A Shiraishijima Bon dance where many kinds of dance come together to a single song
Shiraishi Odori
The 2026 edition of Shiraishi Odori has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/13 〜 2026/08/16Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year, August 13–16 / Every year
- Location
- Shiraishi Community Center (August 13–15), Shiraishijima Beach (August 16)
- Area
- Okayama Prefecture・Kasaoka City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 10 min–3 h 40 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Shiraishi Odori, passed down on Shiraishijima in Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture, is a signature of the island, featuring a variety of dances performed to a single song.
About Shiraishi Odori
Shiraishi Odori is a Bon dance passed down on Shiraishijima in Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture, and a distinctive part of local culture closely connected with island life.
Dances such as Otoko-odori, Onna-odori, and Kasa-odori are performed in the same circle to a single narrative song.
The sight of dancers holding bonten poles and fans as the large drums and singing ring out is another characteristic feature.
In 2022, it was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage element as one of the “Furyu-odori” dances.
Source: 白石踊を受け継ぐ - 笠岡市ホームページ
Festival highlights
The highlight is seeing several kinds of dance come together in one circle to the accompaniment of a single song and drums.
The powerful Otoko-odori, graceful Onna-odori, and dances such as Kasa-odori and Musume-odori unfold at the same time, each with different costumes and movements.
The songs include narrative ballads such as “Nasu no Yoichi” and “Sai no Kawara,” so you can enjoy both the dancing and the stories.
A Shiraishijima Bon dance where many kinds of dance come together to a single song
What to expect
When the event is held, people dance around a set up by the beach or elsewhere, accompanied by drums and singing.
Several dances passed down on the island are performed within the same circle, letting visitors see up close the movements of dancers holding items such as bonten poles and fans.
For the 2026 event, visitors were advised that they could dance in or everyday clothes, without wearing a costume.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
How to take part
Visitors can join the circle of dancers.
According to the 2026 information, participation was open to all, and clothing was unrestricted, including yukata and everyday clothes.
The event is open not only to spectators but also to anyone who wants to experience a local Bon dance to the accompaniment of drums and singing.
You can take part in a yukata or everyday clothes, without preparing a special outfit.
The 2026 Obon Shiraishi Odori is announced as taking place without costumes, with anyone welcome to join.
At the event, you can watch the dance circle and join in at your own pace.
Source: 【2026年】白石島 盆踊り（白石踊）｜イベント｜岡山観光WEB【公式】- 岡山県の観光・旅行情報ならココ！ / 岡山県三大盆踊り「白石踊」を体験！悠久の時が流れる石の島の歴史に触れてみた（笠岡市）｜おか旅｜岡山観光WEB【公式】- 岡山県の観光・旅行情報ならココ！
Location and access
- Venue and address
The Shiraishi Community Center on the 13th–15th, and Shiraishijima Beach on the 16th.
The location is Shiraishijima, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture.
- Train and bus
About a 10-minute walk from JR Kasaoka Station to Kasaoka Port (Sumiyoshi boarding area), then about 20 minutes by high-speed boat or about 35 minutes by regular boat.
Fushikoshi Port is about a 20-minute walk away, followed by about 45 minutes by ferry.
- By car
It takes about 10 minutes to drive from Kasaoka IC on the Sanyo Expressway to Kasaoka Port, then take a boat from the port to Shiraishijima.
Check the boat operator for departure times.
Address Shiraishijima, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the published dates have passed)
In 2026, the event was held from August 13 (Thu) through the 16th (Sun).
The event was scheduled to run from around 7:30 p.m. to around 11 p.m. on the 13th–15th, and from around 8 p.m. to around 10 p.m. on the 16th. A lantern-floating ceremony was also scheduled for around 7 p.m. on the 16th.
The event is canceled in rainy weather; as in other years, it is held from August 13 through the 16th.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Okayama Prefecture / Kasaoka City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
At the 2026 Obon Shiraishi Odori, visitors can take part without wearing a costume, in yukata or everyday clothes.
The event is canceled in rainy weather, so check the weather and event status before heading to the island.
As the venue is reached by boat, allow time not only to get to Kasaoka Port but also for the boat schedule and journey.
Nearby attractions
On Shiraishijima, you can visit Shiraishijima Beach, as well as Kairyūji, a Shingon Buddhist temple in the center of the island, and the massive rock formation Yoroi-iwa.
The island also has streets lined with houses clad in charred cedar boards, and you can enjoy the island scenery on foot alongside Shiraishi Odori.
Shiraishijima Beach, Kairyūji, and Yoroi-iwa are featured as nearby attractions in tourism articles introducing Shiraishi Odori.
井笠鉄道記念館
日本の岡山県笠岡市にある鉄道保存展示施設
笠岡市立カブトガニ博物館
岡山県笠岡市にある博物館
Origins and History of Shiraishi Odori
Shiraishi Odori is said to have originated as a way to mourn the spirits of those who died in the Genpei Battle of Mizushima.
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, it has been passed down on Shiraishijima as a Bon dance to console those killed in both the Genji and Heike armies.
It was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1976 and registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage element in 2022 as one of the “Furyu-odori” dances.
Official information
See “Shiraishijima Bon Dance (Shiraishi Odori)” on Okayama Tourism WEB for event information.
Information about efforts to preserve Shiraishi Odori, regular practice sessions, and its cultural heritage status is also available on the Kasaoka City website.
Check the boat operators or contact points listed in the respective information sources for boat schedules and the conditions on the day.
Shiraishi Odori at a Glance
Shiraishi Odori is a Bon dance passed down on Shiraishijima in Kasaoka City, with prayers for the repose of the dead.
Enjoy a distinctive style in which dances with different costumes and movements are performed in the same circle to the accompaniment of a single song and drums.
In 2026, the event was held from August 13 through the 16th, and visitors were advised that they could join the dancing in whatever they were wearing.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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