Home / Islands / Shiraishi Island
Shiraishi Island 白石島
| Island group | Kasaoka Islands |
|---|---|
| Prefecture | Okayama |
| Region | Chugoku |
| Municipality | Shiraishijima |
| Area | 2.86 km² (1.10 mi²) |
| Highest point | 169 m |
| Coordinates | 34.40278° N, 133.52167° E |
Getting there: the article below outlines this island's usual ferry and flight routes. Timetables change with the season and sailings are cancelled in rough weather — always confirm the current schedule with the operator or the municipality before you travel.
Shiraishi Island (白石島, Shiraishi-jima) is an island in the Inland Sea of Japan and is considered part of the municipality of Kasaoka, Okayama Prefecture. It is one of six inhabited islands in the Kasaoka Islands, a chain of islands most easily reached from the port city of Kasaoka on Japan's main island, Honshū.
Demographics
Shiraishi Island has a year-round, resident population of about 350 people.
Travel and transport
Shiraishi can be reached by scheduled ferry service from Kasaoka. The island is served by both passenger and car ferries, and it takes from 20 to 40 minutes depending on which ferry (standard or express) one takes. There are a small number of cars and other vehicles on the island. The island has one 6-km road that follows the circumference of the island. Most places are accessibly by walking. There is no bicycle rental.
Economy: Tourism, fishing and agriculture
Most of the resident men work as fisherman while many of the women work in vegetable gardens. In the summertime, Shiraishi Island is a popular tourist and weekend destination. Summertime visitors enjoy the island's sand beaches and the views out on the Inland Sea. The island is often visited by international visitors to Japan, partly because the government operates an inexpensive guesthouse on the island exclusively for international visitors called the Shiraishi International Villa. This is Western style accommodation with a shared bathroom, toilets, and kitchen. Japanese style accommodation is available along the beach.
Text adapted from the English Wikipedia article Shiraishi Island by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Population, area and location facts from Wikidata (CC0); figures Wikidata does not carry are taken from the Japanese Wikipedia article's data table (CC BY-SA 4.0).