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Directions to Shiraishi Island
All ferries to Shiraishi Island leave from Kasaoka City.
By Train
To get to Kasaoka city, take the local JR train (Sanyo Honsen Line) from either Okayama or Fukuyama station (both are
stops on the bullet train line). Get off at Kasaoka Station (45 min by local train from Okayama, 10 minutes from Fukuyama).
Walk to the ferry port (5-min).
By Car
Take the Sanyo Expressway and exit at Kasaoka Interchange (I.C.). Go south via Route 34 for 4km to National Route 2 (Ni-gosen).
Route 2 runs by Sanyo Kisen ferry port south of Kasaoka Station. Follow the signs.
There are two ferry companies running passenger and car ferries to Shiraishi Island. Most people will take the Sanyo Kisen
passenger ferries as they leave most frequently and this ferry port is closest to the train station. There is free parking
for cars in the summertime.
Both ferries leave from Kasaoka Port, however their departure platforms are far from each other. Sanyo Kisen ferry port
is about a 5-minute walk from Kasaoka station.
Both ferries arrive at the same place on Shiraishi Island.
All quoted fares are adult, one-way. Children are half-price.
Ferries to Shiraishi Island
Directions to Ferry Terminals
To Sanyo Kisen Ferry Terminal from Kasaoka Station:
Follow the signs
to the "felly port," or: Take a right out of the station and follow the road. Keep an eye on the right side for an underground
walkway that will take you under the train tracks and to the other side of the station. Turn right into the underground walkway
(do not take any of the stairs up out of the underground walkway, no matter how tempting it may be!) You will come out of
the walkway on the inclined path. Keep walking straight till it dead ends, less than 50 meters later. Take a left. Ten meters
later turn right. You will see a traffic light in front of you (another 100 meters ahead), and on your left will be the Sea
Side Mall, Mr. Donut and KFC. Walk straight across Route 2 at the traffic light. Keep walking straight another 50 meters until
you dead end into the port. The Sanyo Kisen ferry terminal is right there on your right. It's about a five-minute walk from
Kasaoka station, but don't push it--arrive with plenty of time so you don't miss your ferry.
Directions to Shiraishi
Ferry Terminal from Kasaoka Station:
Follow the directions to the Sanyo Kisen Ferry terminal. When you dead end into
the port however, take a left instead of a right and follow this road along the water for about 10 minutes, past the fertilizer
factory, and the Shiraishi Ferry Terminal is another 10 minutes down on the right. If you're walking, save time by going through
the tunnel on Route 2 by taking a left at the traffic light (instead of going straight). When you come out of the smelly,
polluted tunnel, the terminal will be on your right. Parking is available at the Shiraishi Ferry Terminal.
(Please
note that the "Hokusei" ferry is no longer running. Sanyo Kisen and Shiraishi Ferry are the only ferries to Shiraishi Island
as of Sept. 2006)
Passenger Ferry (for those not bringing a car)
Sanyo Kisen Regular Ferry (futsu sen)
Fare: 650 yen (pay at terminal)
The regular passenger ferry takes 40 minutes one way from Kasaoka to Shiraishi
Island. Shiraishi is the third stop. There is an announcement in English.
Kasaoka Departure times: 8:10, 13:20, 17:50
Return times: 7:05, 11:35, 17:05
Additional fares: Bicycles: 350 yen, Scooters up to 50cc: 430 yen, Motor
bikes 250cc 500 yen, Small Dogs: 350 yen, Big Dogs 500 yen, Goldfish: free
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| Sanyo regular ferry |
Sanyo Kisen Express Ferry (Kousoku sen)
Sanyo Kisen Express Ferry (Kousoku sen)
http://www.city.kasaoka.okayama.jp/kasaokaisland/koutu/sanyo.htm
Fare:
1,130 yen (pay at terminal)
The express passenger ferry takes 20 minutes and goes directly from Kasaoka to Shiraishi
Island. There are no stops along the way. There is no English announcement.
Kasaoka Departure times: 7:25, 9:10, 10:50,
14:15, 16:30
Return times: 8:37, 10:22, 13:42, 15:27, 17:42
Additional fares: Bicycles: 550 yen, Scooters
50cc: 430 yen, Motor bikes 250cc 500 yen, Small Dogs: 350 yen, Big Dogs: 500 yen, Snakes: unknown
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| Sanyo express ferry |
Car Ferry (for those wishing to bring their car/motorcycle to the island)
"Shiraishi" Ferry (Orange)
This ferry is now painted bright orange!
Fare: 520 yen; children 260 yen (through elementary school age). Pay
on board.
This car ferry takes 40 minutes and goes direct from Kasaoka to Shiraishi Island with no stops along the
way. It carries passengers as well as cars and motorcycles.
Kasaoka Departure times: 9:00, 11:00, 14:40, 17:00
Return times: 7:55, 10:00, 13:35, 16:00
Additional
fares: Bicycles 240 yen, scooters 490 yen; motorbikes under 750cc 740 yen, over 750cc 990 yen, Dogs: 260 yen, Rhinos: prohibited.
See fees for cars below, under "So you wanna bring your car?"
Note: This ferry port is furthest from Kasaoka station.
About a 20 minute walk. You can drive and park your car there, however. Passengers without cars may also take this ferry.
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| Shiraishi Ferry (it's actually orange, not red) |
So you wanna bring your car?
You may think twice when you see the rates. Remember, Shiraishi Island has one road that is 5 km and there is free
parking at the ferry port on the mainland.
Fares are one way and include the driver:
Cars 3-4 meters long 2,550 yen; 4-5 meters long 3,350 yen; 5-6 meters long 4,230 yen; 6-7 meters long 4,800 yen; 7-8
meters long 5,590 yen; 8-9 meters long 6,260 yen; 9-10 meters long 7,050 yen
Toilet Ferry
Do not take this ferry as it is the one that cleans out the non-flush toilets on Shiraishi Island. Don't worry, you'll
know by the smell...
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| Toilet ferry |
Marine Taxi
You can hire a boat for groups or if you miss the ferry. It costs 15,000 yen (divided amongst the passengers) from Kasaoka
port to Shiraishi.
Or you can call us as we'd do it for much cheaper ;) If you think you can't make the last ferry, contact us. For
5 people, for example, we would charge you 1,000 yen per person. Email us at:
Shiraishi Reservations
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