to Yachtland to go fishing, boating, swimming and snorkeling. They dive the Great Barrier Reef and numerous shipwrecks. Some come in search of more elusive places too, such as the Lost City of Atlantis.

Yachtland has abundant wildlife: the albatross, sea gulls and pelicans. In our waters are whales, sharks, dolphins and even the giant squid.

Yachtland has dangerous areas such as the Bermuda Triangle and Cape Horn. The Titanic and the Yamato have met their fates there. We have homegrown terrorism in the form of hurricanes and typhoons. No place is perfect.

As Yachtland ambassador on Shiraishi Island in the Seto Inland Sea, my job is to welcome foreign guests and direct them to the guest berth. I live in the Yachtland embassy, situated on the port. Some people think this ambassadorship is about as exciting as being stationed in Antarctica. But I have found that this lifestyle suits me just fine. Things happen here that would never happen on mainland Japan.

Like when I answered the call about the two Americans who had just sailed in on a 34-foot yacht. When I arrived on my bicycle to relieve the man who called me, to my surprise there was another Japanese man there who had also come on a yacht. His 36-foot Beneteau was tied up on the opposite side of the dock. He introduced me to the two Americans, but as he didn't speak English and they didn't speak Japanese, he couldn't tell me very much about them. "Ask them where they have come from," he said, anxiously.

After a short conversation with the Americans I found out they were a father and his 23-year-old son who had just sailed over from New Zealand. The son left the United States five years ago to sail around Yachtland and his father joins him on parts of the trip when he has time. "I think it's wonderful that a father and son can enjoy such a trip together," said the Japanese man. "Please translate that."

Suddenly the man turned around and jumped onto his boat. After a few seconds rummaging around his cabin, he surfaced with something in his hand. He tied a white piece of cloth around his head to make a hachimaki and came back over to where we were standing. On the dock, he showed us a simple shaft of bamboo with holes in it. "Shakuhachi!" he exclaimed and started playing it.

The Americans looked at me, but I just smiled. It was the first time I had ever seen someone play a shakuhachi.

The Japanese man, who had straight black hair that hung down to his shoulders, was soon in his own world, jumping from one foot to the other, in a way that told me he must be part leprechaun. The dock was his stage while the mountains and sea formed the quintessential backdrop. His primitive dance matched perfectly the simple sounds of his wind instrument. "This is a song of the sea," he stopped for a moment to explain, and then continued playing.

It was one of those special moments when people stop whatever they are doing, or thinking, to watch a spectacle unlike they have ever seen before. This little man had succeeded in putting his audience of three into a trance, though the man could have been playing to dozens. When he was finished with the song of the sea, we all clapped enthusiastically.

He insisted the American men attempt his instrument, but neither could make the piece of bamboo make a single sound. "Oh, your heart is not good," laughed the man. "You must have a good heart to make a shakuhachi sing."

"Now, a song of the mountains!" he said and turned around to face the mountains. He played to the mountains a very different kind of tune with harsher blows and short sputters, reminiscent of Shinto festival music.

When he finished, he handed the instrument to the son, who tried and tried again, but not a sound came forth.

In the meantime, the father jumped onto his boat. After a few seconds rummaging around his cabin, he surfaced with some cans of beer. The chatter continued, translations each way, and soon everyone was filling each other's cup with beer.

Not long after that, the son finally started to make the shakuhachi sing.

Feeling my mission had been accomplished, I headed back to the embassy to wait for the next call.

Photos of Shiraishi Island

2011-05-11T21:46:00.000-07:00

The Virtue of Silence

2011-05-11T21:07:00.000-07:00

Rolling Black-outs: the virtue of silence
The Japan Times, April 23, 3011

Entrance to Flying Dragon Shrine on Shiraishi Island

By Amy Chavez

The rolling blackouts in Tokyo meant interruptions in watching TV, running computers, stereos and electric heaters, not to mention recharging cell phones and electronics.

While some have suggested the rolling blackouts will merely reconfirm the need for nuclear power in this country with so few natural resources, I wonder if the blackouts could create a backlash.

You see, the blackouts have given us the chance to reconsider the role of silence in our lives. In an article by James Fallows on new media in the April issue of The Atlantic, Google CEO Eric Schmidt told Fallows, "If young people are awake, they are connected. When they're walking, when they're in a car, if they wake up at night, when they're in class."

I'm glad to know that at 48, I am still considered young. But I wonder if the younger people actively seek quiet moments to keep a work-life balance. This craving for silence is one factor that drives people to go sailing, surfing, hiking, camping, mountain climbing or to do other individual sports. Silence is a tool we use to cope with life.

A competitor is silent at the beginning of a race so she can concentrate. A moment of silence is called for to remember the victims of disasters. We pray to God in silence. And most of us need silence to sleep well.

The silence between songs on a music player provides closure for one song before starting another. Writers and poets insert ratios of silence, called pauses, into their works via commas, dashes, ellipses or full stops. Lots can happen during a pause (consider the pregnant pause).

Silence is one of the lifestyle options I took when I moved to Shiraishi Island (population 631) in Japan's Seto Inland Sea. I wanted to live in a place where I could concentrate for long periods of time but still be connected to everyone and everything. Because of this decision, I've had time to consider the virtue of silence.

When I want an hour devoid of cell phones, e-mail or Internet, I take a walk up to the Flying Dragon Shinto shrine on the island. One who takes a vow of silence can hear many things.

I'm not talking about the sound of your own footsteps or that of the wind in the bamboo — most people can hear those things. Only the perceptive can note how the wind carries the laughter of two women chatting in their veggie gardens, or distinguish that the sound of a water drop is actually a frog surfacing from an abandoned well.

On my way up to the shrine, I walk past the port, where fishing boats are tied up while their captains sleep peacefully in their houses after a full night at sea. White herons stand on one leg in the shallow waters waiting for a meal to swim past, while a hawk is on lookout from the top of the mast of a yacht.

Stray cats stretch out on the sun-soaked road, sleeping with one eye open. Weeds grow freely along the road, knowing no one will cut them down as long as they have blossoms. Gods peek out from stone statues all along the path. Someone has planted ostentatious red tulips in front of their house.

I haven't heard a human-made noise yet.

When you hear a noise on the island, it's because something has happened. Something has been put in motion: Someone starts walking, someone initiates a greeting or someone starts a boat to go out fishing.

This is in contrast to city noises, many of which are ongoing and confirm that everything is still happening: ceaseless neon lights, cars on the road or the background humming of vending machines.

As I get closer to the shrine, I begin to hear some human sounds as the road-turned-walking path wends through the old Japanese country houses. I hear the scraping of a hoe in sandy dirt as an old woman removes weeds from around her walkway. When I pass a garden, a man impatiently pulls out daikon radishes, their roots snapping under the stress. Laundry flaps on a clothes line and dried leaves scoot across the path.

When I reached the Flying Dragon shrine, it was so quiet, I could almost hear the lion statues' silent roars as I passed under the torii gate. In the shrine grounds, the last flecks of pink fluttered down from the cherry trees. With the o-hanami parties finished, no one is around to hear their last petals fall to the ground.

Environment and sensitivity to noise is well documented. Buddhist priests after doing the Gumonji meditation for 100 days are said to have such keen senses that they can hear the sound of burning incense. I believe it. But it is the previous intense environment that allows them to have such perception. Who knows, in another 100 days, they might be able to hear fruit rotting.

Us mortals, however, must strive for something in between. By welcoming the occasional periods of silence that the rolling blackouts offer us, we can heighten our senses enough to be able to hear what our real energy needs are. When you can once again hear your cat purr, you just may decide to keep it that way.

When the loudest thing on my entire walk is bright red tulips, I understand the virtue of silence and I wonder if I need nuclear energy at all.

Live music on the beach May 5

2011-04-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

Come on out to Shiraishi Island for Golden Week! We still have rooms available and the weather looks like it will hold up. For reservations email shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

On Thursday, May 5, there will be live music on the beach from 12:00 noon, featuring King Harvest band (R&B) and Toku-san. Should be a great way to wind up the Golden Week holiday.

Many people are coming to camp on the beach. If you'd like to join them, you can camp on the beach without reservations. Bring your own tent. Camping is free and there is a public toilet nearby. You can get a shower or bath at San-chan's too.

The Moooo! Bar will be open every day of Golden Week.

See you on the island!

Sunsets, bonfires, music...just chillin'

2011-04-30T16:57:00.000-07:00

Golden Week is going swimmingly! We've had beautiful sunsets and bonfires on the beach. Yesterday Jaco and his band from Fukuyama played jazz into the evening. In one word, I'd describe Golden Week thus far as "Just Chillin'"

April events on Shiraishi Island

2011-04-17T21:38:00.001-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Cherry Blossom party last weekend! We're off to a good start for the summer. Here are just some of the events for April:

April April 23 (Sat only) Kobo Daishi Spring Festival up at Kairyuji Temple. Festival starts at 10:00am, goma fire ceremony at noon.

April 23-24 (Sat & Sun) The 36th Kazi Cup Yacht Race. Moooo! Bar will be open on Saturday and Sunday! Yachts will start arriving from all over the Seto Naikai on Saturday, race is on Sunday.

April 29-May 5 Golden Week Moooo! Bar will be open every day.

Reservations are starting to roll in for Golden Week (finally)! See you on Shiraishi Island....Mooooooooo!

Note: the International Villa is fully booked May 3, 4 and 7.

What will happen to Shiraishi Island?

2011-04-17T21:29:00.000-07:00

Many people contacted me to see if I, Shiraishi Island and the Moooo! Bar were okay after the March 11 earthquake-tsunami-nuclear disaster. I told everyone the same thing. "We're okay. We live 500 miles from the disaster zone. We haven't been affected at all."

We didn't even feel the earthquake, not even slightly. We have had no black-outs. We continue to have food, water and daily necessities.

But of course, this is not all true. The disaster has affected everyone in Japan, including the 650 people on Shiraishi Island in the middle of Japan's Seto Inland Sea. "What will happen to Japan?" laments my next-door neighbor, Kazu-chan. It's a big question.

Kazu-chan manages the International Villa on our island that hosts over 1,000 foreigners each year. After a US$150,000 renovation last year, the beautiful villa overlooking the sea sits strangely vacant, in peril of becoming Japan's next haikyo, or "modern ruin."

"We have no reservations at all for the International Villa this year," says Kazu-chan, the first time this has happened in the 20-year history of the villa. "Ever since March 11, we have had only cancellations."

Sea-kun, who runs a kayaking program on the island for junior high schools has been faced with cancellations this year from school groups coming from the Tohoku region.

On the beach, the proprietors will have a lean summer without the foreign tourists they have come to rely on as, year by year, the Japanese tourists have decreased and the foreign tourists increased.

As the warm days of spring envelop the island, the foreign tourists should start arriving. But no one is coming to Japan now. "We are far from Tohoku, but the foreign media has exacerbated the nuclear problem. No one will come to Japan this summer," said another islander. The 'Visit Japan' campaign is a distant memory.

Tohoku, the northeastern part of Japan hardest hit by the triple disaster, is not a major destination for foreign tourists. Most people fly into Tokyo and head south-west. Western Japan, including Kyoto, Nara, Kobe and Hiroshima haven't been affected at all, let alone the islands of Shikoku, Kyushu and all of Okinawa. From Tokyo to Okinawa is 1,500 kilometers, just half the total length of the country. But this is all hard to know if you don't live in Japan.

This is not the first time our island has experienced a decrease in foreign tourism. There was SARS and bird flu before this. But the Tohoku Earthquake is much bigger news. Many say this event will change Japan forever. We have survived before, but will we survive now?

Our locals have always welcomed the foreign tourists because they infuse variety into an otherwise austere island lifestyle. People often ask me what country most tourists come from, but my only answer is, "Everywhere!" They come from Holland, Sweden, France, Finland, Australia, Spain, Italy, Australia, the U.S., the U.K., even Trinidad and Tobago. Most are just travelling through Japan and choose to spend a day or two on the island.

The locals wonder, "Why Shiraishi Island?" not able to comprehend why our little island would be on any tourist's list of places to visit in Japan. The answers vary, but most tourists say they come to relax, experience Japanese culture first-hand and to soak up the quiet island life. Most have been referred by others.

Visitors are charmed by the simple island life and the friendliness of the locals. The islanders invite them into their homes for karaoke, food and drinks. Local businesses have walls full of postcards from all over the world--thank you notes from previous visitors who hold their memories dear.

In turn, the islanders are charmed by the tourists who regale them with tales of travelling around Japan (and the world), explaining the subtleties of different cultures and telling jokes over beers and sake. The foreigners bring their talents with them too: many are professional singers, dancers, writers or artists. They join in the island culture. They jam with us, drink with us, laugh with us and share our sorrows and joys.

Without the tourists, we would have little knowledge of other people, other countries, and other worlds outside of our own. They bring real experiences to us. We will miss them dearly.

Are we going to start referring to these as "the good ole days?"

The other night, I got a phone call from San-chan, who runs the restaurant and bar on the beach. "Come over to Kamiya," he said, referring to one of the old houses on the island. "We are doing something interesting." My husband and I grabbed a bottle of wine and headed towards the beach. Inside Kamiya, a traditional Japanese house over 100 years old, a group of locals was sitting around a large bonfire. Smoke wafted up through an opening in the ceiling and the walls of the room were black with 100 years of smoke. "This is how it used to be," they explained to me, "before we had heaters." I was astonished to see such a large, open fire inside a wooden house.

Beer and wine was passed around and someone brought out a guitar. We all settled into a typical island night of warmth, chattery and friendship.

But something was missing: you.

Shiraishi Island Cherry Blossom Party April 10

2011-03-29T12:57:00.000-07:00

Despite the tumultuous events in Japan this past month, the island is now starting to prepare for another summer with business as usual. Shiraishi Island is located 500 miles south-west of where the Tohoku earthquake struck, and we have not been affected by any of the black-outs or scarceness of food, water or amenities. There is no need to worry about anything here--this is the island, and we continue our regular slow-paced island life. Come one, come all!

The first event of the year is San-chan's Cherry Blossom Party on April 10th. For reservations, call San-chan direct at 086-568-3169.

Also, the Cottage is booked July 16-18.

More news as Golden Week gets closer! Looking forward to another mooing summer with you!

Shiraishi Island okay...

2011-03-11T06:40:00.000-08:00

Huge earthquake hit Northern Japan today. Moooo! Bar and Shiraishi Island are fine. Thank you for your concern.

Bussharito Festival video

2010-12-15T19:48:00.000-08:00

A video of the Bussharito Festival, which takes place every Nov. 15th on the island.

Bussharito Festival Nov. 15

2010-11-13T18:28:00.000-08:00

Man-chan (left), next to the yamabushi (ascetic mountain monk)
at the goma fire ceremony at the Bussharito Matsuri.

Monday is Shiraishi Island's Bussharito matsuri, to celebrate the anniversary of the Thai style temple. This is the one day you can go inside the temple and see the displays. I was just up there today talking to the Buddhist priest and the place looks magnificent--all dressed up for this occasion. There will be visiting priests here as well, a procession up to the temple and a goma fire burning ceremony. If you're going to be on the island, don't miss it!

You can read more about the Bussharito Matsuri in this article in The Japan Times. More on the crypt here.

End of the summer season...see you next year!

2010-10-05T23:11:00.000-07:00

Benten Island, off Shiraishi Island beach

If you've ever been to Shiraishi Island and if it has touched you in a special way, please leave a short review on Trip Advisor.

Thank you!

Thanks for a great Fall Festival on Shiraishi Island!

2010-10-03T20:58:00.000-07:00

Shiraishi Island Fall Festival, 2010

Thanks to all those who came out for the Aki Matsuri on Shiraishi Island this last weekend. Despite the rain, we all had a great time!

It is now the off-season on the island so the blog will only be updated occasionally over the wintertime. During the off-season, only the International Villa and San-chan's will be open for accommodation. Please see the Moooo! Bar homepage for more details.

The next event on the island is Nov. 15, the Bussharito Matsuri. This commemorates the Thai-style temple on the island. More on this later when I post info about the festival and photos.

Shiraishi Fall Festival Oct. 2-3

2010-09-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

Shiraishi Fall Festival Oct. 2-3

Come join us on the island for the aki matsuri (Autumn festival) this weekend! Come help us drink sake, carry the mikoshi and party with the gods! The best way to enjoy this festival is to come out on Saturday as the parties start in the evening. See the island lit up at night in all the festival lights and walk around the ancient streets. Have a beer with the locals.

The official festival starts at 8am with a toast to the Gods and the mikoshi are pulled out at about 8:30 for the trip to the Shrine. Please help pull the mikoshi!

The international villa is already booked, and most of the minshukus will be closed so they can take part in the matsuri but the Beach House and Amagiso will still take guests. If you want to come out, email us at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com and we'll get you in some where.

Don't miss a great chance to participate in a local Japanese festival.

Moooo Fest, Sunday Sept. 26

2010-09-17T18:22:00.000-07:00

Moooo! Fest 2010

Food, fun and moos

Sunday Sept. 26 12:0-4:00
Live entertainment and good ole bovine fun, with a touch of Mexico!

Grazing Fee: 2,500 yen
Fill all 4 stomachs with our Mexican buffet! Beef, chicken and veggie tacos, fajitas and moore! Drinks extra (plenty of tequila and Coronas on hand).

Last chance to party on the beach this summer! Be sure to wear something moo!

Reservations necessary. Email us at moooobar at yahoo dot com

Moochas Gracias!

Accommodation update for Sept 18-20 long wkd

2010-09-13T17:59:00.000-07:00

Benten Island, off Shirashi Beach

We've had lots of last-minute reservations for this coming long weekend Sept 18-20th. The Cottage is booked, the Beach House is booked and the Villa is booked except for Sat. night. San-chan's still has some rooms open as does Amagiso. See the Moooo! Bar site for more info on accommodations.

September events on Shiraishi Island

2010-09-09T17:42:00.000-07:00

Looking down onto the Shiraishi port from the pathway up to the Cottage

Hooray--the weather is starting to cool down! We might even get below 30 degrees this weekend. Throughout September, the Moooo! Bar will be open on Saturdays (from noon) and Sundays (from 9am).

Regarding accommodations, San-chan's and the Villa are full this Saturday night the 11th, but the Cottage is still open as well as Minshuku Harada and Amagiso.

The next weekend is a long weekend as Monday is a national holiday. The Cottage is booked for Saturday and Sunday night (18-19). The Villa is full that Sunday night the 19th but still has rooms available Friday 17 and Saturday night 18.

The last weekend in September is the Moooo! Fest, so come on out for our end of the summer bash with live music! Everything in the Moooo! Shop is half-price! We serve a complete meal on the beach for 2,500 yen per person. More details on the Moooo! Fest later. Book accommodation now as the Villa and Nakanishiya are already fully booked. The Cottage just had a cancellation so is now available!

For reservations contact us at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

Hope to see you on the island this September!

Shiraishi Island: An Insane Asylum for Tourists

2010-09-05T15:20:00.000-07:00

The Japan Times, Japan Lite Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010
An insane asylum for tourists

By Amy Chavez

As the world spins faster and faster on its axis, threatening to cut off our supply of gravity and fling us into outer space, Japan is left wondering what to do next.

At this very moment company presidents around the country are scratching their bar code heads thinking, "What can we do to keep our place in the global economy? How do we maintain our gravitational pull in the world?" And though the answers are there, staring them in the face, the answers are hard for them to see.

Take our small island of 651 people. Once a popular sea side resort, it has been abandoned by the Japanese who nowadays prefer air conditioned shopping malls and movie theaters. The islanders complain that no one comes to the beach anymore. This year I often heard Japanese people say, "It's too hot to go to the beach." Go figure.

But the young people still come to the beach. The 10-year-olds, that is. Parents still bring their children to swim in the calm waters of the Seto Inland Sea. But the parents themselves don't swim. While the children swim, the parents watch on the stifling hot beach, the women hidden behind layers upon layers of specially lined UV protective umbrellas, arm covers, gloves and wide-brimmed hats, all performing in sync. If you could buy burkas on the beach in Japan, they'd be very popular.

Even with all the heightened awareness of damage sun can do to the skin, and the strong link between the sun and skin cancer, the foreign tourists still lay on the beach scorching their skin all day until sunset. Foreign tourists of all ages swim in the sea and it is not unusual to see a 60-year-old woman in a swimsuit. The Japanese just cock their heads.

I asked a Japanese university student why her friends don't go to the beach anymore. "They prefer to go to the pool because it's covered so they won't get sun tanned," she said.

For the modern Japanese, one day a year on the beach is nice, but three or more days? With just the Internet and nothing else? No convenience store, video arcade or shopping mall? The "nature-loving" Japanese are tethered to their cities. Only the old and retired enjoy the countryside.

In the meantime, depopulation in the countryside and the islands is a nationwide problem. There are numerous NPOs trying to help revive the Inland Sea islands, but these attempts, though sincere, affect few people. Most NPOs are run by outsiders who don't really understand how island populations and economies work. Government programs and NGOs limp along, all attempting to bring something elusive to the islands — an economy. But, as fast as the Japanese are vacating our island, foreigners are happily filling their footprints in the sand.

"Wow, the whole beach to myself! You can't find anything like this in my country," says Tatiana, a tourist from Spain who has come to the island to stay seven days.

"Wow, no crowds! This is better than the Mediterranean," says Monica, a German taking a few days off after touring Japan with the ska band "Nu Sports."

"Wow, no cars! This is our kind of place," say Pasquale and Fulvia from Italy, staying six days. Our little island, like a recovering alcoholic, is rediscovering the good life it had before everything fell to pieces. And this time, it's the foreigners who are reviving it. It's the foreigners who are loving it back to life.

Foreign tourists like undiscovered places, and thus our oasis expands. They arrive with smiles of appreciation, exuding good vibes. It is not unusual for the frazzled, templed-out tourist to immediately pass out on the beach in a blissful state.

"Finally — I have found what I've been looking for!" says an English guy as he flops himself down on the beach as if he had come here especially to expire. I tell him I feel his pain, set a margarita down next to him, and quietly walk away. Others come and disappear into a hammock for days, only waking up long enough to drink another banana daiquiri.

I'm beginning to think that what we really run here is an insane asylum for tourists. They come here crazy and leave normal. Pity — all they needed was a quiet beach.

While the island people are very happy to see the foreigners coming, to make it continue to work, we have to make things a little more foreign tourist-friendly. For example, there are eight accommodations on the island, all named after their owners or something equally esoteric to a foreigner coming to Japan for the first time. Our accommodations are named things like Minshuku Harada (could be anywhere in Japan), San-chan's (the equivalent of "Johnny's Place"), or Nakanishiya (place in the middle of the West?). Pity the poor tourist looking for a place on the beach!

It would be nice if, like most other places in the world, foreigners had a feeling for what kind of place they'll be staying at: Harada's Seaside Accommodation, San-chan's Sunset Beach Restaurant and Accommodation, or Ocean View Bed and Breakfast.

Little things like this can make more of a difference than any government programs or NPOs attempting to "save" our island. We can see the answers. Indeed, we are saving ourselves.

Just be sure to stop me when I suggest adding flashing neon "Vacancy" signs.

Shiraishi Island, Sept. 4-5

2010-09-03T17:01:00.000-07:00

It looks like it will be another beautiful weekend on the island (and hot!), so the Moooo! Bar will be open on Saturday and Sunday. Come out to the beach and cool down with a moogarita....mooooooooooo!

New Engrish signs on Shiraishi Island

2010-08-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

The Japan Times, Japan Lite: Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010

The Pen is Mightier than the Samurai Sword

Shiraishi Island is now renting "bickles" to foreigners...

By Amy Chavez

You've probably heard that Japanese people are shy to speak English because they are afraid of making mistakes. Every night before I go to bed, I pray that this English language phobia will spill over into English writing. As one visitor to Japan said to me, "You could spend your life correcting all the poor English on signs and menus in this country."

Why is it that the Japanese, who are so shy to speak even good English, are so bold to abuse the written language? Especially when it comes to using permanent mediums such as signboards that broadcast errors to hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people. On signs and menus, no one seems to care if things are misspelled or incomprehensible. That's your problem!

With an alphabet of just 26 letters (compared to 45 for hiragana and katakana), I suppose English writing seems deceptively simple. But even with just 26 variables, there are millions of possibilities of making spelling mistakes. In fact, there are far more possible wrong combinations of letters than right ones. Yet, I don't think the Japanese even consider they may make errors when writing. As long as they are not speaking, they cannot be mistaking.

Since we get a lot of foreign tourists here on Shiraishi Island, I'll use some local examples of interesting attempts to convey information via English signage. The signs start on the mainland, to tell people how to get to the port to catch the ferry to the island. Directions are quite simple: just come out of the JR Kasaoka Station and follow the signs to the "felly port." Once you get to our island (and there is a recording in perfect English that comes over the loudspeakers of the ferry to tell you at which island to get off), you'll be greeted at the ferry terminal with an English sign that says, not felly port but, "Shiraishi Shipping Shop." The owner of the ferry port proudly pointed out the new sign to me one day and asked, "Is the English correct?"

What could I say? It wouldn't make a bit of difference now that the sign was already made, mounted and paid for. But on an island of just 651 people, I couldn't imagine any container ships coming in or out of our tiny port. So I only suggested that they add at the bottom, in small print, "Sorry, no shipping containers. We were just having fun with the sign." With that I continued on my way, following the English sign to the "Article of Food Shop."

But as time goes on, the Visit Japan Campaign flourishes, and we get more and more foreign visitors to our island, customers have started complaining about the English menu in San-chan's restaurant on the beach. Customers who ordered "fried fish" were being served a bowl of tiny fish with beady eyes instead. I felt compelled to help San-chan's come up with a menu entry that was a bit more descriptive. So I changed the name of the dish to "Tiny fish with beady eyes."

I was particularly sad to have to correct another part of the English menu that for years had offered the item "turbo shells" instead of turban shells (sazae). Can't you just see these sea snails with turbo engines attached to their shells running around the plate as if it were a race track? Sometimes these little gems of quirky English make your Japan experience so much more interesting.

My golden opportunity to make a difference, however, came recently when the island took up my suggestion to start bicycle rentals at the port. The bicycle rental sign needed to be in English so foreign tourists could read it too. So I painted up a sandwich board sign that said, in very nice English letters, "Bicycle Rental." Now, I have to boast here a bit — It was a huge triumph being in charge of my own language again after having wrested it back from the Japanese professional sign makers. I swelled with pride every time I looked at that sign with the perfect block letters on a white, glossy background. Surely I was leading the island on to great things — finally, we were on the road to Englishdom!

A week after I gave the owner of the port the sign, I noticed they had made their own sign as well. They replaced my sign with theirs, one with big computer generated letters that said: "Bickle Rental." How clever, I thought, a bicycle served with a pickle! In another week, they had put my sign back out next to theirs, perhaps deciding it was better to offer people a choice: plain bicycles or bicycles with pickles. And it seems the bickles won because eventually, my sign was covered up completely with other computer-generated signs in Japanese touting other things the "shipping shop" sells, like ice coffee and shaved ice treats.

Which goes to show why mistakes in written English are so much easier to accept for the Japanese: The pen is mightier than the samurai sword.

Beach BBQ Monday and Tuesday

2010-08-28T15:18:00.000-07:00

San-chan's (the only restaurant on Shiraishi Island) is going to be closed on Monday and Tuesday of this week so we'll be offering a BBQ at the Moooo! Bar for those who want lunch or dinner on the beach. Choose between a grilled hamburger or chicken burger with all the fixin's and a side of fries for 900 yen. Should go great with a moogarita!

See you on the island!

September Reservations

2010-08-27T17:09:00.001-07:00

Sunset from the Moooo! Bar

Even though the end of summer is here, and the end of August, the reservations continue to roll in! This is a great time of year to visit the island because it's still summer, but the weekend crowds are gone. You'll definitely have the beach to yourself and you can enjoy the peaceful, quiet island life.

It's also a great time to take a boat trip to another island or on to your next destination. Or, enjoy a day of sailing!

Come discover the Inland Sea!

Reviving the Seto Inland Sea Islands

2010-08-26T15:33:00.000-07:00

The Japan Times, Japan Lite: Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010

By Amy Chavez

It is not the fault of the Seto Inland Sea islands themselves that they are suffering from declining populations. It's the glossy brochures put out by local governments that are to blame.

Take the Takamatsu city brochure advertising the virtues of Ogishima. The brochure highlights a hiking course on the island, an unusually shaped rock, an opening to a hole in the ground (really!), and some lazy flowers trying to grow anonymously — all things trying desperately to be tourist attractions but fooling no one. If you told your friends that after a hectic week at the office, you were going to hike up a steep mountain in the blazing heat and see a rock and a hole in the ground, people would think you were crazy. As intriguing as it may sound, people just don't do it.

Most people would prefer to sit in a cafe with a view of the sea or experience the charmed life and quiet solitude of the Inland Sea. They'd rather have a romantic dinner while watching the sunset or walk along a deserted beach even in the height of the tourist season. Did you know that you can do that on almost any island in the Inland Sea? But the brochures won't tell you this.

The city of Kasaoka has a glossy brochure about Shiraishi Island that tells people to "Enjoy Island!" and highlights the hiking course, the observation platform at the top of the mountain, the temple and a "famous" rock that no one has heard of. To its credit, sea kayaking is mentioned as well as the beach. But more than anything, the brochure screams out, "Hey, we're like every other island in the Inland Sea. Nothing interesting here. Go away!"

Island brochures put out by the local governments are identical throughout the Inland Sea. Call me ignorant, but I feel that printed information highlighting holes in the ground and rocks drive people away. It's no wonder no one moves to the islands. It would be like being stuck between a rock and a hiking course.

To the Japanese, living on an island is equal to being kidnapped. There is this idea that once you're on an island, it's difficult to get off. There is some truth to this. It's not that you can't get off though, it's that many people find they prefer island life and no longer need the mainland. As your needs change, the island provides. But according to the brochures, all you'll get is a hiking course and rocks. Good grief Charlie Brown.

Indeed, the value of the islands can only be found by interacting with the island people, observing their balanced lifestyles and respecting their relationships with the elements, the sea and their gods. It is a lifestyle perfected.

On our island, in an attempt to increase the population, the government is trying to create jobs in the hopes people will move here. So our island has started a mulberry business (run by retired people who volunteer out of a sense of duty to their island) hoping that in another 10 years, if there is money in mulberries, young couples will move here. It's a pie in the sky idea: copulate and populate.

But should we really worry about the 10-year-olds in Japan and whether there will be a mulberry business for them when they grow up? Have you ever tasted mulberries? They're not very good.

Wouldn't it be better to sell a lifestyle to people who already have jobs? Interestingly, while everyone admits there are no jobs here, no one has considered that people could commute between here and the mainland, which is only 20 minutes away on the ferry. Furthermore, there is a midsize city 10 km to the south and 43 km to the north. Why doesn't the local government invest in a hydrofoil boat to whisk people back and forth to their jobs on the mainland rather than investing in, um, berries?

Each year the ferries to the islands are fewer, reflecting the drop in demand. Perhaps we should turn the ferry systems over to the JR. I'm sure they'd know how to put children in schools furthest away from their house in order to make a buck.

If the local government invested in public transportation, then perhaps they could come up with an easier way to get back and forth between the islands and the mainland, rather than having to rely on just a few ferries each day. I'm thinking a conveyor belt system would be good, one that would circle the islands and go past the mainland so the islanders, like kaiten zushi, could just ride the conveyor belt and get on and off when they wanted. We'd have all kinds of people riding the sushi train to work.

Some people who were born on the islands move back after working in the cities on the mainland. They come home to find a place where people are friendly and there is no crime. They have traveled back to a time when things were cheaper, safer and less commercial. The islands, in short, are your childhood, your warm and fuzzy past.

And that's exactly what the brochures should be telling you.

Live Band and Fireworks on the beach this Saturday, Aug. 21

2010-08-17T21:14:00.000-07:00

The cows at the Moooo! Bar have miraculously survived Obon (despite working consecutive 16-hour days ;) and are now ready for the Live Band and Fireworks on the Beach coming this Saturday. We have a line-up of the ever popular bands such as King Harvest, the Okinawan Band and Yamamoto Shin. Music starts at around 6 or 7.

Following the music, we'll end the evening with the "World's Smallest Fireworks Festival" which always has a good turn-out. The fireworks are set off from the pontoon in front of the Moooo! Bar and I promise you'll never be so close to real fireworks again in your life! You might even go home with some singed clothing...

Most accommodation on the island is booked for this night, but Amagiso has some rooms available for 4,000 yen per person per night. See the Accommodations page on the Moooo! Bar website for more info and to make a reservation. You can also camp on the beach for free. If you can't stay overnight, there is a late ferry going back to the mainland after the event.

The following day, Aug. 22, is the "Paraiso de Salsa en Shiraishi" (Salsa Paradise on Shiraishi), a salsa party featuring the salsa band "Sensacional" from Osaka. The party is 3,000 yen per person in advance or 3,500 yen the day of the party. The party is 11:30 to 8pm. Purchase or reserve advance tickets by emailing us at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com.

Obon Schedule, Shiraishi Island

2010-08-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

Shiraishi Bon Dance on the beach during O-bon

The O-bon holiday officially starts Thursday, Aug. 12 and goes through Aug. 16 on Shiraishi Island. Here is the schedule of events for those spending the Bon holiday on the island:

Aug. 13 (Friday) Welcoming the spirits back to the island (at the temple). Shiraishi Bon Dance at 8pm at the Community Center (near the port, listen for the drums).

Aug. 14 (Sat) Shiraishi Bon Dance at the Community Center from 8pm

Aug. 15 (Sun) Shiraishi Bon Dance at the Community Center from 8pm.

Aug. 16 (Mon) Toronagashi, sending off the spirits with lanterns on the sea. Shiraishi Bon Dance on the beach at 8pm. The official end to O-bon.

A little information on the Shiraishi Bon Dance:

The Shiraishi Bon Dance, or, Shiraishi Odori is designated one of Japan's Important Cultural Treasures. It is danced by the locals at Obon during the Festival of the Dead in August to appease the souls of the fallen Heike warriors during the decisive sea battle at Dan no Ura as told in the story The Heike Monogatari. After the battle, the bodies of the Heike warriors drifted down the Inland Sea and many of them washed up on the shores of Shiraishi Island. The dance is performed to appease their souls and has been performed every year for over 800 years.

Come on out and dance the Shiraishi Bon Dance with the locals. Wear your summer yukata (or not...). Obon is a lot of fun on the island!

Amagiso Seaside Accommodation, Shiraishi Island

2010-08-09T16:32:00.001-07:00

Budget Accommodation
Amagiso is the last accommodation down the beach. It is on the water, but not on the beach. The beach is just a short walk away. Amagiso also runs a ryokan, but the ryokan is full for Obon. This self contained building to the side of the ryokan is excellent for groups of up to 20 people or for those looking for budget accommodation with a Western style toilet and a BBQ area. There is no kitchen, so you'll have to grab your meals at San-chan's or use the BBQ. Bathrooms and toilets are shared.

Amagiso has a deck next to the sea where you can hang out. You can see the beach in the background, which is just a short walk away.

Amagiso has three 6-tatami mat rooms on the first floor and three on the second floor. The rooms are separated by Japanese shoji sliding doors. This photo shows two rooms, with the sliding doors in the middle. The doors can be opened so more people can share the space, or kept closed for privacy. Two to four people can fit in each room. Futons only. All rooms look out onto the sea and all have a veranda.

This is the view from the second floor. Notice the large BBQ area under the blue tents. The BBQs are provided free of charge, but please bring your own charcoal, or buy it on the island at the local grocery store.

We are now taking reservations for Amagiso for Obon, Aug. 12-16. The price is 4,000 yen per person per night. To reserve, email us at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com.

Amagiso is also open for reservations for the live band and fireworks night, Aug. 21. This is the only accommodation still available for Obon and for Aug. 21. Reservations for Obon close on Aug. 11th.

This weekend on Shiraishi Island

2010-08-06T16:46:00.000-07:00

Saturday, Aug. 7 Shiraishi Bon demonstration dance on the beach at 7 or 8:00pm.

Sunday, Aug. 8 Live Music at the Moooo! Bar (acoustic)

The pace is really picking up on the island as we head into the Obon holiday period. Although everything is fully booked for Obon, it looks like there will be some alternative accommodation becoming available. Someone has agreed to rent out their "umi no ie" (beach house). I will take a look at it today and post photos on the blog if I feel it is a reasonable accommodation.

See you on Shiraishi Island! Moooo!

Shiraishi Island fully booked until Aug. 17

2010-08-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

Sorry to say that all accommodation is fully booked on Shiraishi Island from now through Obon until Aug. 16. The first rooms available start Aug. 17.

You're welcome to come out for the day or camp overnight on the beach.

Hope to see you on the island!

Accommodation almost all full through Obon...

2010-08-04T14:01:00.001-07:00

Almost all accommodation is completely booked on Shiraishi Island from now through Obon. I will do an account of all available rooms and dates today (if there are any) and post an up-to-date status of availability.

Moos of thanks to all who have chosen to include Shiraishi Island in their travel itinerary! I hope you all have been touched by this unique "island life" in Japan's Inland Sea!

Another new post coming up: Shiraishi now has a geocaching site--just received the official details this morning!

Sunday Clause...

2010-08-01T19:36:00.000-07:00

Shiraishi Beach on a typical week-day in July or August

Some people have come out to the island recently and been disappointed that there have been many other people on the beach on a Sunday. Beware--Sundays can be crowded!

Now, when I say crowded, I'm talking 200 people max, on a 421-meter beach. This is nothing compared to beaches such as Shonan and other popular beaches around Tokyo. Then again, this is a small island in the Inland Sea you have to pay to get to since you have to take a ferry. As a result, we are never too crowded.

But...some people are looking for a deserted beach. Those can also be found on the island, but you have to go scout them out yourself. It's a shame when people arrive and make an immediate judgment about the place without getting to know it better. If the beach is not your scene, there are plenty of other beautiful spots on the island. Go discover them! The island is what you make of it.

The other advice is just to stay away from the island on Sundays. It's the only day many Japanese people have off and they are looking for nice relaxing places too. Furthermore, this Sunday frenzy, if you can call it that, is only on six of the 365 days of the year on the island.

Also, stay up to date by reading the blog so you know when to come out and when not to. For example, next Sunday we have live music on the beach. If this is not your scene, plan on spending your time on the back side of the island in one of the little coves where you'll never see another person all day. Or kayak to a nearby island and have an entire island to yourself! Opportunities abound...

Come discover Shiraishi Island!

Nakanishiya Ryokan, Shiraishi Island

2010-07-29T18:42:00.000-07:00

View of the beach from the second floor rooms

Nakanishiya Ryokan offers rooms for 4,500 yen per person (no meals included). The ryokan is right on the beach and also just down the hill from the International Villa, so convenient for those with groups of more than 10 people who can't all fit into the villa. Toilets, showers and the bath are shared but they do have some Western style toilets.

From the first floor rooms, you can enter directly into your room from the beach. There is a small paved road between the ryokan and the beach.

The rooms are typical Japanese style, very basic: futons on tatami mat. There are TVs in most of the rooms.

This room is on the garden and doesn't face the sea. If you'd like the garden room, please request it. This is a large room, over 16 tatami mats, which can become 3 individual rooms by use of sliding doors.

Nakanishiya also has a stone bath. Bath times are not set, but you can reserve the bath for a specific time for privacy.

Book by contacting shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

Please note Nakanishiya is fully booked on the following nights: Aug 11-16, 24, 25.

Shiraishi to Miyajima--cruising through the Inland Sea

2010-07-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

Approaching Miyajima on our journey through the Inland Sea from Shiraishi Island. We left Shiraishi at 10:00 am and leisurely cruised through the islands, stopping at Osakishimojima and Omijima before arriving at Miyajima just before sunset.

There are so many uninhabited beaches throughout the Inland Sea. Sometimes we stop for a swim and a BBQ on one of them.

We caught this sunrise over the Inland Sea on the trip back to Shiraishi the next morning. The water was a smooth as glass--another great day for cruising through the Inland Sea on a Japanese fishing boat!

Contact us about boat trips: shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

2010 Moooo! Bar Staff Introductions

2010-07-26T16:44:00.000-07:00

Blossom: "I want to mix you a moogarita!"

Introducing our Moooo! Bar staff this season, first off is Blossom, an fun loving bovine and long time Moooo! Bar herd member. She'll mix you up one fine moogarita, and will probably have one with you! Blossom came to Japan as an exchange student in high school and now teaches English. Her hobby is, not surprisingly, drinking moogaritas....Moooo Blossom!

We also welcome Yaeko, who is working in the Moooo! Shop helping you cover your hide in Moooo! gear such as board shorts, t-shirts, etc. Yaeko is a Shiraishi home-grown local whose parents run Nakanishiya Ryokan on the beach. She speaks great English and enjoys a drink now and then too. Moooo Yaeko!

Mika is our all-round mooer doing her summer internship at the Moooo! Bar. She helps us with reservations, accommodations, boat trips and of course, the bar, calfe and shop. Mika is a second year student at Shujitsu University in Okayama City, majoring in English and Communications. She's ready to work her hooves off to make sure you have a great time on Shiraishi Island! Moooo Mika!

The forecast is for beautiful weather all this week. Another moo day in paradise.....come join the herd!

Hiro behind the bar today

2010-07-20T15:28:00.001-07:00

Manuel, from Mexico, gives his approval of our new 100 percent bovine-free (vegetarian) burritos now being served at the Moooo! Calfe

We're off on a boat trip to Miyajima today, but Hiro will be at the Moooo! Bar to mix up the moogaritas. It looks like it's going to be another spectacular day on Shiraishi Island....moooooooooo!

Boat trip to Miyajima and back July 21-22

2010-07-19T17:03:00.000-07:00

The old Edo port town at Osakishimo Island

Thanks to everyone for a great Sea Day weekend at the Moooo! Bar. Will post photos soon.

Tomorrow we have a boat trip leaving Shiraishi Island in the morning and arriving at Miyajima at around 5pm. This is a 1-day Historic Inland Sea Tour that visits three islands on the way to Miyajima (including Osakishimo Island and Omishima Island). The trip to Miyajima is full but we still have 4 openings for the trip back on July 22nd. Let us know if you'd like to join us by emailing us at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

Have a great day and don't forget to moo!

Moooo! Bar open today

2010-07-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

Some intrepid travellers hoofed it out to the Moooo! Bar even in the rain!

The Moooo! Bar is finally open again after a long break due to the rain. The sun is shining right now on the island! Looking forward to mooing with you...

Sea Day Special: Organic burritos being served at the Moooo! Calfe

Sea Day Weekend on Shiraishi July 16-19

2010-07-13T17:35:00.000-07:00

Shiraishi Bon Dance

It looks like the weather is going to clear and we'll have a fantastic long weekend for Sea Day, which is celebrated on Monday, July 19. The forecast is for sunshine and highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius. Finally!

On Saturday night, we have a Shiraishi Bon Dance demonstration when the locals will be performing the Shiraishi Dance on the beach in the evening from 7:00 pm. If you're staying overnight on the island, you won't want to miss this!

The Moooo! Bar will also be open all weekend and into the night. We look forward to a great fun weekend with you. Stop by for some ice cream or milk shake at the Moooo! Calfe. We will also be offering sailing and boating trips throughout the weekend, so come on out and have some fun in the sun with us!

See you on the island. Mooooooooo!

Rain in the forecast...

2010-07-10T18:13:00.001-07:00

The Moooo! Bar will be closed today, Sunday July 11 due to rain. There is rain in the forecast for the rest of the week too, so we'll take one day at a time.

We still have a boat trip on for Naoshima on Monday July 12. We have room for one or two more people for the way there or up to 4 people for the trip back from Naoshima to Shiraishi later the same day.

Also, we're looking for two more people to join a trip to Miyajima on July 20th or up to 4 for the return trip from Miyajima to Shiraishi the next day July 21.

Enjoy the rainy season, if you can!

The Cowch is currently available

2010-07-06T19:42:00.001-07:00

Meet the gods on Shiraishi Island

2010-07-06T19:10:00.000-07:00

The following article is about the gods who live on Shiraishi Island. Tourists are welcome to participate in these local festivals, but the most interesting is the Autumn Festival, held the first Sunday in October. Come help us pull the mikoshi!

The Japan Times, Japan Lite: Saturday, July 3, 2010
Meet the party gods on Shiraishi Island

By Amy Chavez

I've always gotten along well with my neighbors on the island. This is especially important because my neighbors are all gods: the Mountain God, Kompira-san, Juichimen Kannon, Senju Kannon and Myoken-sama. I have to put up with a few loud parties every now and then, but overall, we get along extremely well.

And oh, the parties! I seem to be surrounded by party gods. The Mountain God has a party twice a year when the whole neighborhood is invited to come socialize at his shrine in the side of the mountain. Sutras are chanted, hands are clapped, sake bottles are opened.

Kompira-san, god of seafaring and fishing, has a block party that is part of the autumn festival, when he invites the entire island. The road is closed off and we just drink and celebrate. Other gods are invited to that one too, so it's quite an eclectic mix. I've never seen any of the attending gods myself, but I am assured they are present. The other gods are only invited once a year and no one would dare miss a party of Kompira-san's.

The little stone gods Juichimen Kannon and Senju Kannon, who live in the shrine on the pilgrimage route behind my house, are the quietest. They don't hold any parties at all. They do receive individual guests, however, who tend to throw their money around while saying "Om, bazara tarama kiriku!" which roughly translates to, "Om, the lord of delivering the imperishable Dharma and its purity!."

But Myoken-sama has the most exclusive party of them all — black tie and invitation only. No women allowed either; this is secret men's business. The Myoken-sama matsuri takes place every June. It is not on the same day every year but instead is held according to the lunar calendar. Never really knowing when it will be is always part of the mystique of this festival. The only clue I have is that the day before the festival, women arrive with brooms and rakes to clear the path up to Myoken Shrine. There is further activity as banners and other decorations are carried up the mountain and put in place around the shrine.

On the day of the celebration, about 20 guests arrive in cars and park in a long line along the port. All dressed in black suits and freshly polished shoes, the men carry fresh whole fish and kagami mochi on trays up the stone steps that lead to the shrine. These men are anywhere from 40 to 80 years old, some carrying large bottles of sake, because everyone knows that the Shinto gods have alcoholic tendencies. It's comforting to know that you never have to drink alone in Japan. Myoken-sama overlooks the port and protects the boats coming in and out. The shrine was built around the same time the port was finished, about 400 years ago. Myoken-sama also, for some reason, protects us against cholera (hey, why not?).

I wonder how exactly Myoken-sama and the other gods protect us anyway. Has anyone ever thought about this? Can they see cholera in the distance, sprinting to the island? And what kind of divine intervention is used to convince the cholera to stop before it gets here? Is plea bargaining a possibility? Perhaps we all end up with just a bad cold instead.

No one really knows. We just know that they, like all the gods on this island, protect us.

So my next question is: Why are we so sure the gods like us? After all, we pilfer their sea and turn their beaches into concrete walls. Why do we think we are so worthy of protection? I live on a piece of reclaimed land that didn't even exist until someone bulldozed the idea of turning a happy fish paradise into a plot of land for two houses. This land is not a part of the sacred Mother Earth. More like an artificial, test tube baby version.

And Myoken-sama — peace keeper, divine vaccine producer, and lawyer extraordinaire — is supposed to protect us from the wrath of the gods? I am under no false beliefs that my neighbors should hold me in such high esteem.

Just ask Juichimen (11-headed) Kannon and Senju (1,000-armed) Kannon, who live just out my back door. They've been sitting there with their legs crossed for over 400 years, with no apparent leg pain, so I know they really are gods. Who else could do that? I can only guess at how they feel living next to us mortals.

Juichimen: "Ugh, they're hanging out their laundry again — so much for our view!"

Senju: "Look at the holes in those pajamas! Why don't they just throw them away?"

Juichimen: "You can't expect them to be so smart. They only have one head."

But maybe the gods should be thankful that they have us to protect. Some islands in the Seto Inland Sea have lost their populations completely, and consequently have let their shrines become neglected and fall into disrepair. There are some parts of the country like that where the Japanese have abandoned their gods.

So while the benevolent gods continue to protect us, I wonder if it's not us who should be protecting them.

Umibiraki weekend

2010-07-02T15:40:00.000-07:00

Kagami mochi, with the sea in the background, set out for umibiraki

This Sunday is umibiraki, or the Opening of the Sea ceremony on Shiraishi Island. This means that starting July 4, the sea will be safe to swim in because it has been blessed by the Buddhist priest (although it is a Shinto ceremony). This is also the weekend of the Shiraishi Yacht Race. Below is a schedule of events:

Saturday
Moooo! Bar open from 3:00 pm and hopefully in the evening, weather dependent (it's raining right now...)

Sunday

Shiraishi Yacht Race starts at 8:00 am.

Umibiraki 9:00 am (on the beach)

Mushi Okuri Festival 10:00 am (at Kairyuji Temple). The mushi okuri festival (sending off of the insects) is the annual festival for throwing all the bad insects off the island. Join Man-chan and his entourage for this fun festival carrying a small wooden boat around the island while shouting to the insects to get onboard! Once all the insects are collected, the boat is brought to the sea where they are set off in the boat.

Moooo! Bar open all day Sunday, weather dependent.

We look forward to a wet, but fun opening weekend! The Moooo! Bar will be open every day, including weekdays, from now on. Moooooooooo!

Read more on umibiraki, Japan Lite: The Sea Whisperer

Shiraishi Nature-The blue heron

2010-07-01T19:08:00.000-07:00

The Japan Times, Japan Lite: Saturday, June 26, 2010
Big Birds have Big Fun

By Amy Chavez

With the evening breeze,
the water laps against
the heron's legs

Thus goes one translation of this poem by the famous haiku poet, Yosa Buson (1716 - 1783).

Every evening I watch the aosagi (blue or gray herons) gliding in the air around the port. They are beautiful birds, with elegant necks that curve over swan-like, and long, sexy legs (yes, I am looking!). I've always admired their excellent posture. Standing on one foot is possibly the key.

They wade out into the water at low tide, fishing. They stand silently, waiting. Then reach down, put their beak into the water and pull out a very astonished fish. Grasping the struggling fish, they point their beak up toward the sky and let the fish wriggle its way down the tunnel of death. I watch as the lump of fish passes down through the throat and disappears — now that's fresh sashimi!

Observing their hunting methods, I can see why the heron is described as "a symbol of patience," in the "bird tattoo index" on the Internet.

The morning heron in our port, however, is quite different. A departure from the type that inspires haiku, the morning heron is lazy, knowing he can get his breakfast easily by hanging out near the fishing boats. As fishermen sort through their previous night's catch, they occasionally toss the small ones to the herons.

The most strategic place for being the first to spot these freebies is from the top of my boat, which is parked next to the fishing boats. I can understand why the herons like our boat — it has an awning over the back of it, which from the air looks like a giant, purpose-built blue heron landing pad.

Imagine if you were flying around the port and suddenly spotted a large, overstuffed sofa below. This heron platform is coveted by the birds in the same way you covet those few comfortable chairs at Starbucks.

So they land on the awning, stand there for a while, and crap. So much that our boat has become an avian toilet — an avian "Doo-doo Drop In."

The Avian Toilet is much easier to use than an Asian or a Western toilet. No squatting is necessary. And no sitting down on the job either. You just stand there and when it feels good, do it. I wouldn't mind so much if they'd just use the toilet slippers I set out for them.

I wonder if Toto has considered incorporating the convenience of the Avian toilet into new toilet models. It would eliminate the need for heated toilet seats and the toilets would be far more environmentally friendly because when it rains, they become self-flushing.

But, in the meantime, as the stuff piles up on the awning, I might have to start asking the men who come to clean out our pit toilet every month if they'd clean the Avian toilet too. If not, I fear:

With the morning breeze,

the guano laps against

the heron's legs.

But I got to thinking that maybe I could turn this Avian toilet into a money-making business. Perhaps you have heard about an ancient geisha beauty secret that uses nightingale fun. No, nightingale fun is not doing something really exciting with nightingales. "Fun" refers to their droppings, which are used in beauty creams and treatments. Now, I'm sure the nightingales don't mind having a part-time job on the side donating their fun to the beauty industry. But I do wonder why the Japanese haven't tapped the blue heron market. C'mon, these are big birds — They have big fun!

We're talking big splotches of white. That's either big fun or herons are just sloppy painters. But there's enough fun on the top of our boat to make an entire gallery of Rorsplotch paintings.

Unfortunately, nightingale fun is very expensive. This might have to do with the collection method — imagine putting buckets under telephone wires every day hoping to catch a few drops of the stuff. It might be cheaper to lie under the telephone wire with your eyes closed. Who knows, it could be the next eco-tourism thing.

Still, most people would choose to go to a spa to have this treatment done. There is one in particular, Shizuka New York Day Spa, in New York City that offers such Bird Poop Facials for $180 (more than ¥16,000). Such a lofty price reminds me of that John Keats poem, "Owed to a Nightingale."

When I open my spa here on the island, I'll have the advantage of being able to offer affordable bird poop facials because of the sheer volume of heron droppings at my disposal. I'll advertise: Blue Heron Spa: "Look your best, even when you're feeling blue!"

And when I welcome people to my spa, I'll say, "Here, just lie on this awning, and I'll be back in a half-hour." When they leave I'll say, "Thanks for dropping by!"

If my spa fails, I'll have to do something else with the heron droppings. Bird droppings have nitrates which are also used to make gun powder, so I suppose that is another business I should be looking into.

With the morning breeze,
the guano laps against
the powder kegs.

""""""

Follow Japan Lite on Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/JapanLite

Amano Store on Shiraishi Island

2010-06-27T20:59:00.000-07:00

"Amano Store" front

Lately people have been asking me just how big the "super market" is on Shiraishi Island. This is especially relevant to those staying several days in accommodation such as the Villa, the Beach House and the Cottage, where you have a kitchen and can cook your own food.

How large it is depends on how you see things: either the supermarket is half-empty or half-full. For an island of just 650 people, it seems like we have a pretty good store. But remember, they only stock the basics.

The shop is open every day from 8am to 7pm. It is restocked every morning at 11:00am except for Sundays when they are open regular hours but do not bring food from the mainland.

Not pictured but also available: milk, eggs, cream, butter, margarine, cheese (one kind), soy milk, mayonaise, cooking oil, soy sauce, mirin, miso, and other basic cooking needs.

Pasta and flour isle. They stock spaghetti and pasta curls but no sauces, but you can make your own as they sell both canned tomatoes and fresh.

Vegetable section: lettuce, carrots, mushrooms, green pepper, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, spinach and leeks are all standard. Also ginger root and fresh garlic.

Continue to Breads and Meats

Amano Store 2: Bread and Meats

2010-06-27T20:20:00.000-07:00

Breads (big, thick sliced bread and rolls)

Cold cuts (mostly ham and wieners)

Chicken (left) and beef (right)

Moooo! Bar on stand by today, June 27

2010-06-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

Fishing boats in front of the Port House on Shiraishi Island

The Moooo! Bar is on stand by today as we watch and see what the weather does. We may not open at all. If you're planning on coming out despite the rain, do give us a call and we will be happy to open for you!

July and August on Shiraishi Island

2010-06-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

Beach at Shiraishi Island

July is approaching when the Moooo! Bar will be open every day through the end of the summer. The whole island is getting ready for a great summer. Reservations are also rolling in so don't get left out--if you want to come out for O-bon (Aug 13-16) or the Fireworks and Live Band Night (Aug 21), you need to make your reservations now.

Sea Day, July 19: Sea Day (or Marine Day), is a national holiday held on the third Monday in July. Accommodation will be fully booked for Sea Day, so please get your reservations in soon if you want to come out then. The Cottage is already booked but most other accommodations still have some rooms available.

Fireworks and Live Band Night, Aug. 21: The only budget accommodation left for Live Band Night is the Beach House, which can hold up to 12 people. San-chan's, Minshuku Harada, the International Villa and the Cottage are fully booked. The only other options are Otafuku Ryokan for 10,500 yen per person or Nakanishiya Ryokan sudomari (no meals) for 4,500 yen. Oh, there is also a campground or you can camp on the beach for free ;)

Obon (Aug 13-16): Obon is also filling up quickly. We always run out of accommodation for Obon, but if you fail to get a room, you can always camp on the beach (as long as you're not bothered by loud mooing coming from the Moooo! Bar, which will be open into the wee hours ;) A lot of other "unconventional" accommodation tends to become available during Obon too, as locals start offering an extra room in their house, their storage sheds, boats, etc for rent (no kidding!) but even this fills up. But Obon is when the island really rocks!

Other times during the summer, especially during the week, you should have no problem getting accommodation. These are quieter times and you'll have the beach to yourself. But if you want to come out on a weekend, then please make your reservations soon. Saturday nights fill up fast.

If we can be of any help during your stay, just let us know. We are happy to help. See you on the island!

Moooo! Bar on the beach open tonight and Sunday!

2010-06-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

Come enjoy the beach!

So much for the rainy season--we've moved the island closer to the sunshine! The forecast yesterday was rain both Saturday and Sunday but now it is sunny for both days.

Tonight, Saturday June 19, the Moooo! Bar will be open for sunset and a bonfire on the beach. Tomorrow, fun in the sun all day long......come join the herd!

Shiraishi Island featured in Otanagumi magazine

2010-06-17T20:27:00.000-07:00

Shiraishi Island, the Moooo! Bar, San-chan's and Minshuku Harada were featured in the July issue of Otanagumi's Kansai edition. If you speak/read Japanese, check it out!

The weather forecast for the weekend is rain, but we'll open the Moooo! Bar on Sunday and see how it goes. Bring your raincoats as we could be mooin' in the rain!

Shiraishi Bon Dance

2010-06-11T17:33:00.000-07:00

Shiraishi Bon Dance

Dates have been announced for the Shiraishi Bon Dance performed on Shiraishi Island during the O-bon Festival of the Dead in August and on select practice Saturdays in July. The schedule is as follows:

July 24, 31 and Aug. 7 Demonstration dance on the beach at sunset (8pm)
Aug. 13, 14, 15, 16 Obon Dance Performances (at community center)
Aug. 16 Toronagashi --sending-off of the spirits on paper lanterns in the sea

Accommodation is rapidly filling up for Obon on Shiraishi Island. The international villa is already fully booked for Aug 13-16. If you plan on coming out to the island over the summer holiday, please book soon! See the Moooo! Bar website for details on accommodation.

Moooo! Bar season starts Sunday

2010-06-01T18:28:00.000-07:00

View of the beach on Shiraishi from the top of the mountain

Looking forward to this Sunday, June 6, the official opening of the Moooo! Bar for the summer. We'll be open on Sundays in June, then starting July, every day. Moogaritas, sun and fun. Another great season on the beach at Shiraishi Island.

Shiraishi: Island of Heavenly Fields

2010-05-26T02:37:00.000-07:00

The Japan Times, Japan Lite: Saturday, May 22, 2010
The Island of Heavenly Fields

By Amy Chavez

I live next to a heavenly field. So do lots of other people on my island.

It is said that certain last names are popular in certain parts of Japan. This is true on our island of 655 people, many of whom share the last name Amano, or "heavenly field." Although most of the Amanos on the island insist they are not related, they do acknowledge that they probably are related if you research their family history back far enough.

When you get off the ferry on our island, you will encounter your first Heavenly Field at the ferry port, because the Amanos own the ferry port and will take your ferry ticket when you arrive. If you head to the beach, you can stay for the day in the umi no ie (beach hut) run by Mrs. Amano. You can buy some groceries, drinks and sandwiches, at Amano Store, and pick up some alcohol at Amafuku (Heavenly Luck), run by some other Amanos. If you should decide to stay overnight, you have a handful of Amano options: Amano Camp Ground, Amagisou (Heavenly Castle Inn) run by the Amanos or the International Villa managed by Mrs. Amano. If you happen to hit the island during a live musical performance on the beach, and you can dance all night with 84-year-old Amano-san. All that, and you'll never be talking with a relative of the same Amano family.

If you live here, you can further get Amanoed at the yakuba (town hall), JA Bank and the fisherman's co-op. Heavenly fields are everywhere.

When I first moved to the island many years ago, I thought this was great because I only had to remember one name for everyone. Now the problem comes when someone says, "Which Amano?"

If you wanted to have nothing to do with heavenly fields, and prefer plain rice fields, you have several Harada options: kayak and windsurfer rentals from Harada-san, staying overnight at Harada Minshuku, or staying at Harada's Nakanishiya Ryokan. At least you'd be keeping it all in the same family. Not that there aren't plenty of other plain rice fields on the island, but I won't get into the Haradas this time.

On a tiny island like this, where people historically only moved within a 7 km area, it's understandable that many people share the same last name. It was a small community of people to choose a mate from. Eventually, after everyone has married into everyone else's family, everyone is related to everyone. Marrying your cousin, especially if he's cute, sure beats waiting for some guy to swim over from the mainland and land on the beach. Besides, a lot of Japanese people in those days couldn't swim. You could be years sitting on that beach waiting for someone, only to end up with a fish.

People have been living here for hundreds of years, which is evident in that many people still live in houses that are inaccessible by car. The foot paths that crisscross the island were created years before cars were invented and these paths were all that connected people and houses. Eventually, more houses were built until there were rows of houses built sandwiched together, on both sides of the foot paths.

To widen these footpaths to make room for cars would mean people would have cars running through their houses all day long. While this would be an imposition for the residents of those houses, business-wise, it would be a great place to set up a McDonald's drive-through. Actually, a beer and wine drive-through would be far more profitable on this island.

Think of the possibilities. In small towns on the mainland that people pass through in their cars, there are always little businesses springing up in the houses along the road. Often times these businesses are in the front room of someone's house, allowing them to sit in their living room all day watching baseball until someone happens to stop and buy something.

If we could get the islanders to each open up a shop in the front room of their houses, you could do all your shopping at one pass through the houses in your car, like a drive-through Wal-Mart. No parking or standing please.

And while we're on the subject of island infrastructure (how DID we get on this subject anyway?), I have a solution to the rampant bridge building going on in the Seto Inland Sea. These bridges, by connecting the islands to the mainland, promise to bring tourism once the islands are accessible by car. But everyone knows these bridges are insanely expensive and often citify the previously quiet island life.

My solution is to stop building bridges altogether. It would be cheaper to hire a hundred car ferries to line up at a certain point twice a day for a few hours to let people come back and forth between the mainland and islands by car.

A floating, movable bridge, if you will, and a passageway to the Heavenly Fields Wal-Mart drive-through.

Those crazy Shiraishi Islanders

2010-05-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

In many ways it was a typical night at San-chan's in the off-season. Sea-kun had caught a big red snapper and wanted to serve up sashimi for everyone so a few locals came around and we all had quite a feast! After lots of drinking the guitars came out. One of the guests happened to be a rippin' guitar player (there are always a lot of musicians hanging out at San-chan's) and the party started. Always a fun time at San-chan's...cheers!

1-Day Inland Sea Tour

2010-05-22T00:46:00.000-07:00

Join us for a historical Inland Sea Tour by boat

Looking for people to join either July 21 (Shiraishi Island to Miyajima), or return (Miyajima to Shiraishi Island) on July 22. Other dates also available.

1-Day Tour: Sea Battles, Daimyo and Pirates

Historically, Japan’s Seto Inland Sea conjures up images of battles, daimyo and pirates. The Seto Naikai (inland sea) is the scene of the famous "Tale of the Heike" (Heike Monogatari) where in 1185 the Genji warriors won the battle against the Heike at Dan-no-ura bringing an end to the Gempei War (1180-1185). It is here where the hero of the story, Tomomori, gave his famous last words: “I have seen all there is to be seen,” before sacrificing himself to the sea.

Join us for a 1-day boat tour visiting three historic islands in Japan's Inland Sea:

1. Shiraishi Island (Departure point--20 mins. by ferry from Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture)

Our historic trip leaves Shiraishi Island on August 7 on a 26ft Japanese fishing boat. Shiraishi is one of the islands in the Inland Sea where the kitamaebune (northern-bound trade ships) rested during their long voyages to and from Edo (Tokyo).

Shiraishi Island is best known for its Bon dance, the Shiraishi Odori. The dance is designated one of Japan's Important Cultural Treasures. It is danced by the locals at Obon during the Festival of the Dead in August to appease the souls of the fallen Heike warriors during the decisive sea battle at Dan no Ura as told in the story The Heike Monogatari. After the battle, the bodies of the Heike warriors drifted down the Inland Sea and many of them washed up on the shores of

Shiraishi Island. The dance is performed to appease their souls and has been performed every year for over 800 years.

2. Omishima Island

Our first island stop after Shiraishi is Omishima, the site of one of Japan’s most important Shinto Shrines. Oyamazumi Jinja is surrounded by camphor trees thousands of years old and was built at the end of the Kamakura period in the early 1300s. It is said to have taken over a century to complete. The shrine was rebuilt in the Muromachi period (1333-1575) and is designated an Important Cultural Property.

Here Oyamazumi, the guardian deity of seafarers, was worshipped by the daimyo and warriors who came here to pray for strength and protection from pirates.

The House of Treasures, dubbed the “pirate museum,” is located within the shrine grounds and holds almost 80 percent of Japan’s treasures of ancient armor. Much of the armor and swords were left by emperors, daimyo and warriors as tribute.

The displays are located in two buildings, Shiyoden Hall/Kokuho-kan and Kaiji Museum. Here you can see armor made from silk braid, wood and leather from the Heian and Muromachi periods. Some of the more significant displays from the Heian period include armor Oryoshi Yoshikata used when he crushed the Sumitomo Fujiwara Revolt, violet-twilled armor used by Minamoto Yoritomo, the first shogun of Japan (1192), threaded armor used by Yoshitsune Minamoto 800 years ago.

Of note is a display of women’s armor that belonged to Yasumochi Ohoir’s daughter Tsuruhime. Tsuruhime became a tragic heroine and is now remembered in the Tsuruhime Matsuri (Princess Tsuru Festival) every July on Omishima.

The legend of Turuhime is that she successfully fought off the Ouchi Clan when they tried to occupy Omishima in the 16^th century. However, upon hearing that her fiancé had not survived the battle, she sacrificed herself by throwing herself into the sea. The festival celebrates her bravery and is a memorial to her fighting spirit. The annual festival includes a Kaidenma boat race, a parade where skits are performed from the Tsuruhime legend and a fireworks display.

The pirate museum also displays scrolls, helmets (one in the shape of a chicken) and an

impressive collection of samurai swords. The swords include those used by Yoshitsune Minamoto in the Battle of the Genpei and Hikohichi Omori’s sword used to behead Masashige Kusunoki.

Inside the Kaiji Museum is a 15-ton wooden boat that the late Showa Emperor used for marine biology research. The second floor displays natural sea salts and ores that come from the Seto Inland Sea, as well as various sea creatures such as starfish, sea turtles and giant crabs.

3. Osakishimojima

A cat walks across the street of the sleepy Mitarai port town on Osakishimojima

Our last place to visit on this day is Mitarai (formerly Yutaka Machi) a port town on Osakaishimo Island that has been designated a “Historic Conservation District of National Importance” Mitarai was famous for trade and entertainment starting in the Edo period and continuing into the 1940’s. As a port town, it catered to men aboard ships on the trade routes bringing rice, herring and seaweed from the Japan Sea coast to distribute to Osaka and Kyoto. What became known as the "Mitarai price" determined the average price of the rice in Osaka.

Dutch traders and merchants also stopped by Mitarai, and feudal samurai lords dropped by to rest here on their way to and from Edo. Much of the town has been preserved and it is well-marked with signboards at points of interest. You can climb up “History Hill” for panoramic views of the old port. There is also a graveyard on top where many of the town’s courtesans are buried.

Up until 2008, the town and island could only be accessed by boat. There is now a bridge so busses and cars can easily visit, but the town has been able to maintain its old Edo flavor for so long due to its remote location. Walking down the two main streets, you feel more like you are walking around a movie set. You can go inside some of the old buildings such as the former cinema and one of the former brothels.

End of Tour

After Osakishimo Island, you have two options for drop off:

Drop off at Miyajima (Hiroshima Prefecture) or Mihara (Kure, Hiroshima prefecture).

For reservations, information and costs, email us at shiraishireservations at yahoo.com

We made the Lonely Planet....again!

2010-05-20T17:17:00.000-07:00

Lonely Planet, Japan

The latest U.K. Lonely Planet Japan (2009) again mentions the Moooo! Bar in it's Shiraishi Island entry. This time they have also mentioned San-chan's as a budget accommodation in addition to the International Villa, which is nice. For years tourists have been under the false impression the the villa was the only place to stay on the island! I have to admit that although the LP entry is mostly made up of info. only available on our Moooo! Bar website, the facts are at least right this time. The previous American version (2008), although the writer actually did come to Shiraishi, got some of the facts completely wrong. In addition, this version describes Shiraishi as "sleepy Shiraishi Island," which is an apt description. After all, most tourists come here to relax after doing the tourist beat in the cities.

I never met the person who updated this version and San-chan's was very surprised to see themselves in it, but it does explain why they've been getting more calls "out of the blue" from foreigners wanting to make reservations.

For six years now I have run Shiraishi Reservations, a free service for English speakers to make reservations at alternative minshukus on the island. I set this up to help bridge the language/culture gap between the local islanders and foreign tourists. We have been very successful in this goal. But that service, nor the Moooo! Bar website for that matter (which is the only website in English on Shiraishi Island), has been included in the LP entries. As a writer, I can't really understand why you wouldn't credit the source where you got most of your information, especially if it would be helpful to readers. But perhaps it is just secret guidebook ways..?!

But I commend the Lonely Planet for including and recommending the Inland Sea as it is truly an undiscovered part of Japan. For years I have been trying to convince guidebook publishers that tourists would buy a special guidebook to the Inland Sea. As no one has taken me up on this, I have started highlighting different islands on the Humor-Us Guide to Japan website. I've been to approximately 40 of the 250 Inland Sea islands, and have written articles for The Japan Times on many of them. My goal is to get more people to visit these undiscovered gems of Japan!

Anyway, thanks Lonely Planet for including us. I hope we can show more and more people the "slow life" side of Japan and introduce them to the ways of the Inland Sea islands.

Inland Sea: Teshima

2010-05-18T02:26:00.000-07:00

Paul, on our recent trip to Teshima in the Seto Naikai.

Sunset from Awashima Island

2010-05-17T16:00:00.000-07:00

Spent yesterday doing some island exploring in the Seto Naikai on the Moooo! boat. Went to Teshima, Oteshima, Shishijima and ended with a BBQ on the beach at sunset with our friends Awashima-taro on Awashima Island. What a great day!

San-chan's Filet-o-fish

2010-05-16T02:36:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Day on the Beach

2010-05-16T02:05:00.000-07:00

Today on Shiraishi Island beach.

Introducing our new boat for large groups...

2010-05-13T17:39:00.001-07:00

This boat holds up to 35 people

We've added a new, bigger boat to our fleet this year! Now you can not only have a tour of the Inland Sea by sailboat or fishing boat, but also by this ferry boat. This is a perfect boat for groups of 6-10 people who want to see some of the other islands in the Inland Sea or who want transport to their next destination.

We've already got a trip to Miyajima from Shiraishi July 20, and are looking for more passengers for the trip there, and for the trip back, Miyajima to Shiraishi, the next day on July 21. Read more about Miyajima at Humor-Us Guide to Japan.

Also, we'll be taking this boat to see the Tomo no Ura fireworks on the evening of May 29, leaving Shiraishi just before sunset, and returning around 9pm. Price is 500 yen per person. Bring your own cooler of beer and watch the fireworks from the sea! We do this every year and it is always a good time.

Inquiries and reservations: shiraishireservations at yahoo.com

Dazey May joins Facebook

2010-05-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

Dazey May, drinking a moogarita

Dazey May, one of the five blogging cows at the Moooo! Bar, joined Face Book. If I knew how to tell you to become a fan of Dazey May on Facebook, I would....Got a clue? Let us know in the comments section!

Moooo! Bar open May 16

2010-05-09T22:55:00.000-07:00

Due to a special request from some people with a really big boat, we will be opening the Moooo! Bar for general drinking and carousing on Sunday, May 16.

Come join the herd!

Japan Lite: Cat's guide to enlightenment

2010-05-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

The Japan Times: Saturday, May 1, 2010

Cat's guide to attaining enlightenment

By Amy Chavez

After so many years in Japan, I have come to realize that it is not so hard to achieve enlightenment. As long as you're a cat.

Among the enlightenment-seeking general populace, cats seem to achieve their goal faster than any other animal or human. Even kittens seem to bound out of the womb happy to learn that they came into this world as kittens and not, say, mice. So they have a good platform to start their road to enlightenment.

Just food, water, sleep and meditation can bring one to a state of enlightenment, according to my cat, who achieves enlightenment every day, at least once. To think it takes some people 20 years! They ought to be taking lessons from my cat who, I do admit, is very wise.

So here is the Cat's Guide to Attaining Daily Enlightenment, a method she herself has developed to perfection over many years of constant practice (well, at least eight years, anyway).

Start off every morning screaming and yowling at around 5 a.m. Don't worry about waking others up. This is a ritual that is obviously very important to get your meditation off to a good start. Once everyone in the house is awake and moving around, take your place on your meditation cushion.

Find a good place for your cushion, preferably under a Bodhi tree. My cat prefers a position directly under a wall-mounted Bodhi heater.

First, get focused. Sit upright, back straight, paws placed in front of body turned slightly to the outside. If you find it hard to concentrate, try facing the wall.

Now, lightly close your eyes. Smile.

As you slip into deep meditation, you will find your body being pulled downward toward the cushion. Don't resist. Let your body be drawn, in its entirety, into the meditation cushion. From here, you can take on various meditation positions. Breathing is very important. Breathe deeply, letting out cute little mewing sounds with every exhale. Enjoy the moment! Enjoy the power of the Bodhi heater.

After about an hour, (but certainly don't rush yourself if you need more time), extend your right leg out in front of you and streeeetch that leg. Open the claw slightly and leave it there. Take in a deep breath and let out a big, long sigh. Put your head back down on the cushion and do a little more mewing.

If you can, envision yourself devoid of life. Drape your body over the cushion with your limbs completely limp. If you hear someone in the room say, "Is that thing alive?" you'll know you've succeeded.

So now let's, very slowly, turn over and lay on the other side for a while! Relaaaaax . . .

Now, when you're ready, (no hurry, you've got all day), let's curl up for a bit. Ready? Cuuuuuuurl. Cuuuuurl. Bring your tail around and nestle your nose into it. Contemplate this position for a good long while. Don't stop smiling. Take your paws and cover your face.

While you relax, absolve yourself from fear and self consciousness. After all, you are in the safety and comfort of your own heated mansion. Gooooood. Release any previous feelings of kitty greed, superiority, aloofness, conceitedness, or any of the appalling 52 kitty mental states. Gooooood kitty.

Enjoy being a cat. A good cat doesn't ask for much, and appreciates what he doesn't have. Appeal to these cat sensibilities. Now, when you're ready, (take an extra half hour if you need it) let's turn over on our backs. Let your paws dangle above your body in the air, relaxed. Stretch out and turn your body into a half-circle, put your head to the side. Smile. Goooood. Take deep breaths.

By now, 5 p.m., you should have released your attachment to desire and self. You want for nothing. You want no money; You could give birth in a cardboard box. You'd even give away your kittens for free.

You have truly achieved mindfulness, exude contentment and feel a oneness with the Buddha. When you come out of your Awakened state, move slowly, take your time to come out of it completely and only after some thought, take leave of your meditation cushion.

Now would be a good time to get something to eat or drink, take a walk and have a pee. After you've finished that, take a sniff around the house to make sure nothing is awry. With the confirmation that nothing has changed since your last inspection, head back to your meditation cushion under the Bodhi heater. It's time for another session!

Highlights of Golden Week No. 2: Paraglider lands at Moooo! Bar

2010-05-07T19:04:00.000-07:00

We were more than a bit surprised when a guy came out of the sky and landed on the beach at the Moooo! Bar. We've had people land their private helicopters on the beach before, but this is the first time someone has paraglided to the bar. We got this footage of him leaving. Just goes to show there's more than one way to moove your butt on over to the Moooo! Bar...!

Highlights of Golden Week No. 1

2010-05-07T18:57:00.000-07:00

Jo from Tokyo--our Moooo! Bar G.W. poster girl

Mooin' door-to-door service: We take some customers from the Moooo! Bar
back to their 60ft cruiser parked in the port.

Plenty of bulls were at the Moooo! Bar over Golden Week.

Moooo! Bar opens for Golden Week

2010-04-25T02:10:00.000-07:00

The Moooo! Bar will be open for Golden Week from April 29 thru May 5. Rumor has it that Man-chan's tent will also be open in the evenings (but keep it a secret!). Man-chan doesn't sell anything in his tent, just bring your own drinks and be ready to share them with others. It's a casual, stop-in kinda tent ;)

Inside Man-chan's tent last night...

On May 4 is the island temple's Kobo Daishi Matsuri, so if you'd like to see a small, local festival, come on out for that. There is a goma fire ceremony, ascetic mountain monks, and bows and arrows!

Also on May 3 and 4 is the Manabe Island Hashiri Mikoshi Festival. Manabe is just two island away on the same ferry line as Shiraishi. So you can easily catch the ferry to Manabe for the day.

Read about the Hashiri Mikoshi Festival on the Humor-Us Guide to Japan blog.

Also, be aware there is a health alert out for Golden Week.

Hope to see you this Golden Week at the Moooo! Bar...!

Speech tonight--Shiraishi Island: This is Japan!

2010-04-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

Presentation Tonight-- "Shiraishi Island: This is Japan!"

Tonight in Asakuchi City, Okayama I'll be giving a presentation on Shiraishi Island and other islands in the Seto Inland Sea.

Japan's Inland Sea is the best-kept Japan travel secret. Imagine a Japan untouched by Hello Kitty, McDonald's and pachinko. All forms of traditional Japanese culture can be found here, and as one of the first visitors to this region, you can blaze your own trail.

Let me open up this secret world to you! Shiraishi Island is your portal to the Inland Sea.

And no worries, you can still use your iPhone!

Place: Asakuchi City Public Hall
Time: 6:30 to 7:30 pm
Contact in English or Japanese: 0865-44-8500

___

If you can't make it tonight, I'll be giving another presentation, "How to Revive Japan's Countryside" in Fukuyama on May 23 at 1pm. More details on the location later.

Thanks for a great yacht race!

2010-04-21T20:59:00.000-07:00

Over 150 people took part in the 35th Kazi Cup Yacht Race this year.

Thanks to everyone for a great Kazi Cup Yacht Race on Shiriashi Island last weekend! About 150 people braved the cold and drank moogaritas at the Moooo! Bar on the beach at the party the night before. There were live bands, fireworks and special guests.

The Moooo! Bar is closed until Golden Week, April 29, when we'll open again for a week of springtime fun.

In the meantime, we've gotten in quite a few summer reservations on the island, and we look forward to meeting you all this summer.

Moooo! Bar opens this weekend!

2010-04-14T22:22:00.001-07:00

The Moooo! Bar on the beach opens this weekend for the Kazi Cup Yacht Race on April 17 and 18. There will be a big party on the beach on Saturday night (entrance free), with 120 people registered so far. Come join the herd!

After the race, the Moooo! Bar closes until Golden Week, April 29. If you're planning on coming out to the island for Golden Week and staying overnight, please get your reservations in soon!

Shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

Blogging Cows

2010-04-13T01:27:00.000-07:00

The Moooo! Bar cows have started their own blog called "Humor-Us Guide to Japan," covering all things funny, and all things cow, related to Japan. They promise to "explain Japan through humoor and general B.S." Their site is the first to offer comprehensive information on the islands in Japan's Inland Sea. They also offer travel tips for Japan, cartoons, a podcast and even cow-related tourism sites.

Check out their new site now! Humor-Us Guide to Japan

Two houses available for rent on Shiraishi Island

2010-04-10T03:36:00.000-07:00

The Cottage

The Cottage is filling up quickly and is already booked April 17-19, May 29, and from July 17th thru the end of the summer, including Obon. Golden Week is still available, however. More details and photos

We have another house available located on the port. This house is newly up for rental this year. It's a great location for watching the fishing boats come in and out, many which tie up right out in front of the house. You'll experience the life of a small fishing village in the Inland Sea.

Your view from the "port house"

The Port House is right on the water, has two floors and holds 6 people comfortably. Japanese style house with futons plus one double bed, Western toilet, iwaburo rock bath, modern kitchen, TV, Wi-Fi, stereo, washing machine, BBQ on deck overlooking water. Short or long-term rentals.

Contact: shiraishireservations at yahoo.com for prices and availability. These houses are very affordable for 4 or more people, averaging about 4,000 yen to 5,000 yen per person per night.

Island housing renovations increase

2010-04-06T16:49:00.000-07:00

A newly renovated house on the pathway
up to the Shiraishi International Villa

There are a lot of houses being renovated on Shiraishi Island. This is one of the most recent ones. This house is over 100 years old, probably more like 150 years old. It was stripped down to the beams and then rebuilt. They've kept the traditional style of the house and replaced the roof. The building to the left is a small "shop" where the woman plans on continuing her job as a beautician in her retirement.

The pieces of stones sitting outside the windows are called "fumi ishi." (stepping stones) These are cut into rectangles but you often see rounder, more natural stones used also. They serve as a something to step onto when entering or leaving the house through those windows.

The other stepping stones are the ones that form a pathway to and from the house from the road. These are surrounded by an entire yard full of little tiny stones which I presume are used for the practical purposes of having no grass to cut, garden to keep or mud to deal with in the rainy season.

I expect more and more houses on the island to be renovated as Japan's population gets older and people move back to the countryside to retire on the small island they originally came from.

Shiraishi International Villa

2010-03-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

The villa sits on a hill overlooking the Seto Inland Sea

On April 1, the Shiraishi International Villa reopens under island management. Whereas previously it was a government sponsored and run establishment, it is now owned and run the island people themselves.

Today is the "kengakukai" for those who'd like to come and have a look at the villa. We'll be serving organic mulberry tea, wine and cheese.

The weather is finally starting to turn warmer! Come out for the cherry blossom party on either April 4 or 11th. It'll be an event to remember. Also, if you're planning on coming out to the island for Golden Week, please make your reservations now before things fill up.

Kazi Cup Yacht Race April 18

2010-03-28T15:29:00.000-07:00

This year Shiraishi Island will host the 35th Kaji Cup Yacht Race, previously held at Kiba Yacht Harbor (Kobe).The Kaji Cup is sponsored by Kaji yacht magazine and is the biggest yacht race in Western Japan.

The night before the race there will be a party on the beach and the Moooo! Bar will be open both Saturday and Sunday.

New photos of Shiraishi Island

2010-03-25T05:53:00.000-07:00

Shiraishi sunset

See more photos like this of Shiraishi Island on our new photostream at Flickr!
We'll be adding more photos as time goes on.

Plum trees on Shiraishi Island

2010-03-20T01:44:00.000-07:00

Plum trees bloom in front of The Cottage

The ume (plum) trees are blooming on Shiraishi Island. I went up to The Cottage yesterday and caught this one showing off its pink blossoms. The trees on the lower parts of the island have finished blooming but this one is still in full bloom. Next, the cherry blossoms.......