Naoshima Art Island in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide Discount Tickets

4.9
★★★★★ ★★★★★
Based on 34 reviews |
location pin icon Kagawa Prefecture, Japan
location pin icon Kagawa Prefecture
4.9 /5
34 reviews
View all Naoshima Art Island in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide photos
View all Naoshima Art Island in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide photos

Get your discount tickets for the Naoshima Art Island in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide, save up to 9% !

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9% OFF Refundable
Naoshima Art Island in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide
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$71.34

REG. $78.29

Offer details

Pickup included

Overview

This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced English-speaking tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Naoshima! Once a rural island on the verge of becoming a ghost town, Naoshima is now a world-class center for contemporary art due in large part to contributions from Japan's top architects, including museums, a boutique hotel, and bathhouse. The area features a captivating result of avant-garde blending with rural natural beauty. On this tour you can visit 3 to 4 sites from the 'what to expect/itinerary list'. Please communicate with your guide post reservation about which sites you would like to see. Bicycles cannot be used on this tour.

Pickup Information

This special tour will be conducted with public transportation. Bicycles cannot be used on this tour. Your guide will be at the meeting point on foot. Private vehicles can only be reserved for on island use.

Language Offered

Japanese-GUIDE

English-GUIDE

Itinerary

1. Art House Project
The tiny fishing village of Honmura, on the eastern edge of Naoshima, is home to the Art House Project, a collection of abandoned houses and workshops (as well as a temple and a shrine), that have been converted into venues and art installations by artists from Japan and around the world. The Art Houses are scattered throughout the village, within walking distance of one another. Intersperse your visits with a coffee break or lunch at one of the handful of charming cafes run by a mix of locals and transplants from cities like Tokyo and Osaka.
2. Chichu Art Museum
For many (myself included), Naoshima’s highlight is Tadao Ando’s stunning Chichu Art Museum. Much of the building is underground, and Ando designed it to let in an abundance of natural light that alters the appearance of the artwork it houses throughout the day. Chichu houses a small but impressive collection of works by artists including Claude Monet, James Turrell, and Walter De Maria. On most Friday and Saturday evenings, the museum also hosts the Open Sky Night Program, a special sunset viewing of James Turrell’s “Open Sky.”
3. Benesse House Museum
After also visiting the nearby Lee Ufan Museum, make your way to what is arguably the island’s centerpiece, Benesse House. Introduced above, Benesse House is a museum-hotel that is home to works by Hiroshi Sugimoto, Gerhard Richter, Shinro Ohtake, Richard Long, David Hockney, and many more. Another site not to be missed is Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s famous “Kabocha” (Pumpkin) sculpture, located a short walk from Benesse House’s Park building.
4. Naoshima Bath
I♥YU Time and energy permitting, a fitting way to end the day is with a soak at Naoshima’s kitschy and wonderful Naoshima sento (bathhouse), “I♥YU” (yu means hot water, or bath, in Japanese). The colorful bathhouse was designed by Shinro Ohtake, and a soak here is a truly unique way to immerse yourself in art – and Japanese culture. You may need to bring your own towel and soap (sometimes available for purchase at the bathhouse front desk).
5. Teshima Art Museum
The laid-back island of Teshima is located about thirty minutes by ferry from Naoshima. At the heart of the island is the incredible Teshima Art Museum, an awe-inspiring structure shaped like a drop of water by architect Ryue Nishizawa and artist Rei Naito. The Teshima Art Museum itself is reason alone to visit, but the island is also home to several other highlights, including Christian Boltanski’s “Les Archives du Cœur” and the Teshima Yokoo House. Getting to and around Teshima is not always easy. Ferries to and from the island are somewhat limited (access to Teshima), and the Teshima Shuttle Bus also has a limited schedule (not to mention requiring a fairly significant amount of walking).
6. Inujima Seirensho Museum
The small island of Inujima is located about forty minutes by ferry from Naoshima, or just ten minutes by ferry from the mainland port of Hoden. This little-visited art island is home to the Seirensho Art Museum, its very own “Art House Project,” and the Seaside Inujima Gallery. Once on Inujima, you can simply get around on foot.

Inclusion

Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Naoshima area

Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from "Itinerary' list

Licensed Local English Speaking Guide

Exclusion

Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses

No Bicycles allowed.

You cannot combine multiple tour groups.

Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under Itinerary

Cancellation Policy

Check mark icon Refundable tickets

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

  • 100% refund if cancelled 1+ days before the start date
  • 0% refund if cancelled less than 1 day(s) before the start date

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

Wheelchair accessible

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot. Bicycles cannot be used.

Supplied by Japan Guide Agency

Reviews

4.9

★★★★★ ★★★★★
Based on 34 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

5 stars
32
4 stars
1
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 stars
1

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