Naoshima is a small island in the peaceful Seto Inland Sea that boasts contemporary arts and architecture. You can enjoy the beautiful view of the Seto Inland Sea while taking a 50-minute cruise from Takamatsu Port to reach the island. We will explore various art sites and architecture created by renowned art masters and world-famous architects.
I was born and raised in Kagawa prefecture, which faces the Seto Inland Sea, and I would be delighted to show you around Naoshima!
At Takamatsu Port, JR Takamatsu, Okayama, Uno Stations, Miyanoura Port in Naoshima, or at your hotel in Naoshima and Takamatsu
This area is the central area of Naoshima, retaining the old houses and townscapes.
The Art House Project is underway in the area where empty houses are being renovated and turned into art sites.
Visit Chichu Art Museum, Lee Ufan Museum, etc.
Visit art sites around the Miyanoura Port
At Takamatsu Port, JR Takamatsu Station, Miyanoura Port in Naoshima, or at your hotel in Naoshima
The name of the island dates back to the late 12th century when a retired emperor named the small island Naoshima meaning an island of gentle residents. Today, Naoshima is regarded as a holy land of contemporary art, drawing a lot of people both from home and abroad.
Why so? Artists and architects have sympathized a project aiming at creating significant spaces by bringing contemporary arts and architectures in resonance with the pristine nature of the Seto Inland Sea, a landscape with a rich cultural and historical fabric.
Naoshima is a major venue of Setouchi Triennale, a contemporary art festival held every three years in the Seto Inland Sea area. The next one will be held in 2019.
We visit three areas in Naoshima to appreciate the outstanding works created by distinguished artists and architects.
1. Benesse House Area
There are three museums all designed by a worldly notable architect, Tadao Ando who is a winner of Pritzker Prize regarded as Nobel Prize in architecture.
- Benesse House Museum
Built on high ground overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, the museum features artworks found not just within its galleries, but in neighboring areas such as the seashore and the nearby forest.
- Lee Ufan Museum
Located in a gentle valley surrounded by hills and the sea, the museum exhibits the works of an internationally acclaimed artist, Lee Ufan, offering a tranquil space where nature, architecture, and art come in resonance with each other.
- Chichu Art Museum
Built mostly underground to avoid harming the natural landscapes, the museum houses the artworks by Claude Monet, James Turrell, and Walter De Maria. The architecture itself can be seen as a very large site-specific artwork.
2. Honmura Area
The Art House Project is underway in Honmura area where empty houses are being renovated and turned into art sites. The area has ANDO MUSEUM that is 100-year-old traditional wooden house renovated by Tadao Ando. You can learn about Ando's works through photographs, sketches, and models, and see how the museum itself has revived this venerable old house.
3. Miyanoura Port Area
Miyanoura is the main port of Naoshima, where ferries come and go. Around the port, there are several artworks including conspicuous Red Pumpkin designed by Yayoi Kusama and Naoshima Pavilion by Sou Fujimoto. The elegant terminal building, the Marine Station Naoshima, is designed by a star-architects’ unit, SANAA – Sejima And Nishizawa And Associates.
I was born and raised in Kagawa prefecture facing the Seto Inland Sea.
Therefore, it’s my pleasure to guide you around Naoshima!
guide fee, hotel pick-up
transportation fare(you and guide), admission fee, meals
I can guide you in Kagawa including Naoshima and the other venues of Setouchi Triennale.
If you would be interested in being guided by me in those places, please contact me to confirm my availability in advance.
This tour will be available when I stay in my home prefecture, Kagawa, a gateway to Naoshima. Therefore, please contact me to confirm the tour's availability in advance. I would appreciate it if you could give me an inquiry about the availability at least two weeks before the day of the tour.
This tour is not conducted on Mondays, because the museums are usually closed on Mondays.
Although the cost varies according to our itinerary, a typical cost is approximately 10,000 JPY, or $90 USD per person.
For example, if you visit most of the art sites, the total cost comes to 10,130 JPY per person approximately.
- transportation fare: Approx. 3,000 JPY (High-speed boat and bus, for a round trip)
- admission fee to two museums(Chichu Art Museum, Lee Ufan Museum): 3,090 JPY
- admission fee to Art House Project and ANDO MUSEUM: 1,540 JPY
- lunch: 2,500 JPY
For more details, please refer to the Questions and Answers below.
From Takamatsu Port, Kagawa prefecture,
It takes approximately 50 minutes by ferry or 25 minutes by high-speed boat.
The one-way fares are,
- Ferry: Adult 520 JPY, Child 260 JPY
- High-speed boat: Adult 1,220 JPY, Child 610 JPY
Takamatsu Port is located approximately 5 minutes walk away from JR Takamatsu Station, or 40 minutes car ride from Takamatsu Airport.
From Uno Port, Okayama prefecture,
It takes approximately 20 minutes by ferry. The one-way fares are Adult:290 JPY and Child:150 JPY.
Uno Port is located approximately 5 minutes walk away from JR Uno Station, accessible by train from JR Okayama Station, taking approximately 50 minutes.
We'll use bus to go to each area. Public bus and free shuttle bus services are available hourly.
The public bus fares are Adult:100 JPY and Child:50 JPY per a ride.
If you like, we can use rental bicycles. The average fee is approximately 1,500 JPY per day for renting a bike with a electric motor.
Walking is not always recommended, because the island has many ups and downs.
Chichu Art Museum:
- 2,060 JPY, free for children 15 and under
Benesse House Museum:
- 1,030 JPY, free for children 15 and under, and overnight guests at Benesse House
Lee Ufan Museum:
- 1,030 JPY, free for children 15 and under
ANDO MUSEUM:
- 510 JPY, free for children 15 and under
Art House Project:
- Multi-Site ticket for six art houses: 1,030 JPY, free for children 15 and under
- Single-Site ticket for one art house: 410 JPY, free for children 15 and under
There are various types of restaurants serving many kinds of cuisines.
The typical price ranges per person are, for example,
- A Western-style restaurant: 1,500 yen to 3,000 yen
- A Japanese style restaurant: 1,500 yen to 3,000 yen
- A noodle shop: 1,000 yen approximately
Yes, I can shorten the duration and reduce guide fee according to your request.
In this case, please contact me before booking. I'll offer you a customized tour based on your request.
For example:
08:30 am
-Meet at the Takamatsu Port.
-Board a high-speed boat to Naoshima
09:05 - 09:35
-Move to Naoshima by high-speed boat
09:35 - 10:00
-Arrive at Miyanoura Port in Naoshima
-Move to Honmura Area by bus
10:00 - 12:30
-Visit Honmura Area
This area is the central area of Naoshima, retaining the old houses and townscapes.
The Art House Project is underway in the area where empty houses are being renovated and turned into art sites.
The area has ANDO MUSEUM, 100-year-old traditional wooden house renovated by a world-famous architect, Tadao Ando.
-Have lunch in Honmura area
12:30 - 13:00
-Move to Benesse House Area by bus
13:00 - 14:45
-Visit Chichu Art Museum built mostly underground to avoid affecting the natural scenery of the Seto Inland sea.
Artworks by Claude Monet, James Turrell, and Walter De Maria are on display in this building designed by Tadao Ando.
-Visit Lee Ufan Museum
Lee Ufan Museum is made with the collaboration between internationally acclaimed artist Lee Ufan and architect Tadao Ando.
14:45 - 15:30
-Move to Miyanoura Area by bus
15:30 - 16:25
-Visit an art site, Naoshima Bath "I love Yu" near the port
-Board a high-speed boat to Takamatsu
16:25 - 16:55
-Move to Takamatsu Port by high-speed boat
-At the port, our tour will end.
Yes, I can.
I can offer you a customized tour for Setouchi Triennale. Please contact me for more details.
Yes, I can. If your hotel is located in Takamatsu, please pay Hotel escort fee.
Guide’s transportation fare to the place is also required to be paid.
Aki is an experienced guide with a great deal of enthusiasm for his job. He speaks English well and is committed to ensuring his clients enjoy Japan. He is a pleasant person to spend the day with.
Dear Perry, Thank you so much for your excellent review! I am happy you enjoyed a day in Hakone. It was a great pleasure to be your guide. Thanks for coming to Hakone and having me as your guide! With sincere appreciation, Aki
This was our first time in Hakone. The scenery in Hakone was great and beautiful. Although its a pity that we didn’t manage to do the cruise and ropeway due to strong wind, we still get to have a great view over Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji from Onshi-Hakone Park. We also walked over old imperial roads, visited a replica of a samurai checkpoint, a traditional wood processing. My family was impressed with the craving & the various steps combinations. We also visited the shrine and had to wait a long time to take photos at the famous spot. Aki is professional, patient! He waited together with us, helped us take photos. I have yet to experience a guide that stay and queue with their customers. Lastly, Aki bought us to a traditional tea house. It was a new experience for us. The rice tea was special, ‘creamy’ and has unique taste. Nice!! Thank you very much for a great day, Aki-san. Our family enjoyed the day trip.
Dear Jesslyn, Thank you so much for your fantastic review and kind words!! It was a pleasure to have your family as my guests and to share the beauty of Hakone's nature and culture. I am thrilled you enjoyed the stunning view of Mt. Fuji, the local wooden craft, and the specialty drink, Amasake. I had a wonderful time with your family, too. Thanks for coming to Hakone and having me as your guide! With sincere appreciation, Aki
I had an absolutely fantastic time under the guidance of Aki-san, I wasn't completely sure where I wanted to go, so he took me around to lots of wonderful places, and took several pictures for me! He was tremendously helpful, and patient, and has given me many ideas about what I can do and where I'd like to see. He listened to my requests on the fly and was able to offer advice and take me to many places that had exactly what I was looking for. I can't wait for the next tour! ありがとうございました!
Dear Andrew-san, Thank you so much for giving me such an excellent rating and wonderful words! It was my pleasure to have guided you. I'm very happy you enjoyed touring in Tokyo. I had a great time with you, too! Thanks for having me as your guide. With sincere appreciation, Aki とてもたのしかったです！ありがとうございました。
This is our first trip to Japan. Honestly, I was bit apprehensive, not knowing the language, big city, etc. However, we couldn't have done better. Aki was the key to a fabulous time. He gave us a good overview the city and in instances he went above and beyond to help us out or direct us to the right sources. We consider himour friend and highly recommend him to anyone visiting Tokyo.
Dear Sami, I am grateful for your fantastic rating and kind review! It means a lot to me, and I'm so glad you had a great time in Tokyo. It was my pleasure to have guided you. Thanks for choosing me as your guide! With sincere appreciation, Aki