Welcome to Shiraishi Reservations
Shiraishi
Reservations is a liaison service I set up to help facilitate communications
between foreign visitors and island residents.We provide the following
services:
- Booking
into local accommodations (except the international villa as that
is government-run)
- Booking
dinners or beach BBQ’s at local restaurants
- Booking
kayaks, windsurfers, sailing trips and fishing trips.
- Transportation
from the port to your accommodation (no service for international
villa).
- Weather
updates for typhoons and inclement weather
- Language
assistance should you need it anytime during your stay on Shiraishi
Island
We do not
take money for minshuku bookings. We can be reached anytime at ShiraishiReservations@yahoo.com
We speak English, Japanese, Spanish, and Australian J
For up-to-date
weather forecasts for Shiraishi Island to http://weather.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/33/6610/33205.html
This page is in Japanese, but if you can read even just the days
of the week in kanji, you’ ll understand the weather map.
Shiraishi International Villa
http://www.harenet.ne.jp/villa/
Most foreigners
stay at the International Villa on the island, which offers rooms,
communal cooking facilities and a shared bath at budget rates. There
are five rooms in total: 4 western style rooms with two single beds
and one Japanese style room with tatami mat and four futons. Maximum
occupancy is 12. The villa was built with the intention of giving
foreigners an affordable way to see the “real Japan” and
the lifestyle in the countryside. There are five international villas
throughout Okayama Prefecture.
Rooms are
2,000 yen per person per night for members. Non-members 2,500 yen
per night. To become a member costs 500 yen and membership can be
applied immediately to room rates for all members of the group.
However, membership is available only to non-Japanese guests. Japanese
guests must pay 3,000 yen per night and they must be accompanied
by a foreigner also staying at the villa.
The international
villa is a great place to stay if you want to meet other travelers,
don’t mind cooking your own food, or if you come with a group
(buy food before you come at Marunaka grocery store in Kasaoka across
from the ferry port). The villa sits up on a hill and has spectacular
views of the Seto Inland Sea. There is a private deck to lounge
on as well as a living room with a stereo, so bring some CD’s.
There is no TV, international telephone or internet.
For reservations,
information and photos of the Villa, see their homepage at http://www.harenet.ne.jp/villa/
Note:
Reservations for the villa can only be made through their home page.
Japan is still
very much a cash-based society. Outside of the big cities, expect
to pay for everything, including accommodations, in cash.
Other Options
If the International
villa is booked, which it usually is during the summertime, don’t
let that stop you from coming out to the island. If you want to
meet Japanese people and have a real Japanese experience, I recommend
staying at one of the Japanese-style minshukus on the beach. Minshuku
are local accommodations where you can experience traditional Japanese
food, sleep on a Japanese-style futon, and soak in a Japanese-style
bath.
San-chan’s on
the beach
http://www.h5.dion.ne.jp/~sanji32/
A restaurant/bar
which offers no-frills accommodations. San-chan’s is the cheapest
minshuku on the island and has five rooms. Rooms are 3,000 yen per
person per night, no meals. Add 500 yen if you want breakfast. Or
5,000 yen per night (children 12 and under 3,000 yen) including
BBQ, or 6,000 yen for fish dinner including sashimi.
They also
rent out their “kyukeisho” annex when the rooms are full,
so groups or people who don’t mind just a space on the floor
can still stay for just 2,500 yen per person per night. Includes
shared toilet and Japanese-style bath. Western-style toilet available.
No English spoken. Gestures okay! Free internet.
Reservations
Call or fax
San-chan’s (Japanese only) at 086-568-3169 (in Japan) or +81-86-568-3169
(from outside Japan) or email the Shiraishi Reservations Center
(English, Spanish or Japanese) ShiraishiReservations@yahoo.com
Payment
method: cash only
Minshuku Harada on
the beach
Higher-end accommodations
with excellent sea food and a nice Japanese family atmosphere. At
9,000 yen per night per person, including breakfast and dinner, it's
a little more expensive but definitely worth it. One night with no
meals is only 3,500 yen, with breakfast 4,000 yen. No Western-style
toilet. The owner, Harada-san (aka Sea-kun) speaks some English. Internet
available. Sea
Kayak and windsurfing rentals 1,000 yen per hour.
Reservations
Call or fax
Harada-san (Japanese or English) at 086-568-3044 (in Japan)
or +81-86-568-3044 (from outside Japan) or email Shiraishi
Reservations Center (English, Spanish or Japanese) ShiraishiReservations@yahoo.com
Payment
method: cash only
Cancellations
If you MUST
cancel, contact the minshuku as soon as possible to let them know.
Keep in mind that these are small, family-run minshukus, so if you
cancel, they may have lost the chance to book someone else in your
place. The day before you come, they will be out fishing in the
sea and gathering fresh vegetables from the garden for your evening
meal. So, if you MUST cancel, you should at least pay a 20 percent
cancellation fee to help them recover some costs.
All except
villa cancellations can be made by contacting ShiraishiReservations@yahoo.com
or by calling or faxing the minshukus directly.
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