Still a few rooms open for Golden Week, Shiraishi Island International Villa!

 A customer relaxing at the Moooo! Bar on the beach, Shiraishi Island

 

The Shiraishi International Villa is filling up quickly! The following dates are already fully booked: May 5, 17 June 28, July 19, 20, 21, 22. Only one room is left for July 9, 10, 12 and Aug. 7. We still have two rooms left for Golden Week May 3 and 4.

If you've missed the boat this year for the villa, we can still book you into Amagiso Ryokan, Minshuku Harada or San-chan's.

All reservations (even for the villa) should be made through Shiraishi Reservations at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

Shiraishi Pilgrimage trail ready for Golden Week #japan

A big thanks to the 20 or so volunteers who came to help clean the Shiraishi Pilgrimage route! We had a great day out in nature, cleaning the ancient path to enlightenment. Now is a great time to take advantage of the cleared trail and visit the 88 different sacred sites on Shiraishi Island! A map of the 10km route and details are available at the Moooo! Bar on the beach.

Shiraishi Henro Michi Clean-up April 27 #shiraishijima #japan

Tomorrow is the first Pilgrimage Clean-up of the season! Thanks in advance to all who are coming out to help save the Shiraishi Henro Michi, a mini version of the Shikoku Pilgrimage. We'll meet at 10 am in front of the Shiraishi Island ferry ticket office. First, we'll head to the beach for the shimabiraki ceremony and then we'll head off to clear the pilgrimage route of fallen trees, leaves and other debris. After the clean-up (about 3 hrs), we'll head back to the beach to the Moooo! Bar for some Otsukaresama drinks!

If you are coming to help tomorrow, you have a choice of two different ferries. The Shiraishi Ferry leaves Fushigoe Port in Kasaoka at 9 am. The other ferry is the Sanyo Kisen Express ferry leaving from Kasaoka Port at 9:10. Both arrive Shiraishi Island around 9:40.

Cleaning tools will be provided but please wear your own gloves. A fine day to frolic in the forest with the gods!

If you can't make this clean-up, please come to the second one on May 11. Contact us at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

Moooo! Bar on the beach open for Golden Week!

The Moooo! Bar on the beach will be open for Golden Week. We'll open April 27 and stay open until May 6. The bar will then close until June, in which we'll open on weekends only. July and August we'll be open every day. Come join the herd! The moogaritas are waiting for you on Shiraishi Island...

Spring on Shiraishi Island #japan

Sunset from the Shriaishi International Villa last night...

The cherry blossoms have almost gone and the warmer wheather is creeping into the island houses day by day. People are once more outside tending their vegetable gardens, going for walks and sitting on the engawa of their traditional Japanese houses. Spring time on the island is idyllic! 

There is an Orienteering event on the island April 20, which means they're clearing parts of the Shiraishi Pilgrimage for it. Lucky you! This year there will be even more of the pilgrimage trail available for hiking. In addition, we have two pilgrimage clean-ups organized (April 27 and May 11) in which we ask volunteers to come help us keep the pilgrimage tradition alive here on the island. Of course, the regular hiking course is always maintained and gives you excellent views of the Seto Inland Sea year-round. The ancient pilgrimage route appeals to those more interested in Japan's history and Buddhist culture. Speaking of Buddhist culture, also on April 20 is the Spring Kobo Daishi Festival at the island temple. See description at www.moooobar.com

The international villa is also filling up quickly, perhaps due to the fine weather. May 17 and July 5 are fully booked and there is just one room left on the following dates: May 10, 11 July 9, 10. For reservations, contact us at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com.

Hope to see you this spring on the island!