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