Shiraishi Island

Shiraishi is a quiet island of roughly 350 inhabitants (as of 2026). It is mostly visited for its summer activities: swimming, sea kayaking, windsurfing, and lounging on the beach. The vast majority of visitors come on weekends in July and August. The island's Bon dance, commemorating a bloody battle centuries ago, is well-known and attracts a large crowd each August.

The island also has its own miniature version of the 88 Temple Pilgrimage.

Since the 1990s, the Okayama prefectural government has specifically encouraged foreign tourism on Shiraishi Island. They help maintain the Shiraishi Island International Villa, a guesthouse specifically targeted at foreign visitors.

Tourist Information Site:

The island has its own multilingual guide site.

Most travelers will arrive by direct ferry from Kasaoka, which is easily accessible by JR train; it is also possible to come from Shikoku if you are willing to travel on Saturdays and change ferries a few times.

There are two ferry companies serving the route from Kasaoka to Shiraishi. The more useful of the two is operated by Sanyo Kisen (三洋汽船), and departs most frequently. The path from the train station to the Sanyo Kisen ferry terminal is well signed in English and takes less than ten minutes to walk.

Although this ferry does not carry cars, free parking is available in the summer months near their terminal. There is generally no reason to take a car to Shiraishi; the island can be walked from end to end in an hour or less.

The Sanyo Kisen ferry timetable is also available in English from the official website.

Sanyo Kisen also operates a car ferry, but it leaves from a different port.