Bussharito Festival Nov. 15, Shiraishi Island #japan #setonaikai

The days and nights are getting cooler on Shiraishi Island, so it's a great time to go hiking and experience panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea. From the top of Shiraishi's 160 meter point, you can see both Honshu and Shikoku! Clear blue skies, plenty of "relax time" for reading, and the Bussharito Festival on the 15th (a Buddhist festival with a goma fire ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Thai-style temple) define November on the island.

Typhoon 19 (Hagibis) Update, Shiraishi Island, Japan

We ended the Moooo! Bar season with Typhoon 18 in September (no damage) but the beach bar will not be opening again until next summer. Now typhoon 19 is bearing down upon Japan, but thankfully this area has been spared. The ferries have stopped for today, Saturday, but hopefully will resume tomorrow.

The Shiraishi Island Fall Festival will go ahead as planned, taking place on Sunday, Oct. 13. Everyone is welcome!

If you're looking for something to read about Shiraishi Island, here is an article I wrote for Writer's in Kyoto website about the island's history through the eyes of one of its residents: Seto Naikai Reminiscence.

Moooo! Bar open this weekend on Shiraishi Island #setonaikai #beachbars #Japan

We've been watching Typhoon 15 and it looks like it will miss us completely--yay! The forecast is for sunny skies all weekend. The Moooo! Bar will be open!

Ferries up and running again to Shiraishi Island #japan #setonaikai #shiraishiisland

 

 We're happy to report there was no damage to Shiraishi Island due to Typhoon No. 10 

All ferries are up and running as normal. See you on the island!

Typhoon 10 weather update, Shiraishi Island

All ferries to Shiraishi Island have stopped on account of Typhoon 10, which is scheduled to pass through this area early Thursday afternoon. The Shiraishi Bon dance has been cancelled for Wednesday and Thursday, but no decision has been made yet for the last performance on Friday. Much depends on whether the ferries are up and running and the condition of the beach (where the performance is scheduled to take place).

We'll update the blog as soon as we hear anything. Until then, you can presume the ferries are not running.

Thank you for your patience.

Sunset Cruising, Shiraishi Island #okayama #setoinlandsea #japan

Sunset cruising with Captain Keiji.

Ask about a 1-hour sunset cruise around Shiraishi Island!

Come out to Shiraishi Island for a weekend of fun and sun! #japan #setonaikai

Beach chairs at the Moooo! Bar and Calfe on the beach, Shiraishi Island, Japan

Wow, it's hot! And there's no better time than now to go to the beach. Relax with us and get in some island time...

Happy Sea Day Weekend! #japan #beaches #islands #setoinlandsea

The approach to Shiraishi Island Beach

It's Sea Day weekend and we're ready to party, rain or shine! See you at the Moooo! Bar :)

Sea Day is approaching--get out to the beach! #japan #setonaikai #beach

Shiraishi Beach in 1955.

After quite a wet rainy season, it looks like the weather is clearing and that we'll have a great Sea Day weekend, July 13-15 (Monday is the national holiday). The Moooo! Bar is looking forward to another great summer on the beach and we hope to see you there!

If you'd like to read up on the island, here are a couple articles I wrote recently for the Japan Times about our island residents. You can visit the places mentioned in the articles when you come out to Shiraishi this summer!

To meet Mimiko Amano who runs a "kyukeisho" on the beach (next-door to the Moooo! Bar), click here.

To meet the island's Buddhist Priest, click here.

Hiking, pilgrimaging and kayaking on Shiraishi Island, #japan

 

 Discover new paths...

May and June are great months for hiking, pilgrimaging and kayaking. Luckily, you can do all these on Shiraishi Island. Come experience the quiet and solitude of the Seto Inland Sea. More on the website at Moooo! Bar.

Goma fire ceremony April 25, Shiraishi Island, #japan #setonaikai #kobodaishi #firefestival

 

April 25 is the Spring Kobo Daishi Festival on the island, featuring a goma fire ceremony. This kicks off the Golden Week celebrations, a 10-day holiday that will also user in the new Reiwa Era in Japan.

Shiraishi Island Pilgrimage route now open for spring hiking!

 

Between numbers 15-16 on the 88-shrine Shiraishi Pilgrimage.

We had a great cherry blossom season on the island and now that the season is finished, it's time to get out and clean the trails. We've had lots of volunteers out over the past few days and now most of the Shiraishi Pilgrimage route is open! Spring is a great time to experience the 10-kilometer route, a mini-version of the Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage. You'll find 88 stone statues of Kobo Daishi along this trail that will lead you up and over hills, through bamboo forests and along beautiful deserted beaches. We'll even give you a map! See more photos on the Shiraishi Pilgrimage Facebook Page. Like us there to receive updates on the trail.

Getting ready for Golden Week!

 

 The Shiraishi Pilgrimage trail is open. This path leads to Reiwa!

Golden Week is upon us: April 29 - May 6th. It's going to be a very special holiday this year as the cross-over from April to May also means we'll be entering a new era with the reign of a new emperor. Come celebrate the change of Japanese eras on Shiraishi Island--a perfect way to end Heisei and welcome Reiwa!

Still rooms available! Email us at shiraishireservations at yahoo dot com

Accommodation Update for Shiraishi Island, 2019 #japan

 Happy New Year and we hope your first few months of the Year of the Boar are trotting along without incident. We'll have more updates on Shiraishi Island for you as the summer season nears, but we wanted to let you know that we are no longer taking reservations for the International Villa. From now on, please make your reservations at their website here. I can assure you, however, that the Villa manager will take care of your reservation promptly and in English. Thanks for your cooperation!

This year, we (the Moooo! Bar) will be taking reservations for Amagiso Ryokan, Shiraishi Guest House and the Moooo! House. More on all that and more in April, when everyone has returned to the island from the winter.

Until then, may the pastures always be greener on your side of the fence!

The Moooo! Bar Cows