Naoshima

Naoshima, a small island in Japan's Seto Inland Sea, brings art into everyday spaces. Tadao Ando's concrete buildings blend into hillsides near Yayoi Kusama's pumpkin sculptures along the coast. Underground galleries hold Claude Monet's Water Lilies paintings under natural light. This former industrial island now connects visitors to art installations in old houses, forests, and ports. Ferries from Takamatsu or Uno take less than an hour, with shuttle buses and bike rentals leading to James Turrell's light installations and bathhouses turned into art pieces.

Getting to Naoshima and Transportation Options

Naoshima has two ferry ports: Miyanoura on the west side and Honmura on the east. Take a ferry from Takamatsu in Kagawa prefecture (50 minutes) or Uno in Okayama prefecture (20 minutes), with Miyanoura having more daily departures. Rent electric bicycles near Miyanoura Port to handle steep roads, but avoid riding them near Benesse House where they're not allowed. Orange-colored buses run every 30 minutes from Miyanoura to Tsutsujiso station, where free shuttles take you to major museums. Walk between Honmura's art sites instead of using transport—most stand within a 15-minute walk of each other.

Chichu Art Museum: Light and Monet's Paintings

The Chichu Art Museum sits partly underground to avoid disrupting the island's shape. Five Water Lilies paintings by Claude Monet hang in a bright white room that uses only sunlight through special ceiling openings. Tadao Ando designed sharp-angled concrete hallways that direct sunlight differently throughout the day. One area contains James Turrell's Open Sky piece where the roof opens to show a square view of the sky above. Buy timed tickets (2,100 yen) online before visiting because entry slots sell out days ahead.

Benesse House: Stay Overnight With Art

Benesse House combines a modern art museum with a hotel where guests sleep near artworks. Choose between four buildings designed by Tadao Ando—Museum, Oval, Park, or Beach—with rooms starting at 30,000 yen per night. The outdoor area displays permanent pieces like Yayoi Kusama's Yellow Pumpkin sculpture on a pier over the sea. Free shuttles from Tsutsujiso station stop here before continuing to the Lee Ufan Museum and Chichu. Day visitors can enter the museum until 6 PM (1,300 yen) but can't access hotel areas.

Honmura's Art House Project: Old Buildings Reused

Seven abandoned houses and a shrine in Honmura village hold permanent art installations. At Kadoya house, digital numbers glowing in a dark pool show the heart rates of former residents. Minamidera building requires walking through complete darkness before reaching a room where light makes walls seem to disappear. Go'o Shrine's stone steps lead to a hidden glass staircase that bends light into rainbow colors. Buy a combined ticket (1,030 yen) at Honmura Lounge to visit all sites except Kinza, which needs separate booking for 15-minute solo sessions.

Public Art and Unique Bathhouses

A bright red pumpkin sculpture by Yayoi Kusama with round windows stands at Miyanoura Port. Naoshima Bath "I♥Yu" lets you bathe in a functional public bath decorated with colorful tiles, a gold elephant statue on the roof, and neon signs (660 yen with towel). Nearby, the Ando Museum (510 yen) shows the island's history through photos in a traditional wooden house rebuilt with concrete interiors.

Seasonal Events and Nearby Islands

Every three years, Naoshima joins the Setouchi Triennale art festival across 12 nearby islands for 100 days. When the festival isn't running, take a 20-minute ferry to Teshima Island to see the Teshima Art Museum's curved concrete space with water moving across its floor. Staying overnight lets you visit Tsutsujiso Beach's white sand area or Valley Gallery's new building housing Kusama's mirrored ball installation.

Planning Your Visit

Book Chichu Art Museum tickets online at least two weeks before your trip. Rent electric bikes by 9 AM since shops near Miyanoura Port have few available. Most museums close on Mondays—schedule visits from Tuesday to Sunday. Reserve meals at Benesse House restaurants early or buy pre-made meals at Miyanoura's 7-Eleven. Visit between October-November or March-April to avoid crowds from Japan's Golden Week holidays in late April and May.