By Carole Goldsmith Copyright © 2017, All Rights Reserved.
Need
an escape from your hectic life in the big cities in Japan? Shiraishi Island is
the answer for complete relaxation and fresh sea air. Located a short
ferry ride from Kazaoka in Okayama Prefecture, Shiraishi Island is
Japan’s hidden paradise.
Every year when I
travel to Japan for a few weeks, I usually spend a week at Shiraishi. As
I board the ferry at Kazaoka, I exchange greetings with the ferry
captain, who knows me by now – this April was my fifth visit.
Traveling
on the ferry, you can slowly feel the accumulated city and work stress
leave your body. Within 35 minutes we arrive at the island and I collect
the key from the ferry office, for a pre booked room at the Island’s
international villas. The ferry office manager’s son calls out
‘konnichi wa and gives me some fresh fish to cook at the villa. I like room number 2, a western style room. There are two Japanese style rooms there as well.
I
wander up the 15 minute walk to the villa, well signposted along the
way, A couple riding bicycles along the island’s narrow paths, stop to
say bonjour or good day. Fred and Sophie are from France and are
staying at the Villa for a couple of nights.
The
villa is a great place to stay with western and Japanese style rooms
overlooking the sea and the neighbour's vegetable gardens. Also the villa
has a full kitchen and after weeks of eating at restaurants while
traveling, cooking a meal adds to the island’s stay delight .
There
is a supermarket about five minutes walk from the villa to buy all of
your supplies.
Amy and Paul , the managers of the villa and locals who lives on the
island, comes to collect money for the villa stay, in the evening. The price per room, all with a view of the sea, is around Yen
4000 for the first night and Yen 3500 for subsequent nights for a single
supplement. For couples staying there, the price is Yen 500 less per
person.
After a cup of tea and a chat with
Sophie and Fred who traveled in Nepal and India, I go for a cycle down
to the ferry and along the waterfront. Bicycles are available free of
charge while staying at the villa.
There are
many walks or bicycle rides to take around the island, a stroll down to
the beach will take about 5 minutes by foot. A cold beer, freshly made
miso soup and yakitori while chatting with Chieko and her family at
San-chan, the restaurant and accommodation on the beach, is a good way
to pass the afternoon. In May, the beach is a swimmer’s delight. As I
plunge in the water and do my 30 laps of the ocean, the locals keep
asking me “samui desu ka” – is it cold? They don’t tend to swim until
June when summer if official, but this Australian swims whenever she
sees water.
My videos on Shiraishi Island - check them out...
Shiraishi Island - Walking to the Beach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La7yr7gAvuo
Shiraishi Island - Inside the international villa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2lZdjvepqQ
Shiraishi island - How to relax and enjoy the beauty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd_3OTpIhfY
Great walks on the island
Close
to the villa, there is a walk up to the lookout, a steep climb to a 360
degrees view of this magnificent island. This is fantastic to do as the
sun sets on the horizon. There is also a walk along the waterfront
that leads to a picturesque walking path with cherry blossoms in full
spendor in April.
Another great walk is up
to the temples, passing houses with multi colored flower boxes on
display and many vegetable gardens, green and luxuriant in the very rich
island soil. The temple area is alive with cherry blossoms and azaleas
in April and rhododendrons in May. On this visit,
I walked around the temple area with a friend Hiro, who had come to the island for a visit for the day.
You
can also visit the neighboring islands by ferry. Mannabe is well worth
a visit, with a very well preserved temple, that serves as a community
centre for activities and art displays. There is also a picturesque walk
along the waters edge, to the left of the ferry port. Climb the hill to
the temple, turn left and climb some more steps to find exercise
stations, then the pretty flower garden that overlooks the sea and the
island.
The very talented Shiraishi Island’s Mrs Shinohara
In
the morning as Sophie, Fred and I are enjoying our breakfast on the
outside deck , we see the bonneted head of an elderly Japanese lady,
just below the veranda. She introduces herself as Mrs Shinohara and
gives us some beautiful paper umbrellas that she has made and we accept
gratefully. As she wanders back down to the road that leads down to the
beach, she points to her house and indicates that she would like us to
visit.
After breakfast, I go to visit Mrs
Shinohara, and she tells me she is 75 years of age. She invites me for
tea and cake as I sit at her entrance and she shows me how she makes the
umbrellas out of newspapers and magazines. Then she points to the
characters in traditional dress that she has made for a play. The very
talented, Mrs Shinohara also proudly displays the ceramic bowls and
vases she has produced and the birds that she made out of paper.
Sailing around the island in style
If
you feel adventurous and want to sail around the islands, Amy Chavez,
an American and long time resident of Shiraishi, and her Australian
partner Paul will take you on a sail. This takes place throughout the
year except for July and August when they are busy with the Moo bar on
the beach. Amy also takes bookings for accommodation on the Island. For
details of the accommodation reservations and the sailing schedule and
fee, see below.
Getting to Shiraishi Island –
The
cheapest way to get there is to catch the Bus from Osaka directly to Okayama station, from OCAT, Osaka Central Bus Terminal, Namba, The fare is Yen
3000 one way, the bus departs from Osaka daily and the trip takes around three hours with two rest stops along the way. At Okayama Station, catch the train to Kazaoka Station and then a ferry nearby to Shiraishi Island.
For Japan Rail Pass
travellers, catch the Shinkansen to Fukuyama station and then the local
train to Kazaoka.
To find the ferry terminal,
turn left at the station and on your right, walk though the underpass,
then turn left and right across the pedestrian crossing and walk
straight ahead for 30 seconds. Then turn left and you will see the ferry
terminal ahead. There are regular ferries to Shiraishi until around 6:00 PM. The daily
schedule for the Island’s ferries is provided when you book your
accommodation.
Accommodation reservations for Shiraishi Island Villa contact the Okayama International Villa group
| E-mail address: booking@international-villa.or.jp |
http://www.international-villa.or.jp/
