September on Shiraishi Island, #japan

Early morning on Shiraishi Island

As September begins, we're moving into cooler weather and the low season on Shiraishi Island. The beach is still open, however, and International Villa is open year-round, so come out and enjoy the quiet island life. The Moooo! Bar will be open only on Sundays in September and will close for the season at the end of the month.

 Come out and watch the sunset, have a BBQ on the beach, hike the 400-year-old Shiraishi Pilgrimage or just relax on the deck at the Villa overlooking the Seto Inland Sea.

The Smallest Fireworks Festival in Japan is on this weekend, Aug. 26 on Shiraishi Island, #japan #setonaikai #shiraishijima

The Smallest Fireworks Festival in Japan is on this weekend on Shiraishi Island! It's always a great time--the fireworks are launched just off the beach so they're very close! Live bands, African dance. A few rooms still available at Amagiso and Moooo! House. To book, give us a moo at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

Craft Beer Festival today and tomorrow, Shiraishi Island, #Okayama #Japan

 

The craft beer festival is on this weekend on the island with live music, dance and....beer! Accommodations available: shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

All about the Bon Holiday on Shiraishi Island, Aug. 13-17

 The Shiraishi Bon Dance, a designated national treasure, performed on the beach on Shiraishi Island.

The Bon Holiday starts from today (although officially not until the 12th) thru the 17th on Shiraishi Island. There are lots of activities going on in addition to the traditional Bon rituals and the island's famous Bon Dance. If you'd like to know more about what Bon is, please read 5 Things You Need To Know About Bon, one of Japan's Biggest Holidays. 

Watch a video of the Bon Dance (note: not the original music).

Art on the Kasaoka Islands, Aug. 11-17 (Shiraishi, Takashima, & Hishima islands)

Matsuuratei house, on Shiraishi Port

The Art Bridge yearly art exhibit starts on Shriaishi Island Friday, Aug. 11 and runs through the 17th. The exhibits are free and we have 7 artists this year on the Shiraishi. Exhibits are open from 9:00 to 17:00 daily. Grab a map and walk around to the different exhibits for a refreshing take on the island, its history and culture! Hop on the ferry to visit exhibits on Takashima and Hishima islands as a day-trip.

Typhoons and Wedding Bells at the Moooo! Bar

Typhoon 5 has come and gone. It largely missed us and we only had the effects of a tropical storm here. The ferries to Shiraishi Island have stopped today but should be running again tomorrow (Tuesday). The weather forecast for tomorrow is sunny skies!

The typhoon stole the limelight of our Moooo! wedding couple, who had a beautiful ceremony on the beach at the Moooo! Bar yesterday. Congratulations to the lucky mooing couple!

 

 That was our third wedding to host. Who will be next to get married at the Moooo! Bar?!

Typhoon 5 Update, Shiraishi Island, #japan

Typhoon No. 5, called Noru, is moving very slowly north-east from southern Kyushu. Over the next several days it will gradually lose pressure and probably turn into a tropical storm. Sunday will still be fine weather on Shiraishi Island, and the ferries will run until at least 3:00 pm. They typhoon is expected to hit here on Monday.

 Cows, drinking before the typhoon, at the Moooo! Bar

Typhoon Noru update, #shiraishiisland #setonaikai #japan

Typhoon No. 5 (named "Noru") will hit Okayama on Monday. As you can see from the image below, the typhoon will sweep up North through the entire archipelago, so no matter where you are in Japan, you'll experience this typhoon. Regarding Shiraishi Island, we are fairly protected because we are among many other islands in the Seto Inland Sea so the winds aren't as strong and the waves not as big as on the Pacific Ocean side or the West coast of Japan. However, the ferries to the island will stop running on Monday, if not Sunday afternoon. If you're already on the island, we recommend you either plan on staying till Tuesday/Wednesday, or leaving the island on Sunday morning.

The Moooo! Bar will be closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Screenshot from the Japan Meteorological Agency. For updates, click here.

Summer bookings update: Shiraishi Island, #japan #setonaikai

 Chillin' out at the Moooo! House

 The International Villa still has vacancies for next week, Aug. 7-10, but from the 11th is completely booked until after Obon. Most other accommodation on the island is also already full for the Obon holiday Aug. 12-17.

The Moooo! House still has rooms available on most days (very clean but very basic, 2,000 yen per person per night). Contact us at: shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

Slake your thirst at the Moooo! Bar, Shiraishi Island, #japan #setonaikai

 

 Don't worry, we're professionals...