Moooo! Bar closed till spring 2016

The Moooo! Bar is closed for the season--thanks everyone for a mooin' 2015! The island will still be accepting guests (year-round) but only at the Shiraishi International Villa. For reservations, please contact them directly. 

We'll start taking 2016 reservations from this site for the villa and other accommodations again starting April 1, 2016. 

We'll open the Moooo! Bar again for Golden Week (the beginning of May) and we'll be holding the Shiraishi Run with Kobo Daishi 10 km Trail Race on May 6. 

Have a great winter and we hope to see you on the island in 2016!!

Moooo!

Art Bridge exhibitions on Shiraishi Island: Shiraishi Island in 1965 #setonaikai #japan

Art Bridge exhibitions on Shiraishi Island this week! Today I'll introduce you to Mr. Shimizu's work. He has recreated the Seto Inland Sea inside a house. This exhibit focuses on letters written by those who had left Shiraishi Island after WWII to find work on the mainland. The missives talk about their experiences leaving behind family and friends and the island life for one economic opportunity in the big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka.

His exhibit, like the others, takes place in an old Japanese house on Shiraishi Island.

Here, he has recreated the Seto Inland Sea inside!

 Little boats!

A different perspective

Every child's dream--to sail across the living room...

 ...in a tiny hand-carved wooden boat!

Come on out to Shiraishi Island in Okayama Prefecture this week to see the art exhibitions up close!

"Art Bridge" exhibits on Shiraishi Island this week! #setonaikai #art #japan

We have art exhibits on Shiraishi Island this week! You can walk around the island following the map that takes you to the 3 venues, all of them in old historic Japanese houses. The first stop is Matsuura-tei a house on the port (pictured below). I'll be posting a different art project each day. Of course, these are just teasers of the exhibits--you have to come out to see the real thing! Now until Sunday, Sept. 27.

 

Moooo! Bar open for Silver Week Shiraishi Island, #japan

The Moooo! Bar will be open starting today through Wednesday Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to sunset. Happy Silver Week!

Silver Week, Sept. 19-23 Shiraishi Island, #japan

Last night's sunset, Shiraishi Island

Silver Week is almost upon us and we have lots to offer here on Shiraishi Island. Besides the usual beach, beach bar and awesome sunsets, we have three art exhibits going on. I'll post a little more on the art exhibits in my next post but right now I wanted to bring you up on vacancy details, as I've been getting lots of inquiries lately.

Shiraishi International Villa is full Sept. 20 and 22, but still has rooms available on the other nights.
Amagiso Ryokan and Minshuku has rooms available on all nights, at the moment.

All other accommodation is completely booked.

If you'd like to come out to the island, you can either camp on the beach (free) or stay at either Amagiso or the International Villa. Just email us for reservations at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com.

See you on the island!

The Moooo! Bar in September, Shiraishi Island, #Japan

Now that we're into September, the Moooo! Bar is only open on Sundays and for the Silver Week holiday from Sept. 19-23. During Silver Week Art Bridge will be hosting three art exhibits on Shiraishi Island and we'll be hosting one of them at the Moooo! Bar, so keep your eyes on the blog for a post about that soon!

September is a great time to visit the island!

Wednesday, Aug. 26 Shiraishi Island, Japan

The typhoon has passed! Wednesday, Aug. 26, ferries are running again.

See you on the island!

Typhoon 15, Shiraishi Island, Japan

Typhoon 15 is headed towards Japan and should hit Shiraishi Island sometime on Tuesday. If you're already on the island and are staying a few days, you should be fine. If you're trying to get on or off the island, please don't plan to do so on Tuesday or Wednesday, as the ferries will be stopped. We don't expect the typhoon to do much damage, if any, but please be aware that the weather will be rainy and windy. Typhoon number 16, also pictured above, should not affect us at all.

Beautiful weekend ahead on Shiraishi Island!

The typhoon will not be visiting the island this week--yippee! Accommodation is all booked for the Live Band & Fireworks night this Saturday but you are welcome to come and camp on the beach for free.

See you on the island!

Rain and typhoon in the forecast, Shiraishi Island, Japan

The forecast for the next week on Shiraishi Island is rain, rain and rain. Typhoon 16, as pictured above in this 5-day forecast, may hit Japan for the weekend Live Band & Fireworks festivities on the island. But it's still early, so we can't be sure. If you do have reservations, please stay informed by checking the Japan Meteorological Website. Typhoons can change direction and intensity at any time.

Shiraishi Island fully booked for Obon holiday Aug 12=16, other days still available #japan

 Gorgeous sunsets from the Moooo! Bar

The weekdays have been quiet, as usual, on the island and Saturdays and Sundays very busy as most Japanese people just have weekends off. This makes weekdays a perfect time for overseas travelers to come and have a relaxing few days on the beach. The weather has been perfect with beautiful sunsets every day. Here is an update on the accommodations on the island for the next two weeks through Obon.

Minshuku Harada is fully booked on the following nights:  Aug. 4, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22
Amagiso Ryokan and Minshuku is fully booked: Aug. 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
San-chan's is fully booked: Aug. 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22
The International Villa has had some cancellations recently but is fully booked: Aug. 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 25, 26

If you'd like to spend some time with us on the island, please email us at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com and we'll book you in according to availability. To see details on the above accommodations, please see Moooo! Bar website.

Sunny skies, beautiful sunsets in the forecast!

Looks like we're going to have beautiful weather for the next several days. And it also looks like Typhoon 12 is going to miss us, and take the course up the Japan Sea instead. So, we can look forward to sunny skies and beautiful sunsets.

See you on Shiraishi Island!

Ferries resume on Shriaishi Island Saturday morning #typhoon11

No ferries will be running today, Friday. Ferries to and from Shiraishi Island will resume tomorrow morning, Saturday.

Typhoon 11 update, Shiraishi Island

They typhoon has passed and the weather is stabilizing. We'll let you know as soon as the ferries are up and running again! Hopefully by late afternoon.

Shiraishi Island Typhoon No. 11 Update and Ferry Schedules

Looks like the Typhoon 11 will be hitting this area in the Seto Inland Sea on Thursday, July 16. The ferries will be running today, Wednesday, and the Shiraishi Ferry will make one morning run on Thursday at 7:55 to take people back to the mainland. So if you're on the island already, plan on leaving tomorrow morning. If you're booked into accommodation here tonight, you can still come, but you won't be able to leave the island until Friday. This is not such a bad thing, and If you like to drink, this may suit you just fine.

The typhoon looks like it will have lost strength by the time it gets here. Shikoku does a great job of impeding storms before they reach Shiraishi. Thanks Shikoku!

The weather is usually best immediately after a typhoon--super clear skies and beautiful sunsets. Just in time for Sea Day. See you on the island!

Summer kick-off at the Moooo! Bar, Shiraishi Island #japan

Moooo! Bar table and stools

We survived the first weekend of the new Moooo! Bar. The new location was adopted quite readily by some regular customers who put on an impromptu BBQ on the first night! The next day we hosted a group of 10 sailors. Over the weekend,we also served as the mooing spot for 23 Australian university students traveling around Japan. Everyone seems to like the new place and one person even said they liked it better! So we are very happy and a bit relieved that we have not disappointed the herd. After all, we wouldn't want a herd of angry bulls!

Looking at accommodation on the island for the summer, all lodgings are full on Saturday nights for July and August.

The Villa has the following availability:
 

 Pink=Full, Green=2 rooms available, Orange=1 room available, Light blue=All rooms available

To make a reservation, email us at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

If the dates you'd like are full, and you don't want a Saturday night, then let us know and we can book you into a different accommodation. All accommodation except the villa is on the beach. The villa is a 3-minute walk from the beach.

Shiraishi Beach opens July 4

View of Tomonoura from Shiraishi Island

We have a rainy weekend to start off the summer season here on Shiraishi Island! A few people did come to the beach today but everyone went home early due to the insistent rain.

Tomorrow we have the Shiraishi Yacht Race (rain or shine) and the new Moooo! Bar will have a "soft opening," meaning we'll be open, but with just a few options available for food and drink. Next weekend we'll be ready to for a full moo--more details and photos later in the week!

See you soon on Shiraishi Island!

June on Shiraishi Island, #japan

The Shiraishi International Villa offers 5 rooms and a shared living room and kitchen. Western toilets and showers as well as a Japanese style bath are also available.

It's June and the weather is perfect on the island! It's a great season for kayaking and hiking. The villa is filling up fast for the summer, however. Please be aware that the following dates are fully booked already:

June 5, 6, 20, 25
July 11, 12, 18, 19, 24, 25, 31
August 1, 5, 6, 7, 12-17, 21, 22

We can still book you into other places on the island if the villa is full on the dates you've requested. Just send us an email at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

See you on the island!

Shiriaishi Yacht Race July 5, 2015! #japan #setoinlandsea

If you're here July 4-5 there will be lots of yachts at the new port as sailors come from all over the Inland Sea for the 29th Shiraishi Yacht Race. Come join the fun and hobknob with the yachties at San-chan's bar!

Photos and Results--Kobo Daishi 10K Trail Race, Shiraishi Island, #japan

Highlights from the inaugural Run with Kobo Daishi 10km Trail Race, held May 6, 2015 on Shiraishi Island in Japan's Seto Inland Sea. Sponsored by Alishan/Tengu Foods and the Moooo! Bar.

Explanation before the race

 

Scenes from the 10km trail course....

 

One person ran in a henro outfit!

 

There were some obstacles on the course, such as this rope to descend

The route passes many Buddhist deities...

And of course, great views!

Mens Winners: First place 47:39 Tanigawa-san, Second place 48:18 Paul Walsh,  Third place 52:00 Asano-san, Fourth Place 52:46 Kishikawa-san, Fifth place 52:51 Ueoka-san, Sixth Place 52:52 Toda-san

 

Womens Winners: First Place 1:06:50 Watanabe-san, Second Place 1:11:27 Tamemoto-san, Third Place 1:13:32 Kodani-san

Congratulations everyone on a great Trail Race! Our Inaugural Run with Kobo Daishi 10k Trail Race was a huge success! See you next year....

New ferry schedule to Shiraishi Island, #japan

New ferry schedule to Shiraishi Island from Honshu! The most important change is that the last ferry of the day from Kasaoka to Shiraishi leaves at 5:50 pm now, rather than 6:00 pm.

As of May 20, the following schedule is in effect for car ferries and passenger ferries to Shiraishi Island.

Sanyo Kisen Passenger Ferry (leaves from Kasaoka port, behind Kasaoka JR Station)

 

Express 1,150 yen (about 20 mins)

Regular 660 yen (about 40 mins)

Kasaoka to Shiraishi: 

7:25 am,  8:10, 9:10, 11:20, 12:30, 14:20, 16:30, 17:50

Shiraishi to Kasaoka: 

7:15 am, 8:37,  9:50, 12:02, 13:52, 15:55, 17:05, 17:42

Car ferries

All car ferries leave from Fushigoe Port, a 10 min. walk from Kasaoka JR station.

Sanyo Car Ferry (also takes passengers) About 40 mins.

 

Car ferry 530 yen

Kasaoka for Shiraishi (direct):

9:00, 11:00, 14:40, 17:00

Shiraishi to Kasaoka (direct):
7:55, 10:00, 13:35, 16:00

Kaneburomaru Car Ferry (Fuji Line) (also takes passengers) About 40 mins.

540 yen

Kasaoka to Shiraishi (direct):
9:25, 15:25

Shiraishi to Kasaoka (direct):
8:39, 11:01, 14:32

View from the trail, Shiraishi Island, #japan #setonaikai

 View from the trail race course on Shiraishi Island

Thanks to Greenbird Okayama, a group of volunteers who clean up their prefecture on weekends, we were able to clean all the trails last weekend for the up-coming Shiraishi Pilgrimage "Run with Kobo Daishi" Trail Race on May 6. More information here!

The last cherry blossoms of the year...#shiraishiisland #japan

We had the last of the night-cherry blossom viewing last evening on Shiraishi Island. With rain in the forecast, they'll probably be gone by the end of the weekend. Sniffles...

Cherry blossoms over the Seto Inland Sea, #japan

The view from Hiryu Shrine, with Shiraishi Port in the distance.

The weather is finally breaking and it looks like we'll still have a few more days to party with the blossoms! Enjoy the season while it lasts.

We have the first Shiraishi Pilgrimage Trail Clean-up this Sunday, April 12. To volunteer, email us at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com Hope to see you there!

Mist over Mountain Sakura, #shiraishiisland #Okayama, #japan

The view of the mountain sakura (yamazakura) from Myoken Shrine on the Shiraishi Pilgrimage Trail.

It has been raining for a few days on Shiraishi Island, but that doesn't mean there isn't some nice scenery and photo opportunities. Besides, rain can be very relaxing. When it's raining here, you'll find yourself sleeping in just a little longer and reading a book for just another chapter...

"Run with Kobo Daishi" Trail Race, May 6--Deadline for registration April 20

We are now accepting sign ups for the Run with Kobo Daishi 10k Trail Race from this page! Please see the PayPal button at the bottom of the page. When we receive your payment, we will contact you via email. Please note that you may also use this Paypal button to donate to the preservation of the Shiraishi 88-Temple Pilgrimage Trail. Just choose "donate" from the drop-down menu. Deadline for entries is April 20!

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May 6 (Wed), 2015

10k course, two hour-time limit

Limited to 200 runners, open to men and women 18 yrs. or older

Closest JR station is Kasaoka on the Sanyo Kisen line. Five-minute walk to Kasaoka ferry port. Ferry 20 mins to Shiraishi Island.

 Schedule, May 6:

Check-in  .............................9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Opening Ceremony………………………….     １０：００

Awards Ceremony..........……………………　１４：００

Awards to top 3 males and top 3 females         

Closing Ceremony……………………………   １５：００

Event page--(advance registration necessary, deadline April 20 )　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　http://runningintokyo.com/events/

runningintokyo.com　

Contact: Juergen Wittstock TEL 048-473-0898　

Mail: ecomarathon@runningintokyo.com

Choose type of entry

1 Entry ¥4,200 JPY    2 Entries ¥8,400 JPY    3 Entries ¥12,600 JPY    Donation ¥4,200 JPY

Night cherry blossom viewing on Shiraishi Island, #japan

 

Nighttime cherry blossom viewing, Shiraishi Island

San-chan will be holding his annual cherry blossom party tomorrow, April 5 (Sunday) up at Hiryu Shrine on the side of the mountain (head up towards the Bussharito stupa, then look for a bright green building--the shrine is on the hill behind that). The park surrounding the shrine is an amazing place to view the blossoms. Besides there being lots of cherry trees, there is a vantage point where you can stand above the trees and have the Seto Inland Sea in the background. Makes for amazing photos! 

Also at the park here, you can partake in night-time cherry blossom viewing any night as the park is outfitted in red lanterns. This is one part of Japan where you can do ohanami without the crowds, whether it be day or night. 

See you on Shiraishi Island!

Springtime on Shiraishi Island, #okayama #japan

Heron in the Shiraishi Port

It's April, which means it's time to start updating the Daily Moooo! Blog to tell you everything that's happening, and going to happen, on Shiraishi Island this summer. 

San-chan's cherry blossom party is this Sunday, April 5. The International Villa is filling up for Golden Week at the beginning of May, and the Shiraishi Trail Race is May 6. 

 

In preparation for the trail race, we have the first Shiraishi Pilgrimage Clean Up on April 12th. If you have time and would like to volunteer for a good cause, come on out and help us revive the Shiraishi Pilgrimage! Questions? Contact shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com. 

The Moooo! Bar has moved 100 meters down the beach this year. As we rebuild, we will consider how big (or small) we want it to be this time! The new rules are that we must take it down off the beach every winter, so that limits us a bit. We'll give you updates as the new Moooo! Bar unfolds. The Moooo! Shop will proceed as usual at the new location. 

Run with Kobo Daishi Trail Race--May 6, 2015, Shiraishi Island #japan

On May 6, the last day of the Golden Week holidays in Japan, Shiraishi Island is holding the inaugural Run with Kobo Daishi 10k Trail Race (there will also be a 5k course) to raise money to maintain the Shiraishi Pilgrimage, a replica of the 88 Temple Shikoku Pilgrimage. The race, which will take place on a section of this ancient Buddhist pilgrimage route, hopes to raise enough money to maintain the entire 10 k trail and put up signage so tourists can enjoy this historical part of Japanese culture. The race is sponsored by the Moooo! Bar and the Shiraishi Island Tourism Association.

Entry details are here
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/825239087532624/?ref=2&ref_dashboard_filter=hosting

Or find us on the Running in Tokyo Website at
Race Homepage：http://runningintokyo.com/events/
English sign-ups: http://www.runningincambodia.org/race-application/ After we receive your application, we will follow up with an invoice.
Japanese Sign-ups via Sports Entry: http://www.sportsentry.ne.jp/event/t/58710
Sports One: http://www.sportsone.jp/srt/stocks/srt20150506_109724.html

Sign-up Deadline: April 20 (Monday)
Limit: 400 people
Prizes given to top 3 male and female runners
Technical support: runningintokyo.com　(OECONEX)
Contact Juergen Wittstock：TEL 048-473-0898　
Mail: ecomarathon@runningintokyo.com