After visiting Naoshima twice, we think two days is the perfect amount of time.
We first visited Naoshima on a day trip, but there was still so much more we wanted to see that we came back for two nights.
Dedicated to contemporary art, Naoshima is unlike anywhere else in Japan.
What was once a quiet fishing island has become one of the world's most inspiring art destinations, where museums, architecture and large-scale installations blend seamlessly into the landscape.
You'll discover works by artists including James Turrell, Yayoi Kusama and Walter De Maria, alongside several museums designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando.
Spending two nights gives you enough time to visit the art museums without feeling rushed, take cafe breaks in Honmura Village, explore outdoor installations along the coast, and enjoy the island after the day-trippers have left.
Overview: 2 Days on Naoshima Island
Day 1: Visit Benesse House Museum and Hiroshi Sugimoto Gallery, discover outdoor installations on the coast, and enjoy dinner overlooking the sea. Day 2: Visit Chichu Art Museum, explore the Art House Project in Honmura Village, stop at local cafes and discover the Naoshima New Museum of Art. |
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2 Day Naoshima Itinerary
Day 1
Catch the ferry to Naoshima
Naoshima is a bit of a journey to reach, but getting there is much easier than it first appears.
We recommend spending the night before in Osaka or Kobe so you can catch an early train and make the most of your first day on the island.
- Take the shinkansen (high-speed train) to Okayama Station.
- From Okayama, take the JR Uno Line to Uno Station, changing at Chayamachi Station. Don't worry, the transfer is easy and usually just involves walking across the platform.
- From Uno Station, it's a five-minute walk to the ferry terminal.
- Take the 20-minute ferry to Naoshima. Ferries run regularly throughout the day, and there's no need to book ahead. Just buy your ticket at the terminal. See the schedule.
✔️ Top Tip: We found it easiest to visit a JR ticket office and have them reserve our train tickets all the way to Uno Station, including our return journey.
Check into your hotel
Benesse House
If budget allows, we highly recommend staying at Benesse House. One of the biggest reasons we returned to Naoshima was to experience staying here.
Designed by Tadao Ando, Benesse House harmoniously blends contemporary art, architecture and nature.
We stayed in the Museum building and loved stepping out of our room straight into contemporary art, with sculptures and installations spread throughout the property.
Guests also receive complimentary admission and exclusive after-hours access to Benesse House Museum and Hiroshi Sugimoto Gallery.
Having the galleries almost entirely to ourselves after hours was really something else.
For something very unique, The Oval is Benesse House's most exclusive accommodation. Hidden on the hillside around a peaceful circular reflecting pool that's open to the sky, it's only accessible to guests staying there.
🛏️ If Benesse House is outside your budget, we recommend staying in Honmura village. You'll find charming guesthouses, restaurants and plenty of galleries within walking distance.Visit Hiroshi Sugimoto Gallery: Time Corridors
This peaceful gallery showcases the work of renowned photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto inside another beautiful Tadao Ando building overlooking the Seto Inland Sea.
Just outside, don't miss the Glass Tea House Mondrian, a contemporary interpretation of a traditional Japanese teahouse made almost entirely of glass.
Hours: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm (last admittance 2:00pm)
✔️ Top Tip: Don't skip the gift shop. It was our favourite one on the island. We came home with a sculptural bottle opener, wooden sake cups, and a Yayoi Kusama Yellow Pumpkin keychain.
Wander along the coast to see more iconic artworks
Stop by Yayoi Kusama's iconic Yellow Pumpkin, one of Naoshima's most famous artworks. You'll find it just behind Hiroshi Sugimoto Gallery along the coastline.
From there, follow the coast to Seaside Gallery, home to Walter De Maria's installation of polished granite spheres.
Continue along the coast to Lee Ufan's Porte Vers l'Infini (Gate to Infinity), a minimalist steel arch that frames the Seto Inland Sea.
These outdoor installations are all free to see.
Walk through Valley Gallery
Just a short walk away from Lee Ufan's Gate to Infinity is Valley Gallery.
The outdoor space is home to Yayoi Kusama's Narcissus Garden, where hundreds of mirrored spheres reflect the surrounding landscape and constantly change with the light.
Your Benesse House Museum ticket includes access to Valley Gallery.
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Explore Benesse House Museum
Designed by Tadao Ando, Benesse House Museum overlooks the blue Seto Inland Sea and is one of Naoshima's most impressive art spaces.
Inside, you'll find contemporary installations, sculptures and paintings by Japanese and international artists.
We loved how varied it felt. The way the art flows between the galleries, architecture and coastline makes the whole property feel like one continuous exhibition.
If you're staying at Benesse House, museum access is free. If not, you can easily buy your tickets online.
Hours: 8 am - 9 pm (last entry 8 pm)
Enjoy dinner overlooking the sea
Finish your first day with dinner at Terrace Restaurant in Benesse House's Beach Building.
After a full day of museums and walking around the island, it was exactly the kind of place we were looking for to slow down and enjoy a good meal overlooking the sea.
They offer both à la carte and prix fixe French-inspired menus.
🌅 Top Tip: Try to book a table around sunset if you can.
Day 2
Start your day at Chichu Art Museum
Chichu Art Museum was the first time we were truly blown away by contemporary art.
We walked through a wall of colour, watched the sky become a painting, and stood beneath one of the most powerful sculptures we had ever experienced.
Designed by Tadao Ando and built almost entirely underground, the museum uses natural light as part of the exhibition itself.
Inside, you'll experience incredible installations by James Turrell, Walter De Maria and Claude Monet, each displayed in purpose-built spaces that become part of the artwork.
One of the things we loved most was that photography isn't allowed. Everyone experiences the art in its purest form.
✔️ Top Tip: Book the first entry of the day and reserve your tickets well in advance. They regularly sell out, and arriving early means much shorter waits for the installations.
Hours: 10 am - 5 pm (last entry 4 pm).
Take a lunch break in Honmura Village
Honmura Village is the best place to stop for lunch between gallery visits, with plenty of cafes and local restaurants tucked along its quiet streets.
住恵２ (Sumie 2) - A cozy local cafe serving homemade Japanese meals overlooking the harbour. The owner was one of the sweetest people we met in Japan.
Kon'nichiwa - serves delicious Japanese dishes, like curries, inside a renovated traditional home.
Ten to Miu - Perfect if you're after something quick. Pick up one of their tasty onigiri (filled rice balls) before heading to the next gallery.
Explore the Art House Project
Exploring the Art Houses in Honmura
Spend the afternoon wandering through Honmura Village, where traditional Japanese homes and historic buildings have been transformed into contemporary art installations.
Each artist has created a unique art experience inspired by the history and character of the building.
✔️ Top Tip: Buy the Art House Project day pass so you can wander through the village and pop into each house as you explore.
Heads up: Minamidera and Kinza both require separate timed reservations, so don't forget to book those in advance.
If you don't have time to visit them all, here's how we'd rank them:
- Minamidera - Don't miss this incredible James Turrell experience in complete darkness.
- Go'o Shrine - Don't miss the underground tunnel beneath the shrine, which forms part of the artwork.
- Ishibashi
- Haisha
- Kadoya
- Gokaisho
Note: Kinza was closed during our visit, so we weren't able to rank it.
Hours: Each art house has specific hours and lunch breaks. Check them here.
Visit the Naoshima New Museum of Art
Finish your museum visits at Naoshima's newest addition, which showcases works by leading contemporary Asian artists inside another striking Tadao Ando building.
You'll also find works by renowned artists like Takashi Murakami, Cai Guo-Qiang and Do Ho Suh.
We were surprised by how immersive many of the exhibitions were, from a room filled with a pack of life-sized wolves to colourful fabric rooms you actually walk through.
Dine at a local restaurant in Honmura Village
Finish your trip with dinner in Honmura Village, where you'll find a handful of relaxed local restaurants tucked along the quiet streets.
5 Things to know before visiting Naoshima
- Many museums close on Mondays. If Monday falls on a public holiday, then they close on Tuesday instead.
- Book Chichu Art Museum well in advance. Reserve the first entry slot for shorter exhibition waits and a quieter experience.
- Art Houses, Minamidera and Kinza, require separate reservations and aren't included with the Art House Project day pass.
- Staying at Benesse House gives you complimentary museum admission and exclusive after-hours access to a few of its galleries.
- The free Benesse shuttle is convenient for getting between the main museums, while an e-bike gives you the freedom to explore more of the island at your own pace. Naoshima is hillier than it looks, so we recommend an e-bike over a regular bike. We rented ours from TVC, which came with a handy map attached to the basket.
Enjoy your 2 days in Naoshima!
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Get started on planning your trip to Naoshima Island
- 🌃 Book your accommodation: in Naoshima
- 🎨 Book your museum tickets: through Benesse Art Site.
Don't forget about travel insurance
👩⚕️ For affordable travel insurance: go with SafetyWing - it's budget-friendly and you can even buy it while abroad, but note the max medical coverage is $250,000 USD. 🏥 For comprehensive travel insurance: go with World Nomads - it's more expensive, but the max emergency medical coverage is $5-10 million, depending on the plan.Save this Naoshima Itinerary for later:
