This is my new favorite place in Japan. We brought our 2 young boys here for the weekend. Amy recommended we stay at the International Villa which was great. The porch overlooked the quiet sea and we were a very short , beautiful walk to town, beaches or hiking. The beach had a relaxed atmoshphere and my boys enjoyed the... More

It had two different aspects: casual bars on the beach, and small countryside island, which was perfect for me. (note, nothing fancy or sophisticated) we climbed to one of the small mountains on a beautiful day. The town part was a little like a labyrinth with narrow paths. The local people made a bow to us whenever I saw them.... More

Shiraishi Island's my favourite place in the whole of Japan - it's just the perfect escape from the rat race. Its location, far off the beaten track, means it offers unparalleled opportunities to escape from it all and get back in touch with a simple, honest way of life surrounded by stunning and invigorating nature. You can enjoy cocktails on... More

For those of us who are or were in Japan for a longer stretch than your average holiday maker then Shiraishi Island is a little haven of relaxation. I lived in Japan for a year and visited Shiraishi often, each time was better than the last. The pace of life and atmosphere just feels totally different from mainland Japan, what... More

Staying at the highly recommendable & extremely economical "International Villa"-hostel for two nights in mid-September 2008, I must say that experiencing this tiny island was a wonderful experience upon the big city of Kyoto. There is a beach next to the only real village on the island which has a relaxed atmosphere, maybe slightly crowded in the tourist season, but... More