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Naoshima

Home > Destinations > Naoshima

The art island of Naoshima is a beautiful island in the Seto Inland Sea. The entire island has a population of only 3,000 people. You can see sandy beaches and most recently, contemporary art museums in natural settings. The symbol of Naoshima is the famous Yellow Pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama.

Art Island of Naoshima: One Day Itinerary

Japan and More Tour Group – Naoshima, Japan

Tour Group visiting Naoshima

A Naoshima one day itinerary from Okayama starts at eight o’clock in the morning and returns at six o’clock in the evening.

Sandy Beach – Naoshima Art Island, Japan

Beach on Naoshima Art Island

How to Get to Naoshima

Naoshima is an easy day trip from Okayama. It takes about two hours in total and involves taking a train, ferry, and bus.

First, take the JR train for about an hour to Uno Station. Then, take the Shikoku Kisen Ferry from Uno Port to Miyanoura Port.

Red Pumpkin at Miyanoura Port – Naoshima Island, Japan

Red Pumpkin on Naoshima Island

Once on Naoshima Island, you can take the infrequent town bus to Tsutsujiso. From there, you can hop on the Benesse free shuttle to the three contemporary art museums designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

Concrete Walls at Lee Ufan Museum – Naoshima, Japan

Lee Ufan Museum

Lee Ufan Museum

The Lee Ufan Museum opened in 2010 and showcases artwork by Lee Ufan, a Korean artist living and working in Japan. There are large, geometrically shaped concrete installations in nature and open spaces.

Fly and Stay Cheap

Outdoor Art Installations – Naoshima, Japan

Benesse House Outdoor Art Installations

Benesse House Museum

From the Lee Ufan Museum, you can walk to the Benesse Museum and enjoy the outdoor art installations in the park and on the beach. The Benesse House Museum opened in 1992 on a hill overlooking the sea and features works by Japanese and overseas artists.

View from The Museum Restaurant Issen – Naoshima, Japan

View from The Museum Restaurant Issen

For lunch, there is The Museum Restaurant Issen inside the Benesse House Museum. There are large windows with views of the Seto Inland Sea and modern art. The kaiseki cuisine includes fresh Setouchi seafood and seasonal ingredients.

Chichu Art Museum – Naoshima, Japan

Chichu Art Museum in Naoshima

Photo by 663highland / CC BY-SA 3.0

Chichu Art Museum

After lunch, take the Benesse free shuttle to the Chichu Art Museum. The Chichu Art Museum was built in 2004 and has a small collection of art, including works by Claude Monet and James Turrell. The museum is mostly underground and uses natural light to illuminate the artworks.

Art House Project – Naoshima, Japan

Art House Project

Art House Project

Depending on how fast you go through the museums, you may have time to visit the Art House Project on the way back to the port.

The Art House Project is in Honmura on the other side of the island. Artists from Japan and abroad have turned seven abandoned homes into art.

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Becki & Shawn in Nara, Japan

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Hi, we’re Becki and Shawn! We love Japan and are truly passionate about Japan and Japan travel.

We’ve lived, worked, and traveled in Japan for 20+ years, so we know where to go, what to see, and how to get there. Join us in Japan for an adventure of a lifetime!

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