Do you know where the stone for that building was quarried? Recommendations for Island Travel - A Casual Setouchi Trip [Stone Island: Kasaoka Islands Edition] -

Thank you for joining the Nagnagu Tourist tour (Nagu-Tour). Today, I will guide you on a trip to the Kasaoka Islands.

▼ Where are the Kasaoka Islands?

For those of you asking, "Where exactly are the Kasaoka Islands?"
Let me explain!

The Kasaoka Islands are a group of islands in the Seto Inland Sea, floating roughly halfway between Kurashiki and Onomichi.

Let's zoom in a little more.

Boats and ferries operate from Kasaoka Port to seven inhabited islands. (As of February 2025)

After much deliberation on where to go, I decided to visit Kitagishima Island and Shiraishijima Island.

▼ Kasaoka Port (Fushikoshi Terminal)

Departing from the starting point, Kasaoka Port.
First, we head to Kitagishima in the morning. Why the morning? The reason is... la-ter.

Since we are taking a ferry, not a boat, to Kitagishima, let's head to the Fushikoshi Terminal, which is the ferry boarding area. The Fushikoshi Terminal is a bit hard to find, so rely on your smartphone to get there. If you head down the deserted shopping street (hey!) to the right after getting off at Kasaoka Station, you will arrive in about 15 minutes on foot.

Wait a little at the port,
With the sea still holding the afterglow of the morning sun in the background, the ferry has arrived!

▼ To Kitagishima

The ferry's front gate opens wide. From here, people, cars, and motorcycles are all swallowed up together. And just like that, we set sail for a one-hour journey across the Seto Inland Sea.

Be careful, as the ferry stops at two ports on Kitagi Island.
This time, I'm getting off at the first one, Toyoura Port.

I came to Kitagi Island because I wanted to see this place.
And I got off at Toyoura Port to adjust my schedule.

This is an active granite (Kitagi stone) quarry (choba).

Buildings that use Kitagi stone include the Sakuramon Gate of Osaka Castle, the main building of the Bank of Japan, the Mitsukoshi main store, and the great torii gate of Yasukuni Shrine, among many other famous landmarks. There were quarries all over the island, and it was once at the height of its prosperity, but it is now on the verge of extinction, pushed out by cheap Chinese competitors. Now, only this one (Tsuruta Stone) remains.

Tours are only during the lunch break. This is the reason I headed to Kitagi Island in the morning.

Tsuruta Stone has made a major management decision. To ensure they can continue quarrying for the next 100 years, they have decided to expand the quarry horizontally and dig down from the top again. For a while, they can only produce stone from near the surface, which is cheaper, so it is a period of patient management.

▼ Kasaoka Ramen

I walk back to Toyoura Port.

I also made a detour to the remains of a former quarry.
Ruins enthusiasts might like this.

There are places called the Guilin of Kitagi or the Venice of Kitagi, but they really don't live up to the names... There's no need for such pandering names. I just want them to promote the scenery as it is.

I've returned to the port.

I had lunch while waiting for the ferry to Shiraishi Island.
It's a place recommended by the guy who showed me around the quarry earlier.

Kasaoka Ramen at K's LABO. Chicken chashu is the hallmark of Kasaoka Ramen.

▼ To Shiraishi Island

The next place I came to was Shiraishi Island.
This is the reason I came here.

You can overlook the sea in 360 degrees while climbing a mountain. Such an attractive place is introduced in a list of 100 locations. Two of the Kasaoka Islands are featured.

This time, I'm taking a course that takes about an hour and a half, following the map: 'Hiking Course Starting Point - Hato-ishi Rock - Takayama Observatory - Kairyu-ji Temple - Port'.

The terrain is slippery granite, so don't forget your hiking shoes.

First, walk west from the port along the coast. Once you reach the beach lined with inns, look for the information sign.

If you climb for just 30 minutes, you can see the superb view of the Seto Inland Sea.

Like Kitagi Island, it is a granite island.
The giant rocks are also a highlight.

This rock had footholds carved into it, but they have weathered away, so there isn't as much of a step as it looks. It looked climbable, but I couldn't climb it... I really felt my age (crying).

Actually, for our generation (in our 50s), this Shiraishi Island is also an island of longing. This is the book you should read on the boat. Even if you can't climb the rocks, your heart can return to being twenty! Haha.

*Contains affiliate links.

Now that I've recalled the dazzling Takako Harada,
let's head back.

Here is a Nagu-Two tip!

If you combine this well, you can catch the train smoothly from Kasaoka. Also, please note that at Shiraishijima Port, the ferry terminal and the boat terminal are about 200 meters apart.

▼ Review of this itinerary (timetable)

Let's review this itinerary.

08:25 Depart Fukuyama Station
08:39 Arrive Kasaoka Station, 15-minute walk to Fushigoshi Terminal
09:25 Depart Kasaoka Port (Fushigoshi)
10:25 Arrive Mushijima (Toyoura Port)
Quarry tours are only during lunch break
13:00 Depart Mushijima (Toyoura Port)
13:27 Arrive Shiraishijima (Ferry Terminal)
15:57 Depart Shiraishijima (High-speed boat terminal)
Advance ticket purchase required for high-speed boat only
16:19 Arrive Kasaoka (Sumiyoshi)
(*There is also a 15:40 departure from Shiraishi arriving at 16:17 at Fushigoshi, but it's a 15-minute walk plus)
16:40 Depart Kasaoka Station
16:55 Arrive Fukuyama Station

This is the recommended Nagu-Two island hopping plan.

Finally, let's introduce some souvenirs and say goodbye!

▼ Souvenirs

- Seto Island Nori (Seaweed) -
Discovered at 'K's LABO' where I ate Kasaoka Ramen. It sells out fast, so get it immediately.

A slightly thick, firm seaweed. With piping hot rice, it's a reliable deliciousness. With both rice and seaweed prices soaring, they are becoming luxury items these days...

- Mushijima Beer -
Mushijima is famous for the daffodils that bloom in this season (February). This year, the blooming was late, so I gave up on going to the island. I only got the beer!

There is a liquor store in front of Kasaoka Station (see the page above). They have a full lineup of beers with unique flavors incorporating local specialties (figs, oysters, hijiki). Craft beer should be like this.

Today, I brought you this from the charming Kasaoka Islands.
You want to come to the Kasaoka Islands now, don't you?

- Next Preview -
Speaking of Nagu-Two, it's a sake trip.
Next time, I'll take a casual stroll through Hiroshima Prefecture's sake brewing region.

Look forward to it!


(To be continued...)