Naoshima Island situated in the Seto Inland Sea of Southern Japan has been known as the Art Island in the last 20 years.
Benesse Corporation started investing in art on the island in the 90's- now, there are a couple of very interesting museums as well as installations grouped around three main areas: Miyanoura port, Honmura port, and Benesse House Museum.
We visited Naoshima as a day trip from Okayama.
HERE IS OUR ITINERARY:
- Arrived by ferry to Miyanoura port.
- Rented electric bikes in the port.
- Visited Yayoi Kusama's Red Pumpkin and Sou Fujimoto's
Naoshima Pavilion.
- Drove to Lee Ufan Museum- were stopped by the robot. :)
- Drove further to Benesse House Museum. If you are going by bikes, head to the second entrance as it is much closer to the museum.
- Visited Benesse House Museum and had lunch on the terrace overlooking the Seto Inland sea (highly recommendable, even just for a drink!).
- Visited the Outdoor works on the beaches below the museum (Yayoi Kusama's Iconic Yellow Pumpkin, Niki de Saint Phalle's colorful animals etc.).
- Drove to the Honmura port.
- Visited cloud- shaped Port Terminal and Bicycle garage by SANAA studio.
- Drove back to Miyanoura port.
HOW TO GET THERE:
From Okayama:
By JR Uno Line from Okayama Station to Uno Station.
Timetable: https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/timetable/
Duration of the trip is about 50 minutes and then about 5 minutes walk from Uno Station to Uno port.
From Uno port on the mainland to Miyanoura port on the island: 20 minutes ferry ride.
Timetable: https://www.shikokukisen.com/en/instant/
HOW TO GET AROUND ON THE ISLAND:
By bus: http://www.naoshima.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/bus1.pdf
By rent-a-bike: https://ougiya-naoshima.jp/english/rental.html
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