If you haven’t heard of Naoshima, let us educate you. Picture an island in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan filled with contemporary art museums as well as outdoor contemporary art installations. From the Naoshima Fukutake Art Museum which is home is a massive outdoor garden, to Chichu Art Museum with site-specific installations by James Turrell, Walter De Maria, and paintings by Claude Monet.

 

If you are planning a trip to Japan, we suggest you make room in your itinerary to see all this island has to offer. Check out our 7 favorite spots to visit in Naoshima.

 

1. The Lee Ufan Museum

Architect: Tadao Ando

 

2. Miyanoura Gallery 6

Architect: Taira Nishizawa

Image courtesy of Benesse-artsite.jp
Image courtesy of Benesse-artsite.jp

 

3. Naoshima Bath “I♥︎湯”

Artist: Shinro Ohtake

Image courtesy of Benesse-artsite.jp
Image courtesy of Benesse-artsite.jp

 

4. Ando Museum

Architect: Tadao Ando

Courtesy of Benesse-artsite.jp

 

5. Art House Project in Naoshima’s Honmura district

Empty houses in residential areas transformed into artworks.

Image courtesy of Benesse-artsite.jp
Image courtesy of Benesse-artsite.jp

 

6. Benesse House Museum

Architect: Tadao Ando, Artist Yayoi Kusama

Image courtesy of Benesse-artsite.jp
Image courtesy of Benesse-artsite.jp

 

7. Chichu Art Museum

Bio: Tadao Ando

Image courtesy of Benesse-artsite.jp
Image courtesy of Benesse-artsite.jp