Adventures of an expat Californian living in London and traveling the world. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Outside the houses, we walk around the village, stopping for lunch at a cafe and exploring Honumra’s temple and shrine. Or for a more traditional Japanese experience, head up the hill toÂ, While the colorful ferries aren’t technically considered part of the art exhibits, the views they provide of the island-dotted sea make them one of the most interesting parts of the whole experience. The highlight of your art exploration of Japan is bound to be Naoshima, a tiny island in the Inland Sea, which over the past ten years has acquired a worldwide reputation for its innovative approach to art. Visiting this area does require a bit of planning, mostly to coordinate transport, but it’s so worth it. The Art Island of Naoshima in Japan and its Art Venues Benesse House: Sleeping with Contemporary Art. Your best bet is to make the island of Shikoku’s port city Takamatsu your base. (It also offers Setouchi Seaplane excursions that allow you to take in the islands from above.). The Setouchi Triennale covers 12 islands and two port cities so there’s a lot of ground to cover. End the day soaking up the art and culture at “I♥YU” (yu means hot water or bath in Japanese), a funky colorful sento (bathhouse) designed by Shinro Ohtake. If you’re wondering if there are … It’s an amazing place! While you’ll have to take a 30- to 40-minute ferry ride from Naoshima to each island, it’s worth it to see the water droplet–shaped Teshima Art Museum, as well as Inujima’s Seirensho Art Museum and mini “Art House Project,” a series of stand-alone galleries scattered throughout the island. Megijima offers a concentrated amount of art to see along its sandy beaches, including a beachfront bonsai art house and a playful collection of “Little Shops on the Island,” featuring ping-pong tables and Laundromat installations. Your two-night stay will afford the opportunity to explore all the museums and Art House projects to be found on this "Art Island". Spread out over three seasonal sessions between April 26 to November 4, 2019, this art festival launched in 2010 in an effort to revitalize these sleepy rural islands that have suffered from massive depopulation, an aging population, and dying industry. From the Chichu Art Museum we take a quick shuttle ride to the Honmura Area. This is the year to see this art-filled archipelago as it hosts the Setouchi Triennale, the art festival held every three years on 12 remote islands and in two port cities. While you’ll have to take a 30- to 40-minute ferry ride from Naoshima to each island, it’s worth it to see the water droplet–shaped. Or for a more budget-friendly option, sleep on the nearby beach in a yurt or in traditional minshuku (Japanese guesthouses). (It also offers Setouchi Seaplane excursions that allow you to take in the islands from above. Okinawa - the smallest and southernmost of the main islands. Understand []. 6 Can’t-Miss Experiences on This Olive-Obsessed Japanese Island, Photo by ©HOW Art Museum / © Leandro Erlich 2018, Little Shops on the Island “Laundry Six Cycles” 2018 Artist Leandro Erlich, ’s contemporary art mecca. (There’s even an Udon Taxi that will take you to all the locals’ secret spots.). End the day soaking up the art and culture atÂ, also includes sites on the two nearby islands of Teshima and Inujima, which are less crowded and more laid-back. While the colorful ferries aren’t technically considered part of the art exhibits, the views they provide of the island-dotted sea make them one of the most interesting parts of the whole experience. To avoid the long ticket lines each time you ride, buy a. at the ferry ticket counter or at the Setouchi Triennale information centers in Takamatsu, Tonosho Port, or Uno Port. A short walk brings us to the Chichu Art Museum, which quickly becomes my favorite place in Naoshima. But you won’t find this giant gourd in the ultra-modern metropolis of Tokyo; instead, it’s in an unlikely haven for world-class contemporary art—a cluster of small and, This is the year to see this art-filled archipelago as it hosts theÂ. Can I leave luggage at Uno station? The best way to go for an island tour is to rent a bike or a car to save time. Approximately 430 are inhabited. The art is impressive, too. The hillside fishing village in Ogijima also offers artwork that’s walkable from the ferry, such as the permanent installation Ogijima’s Soul, a translucent port welcoming visitors to the island. Designed by architect Tadao Ando, the Benesse House overlooks the Seto Inland Sea and doubles as both a museum and boutique art hotel. Megijima offers a concentrated amount of art to see along its sandy beaches, including a beachfront bonsai art house and a playful collection of “Little Shops on the Island,” featuring ping-pong tables and Laundromat installations. Spread out over three seasonal sessions between April 26 to November 4, 2019, this art festival launched in 2010 in an effort to revitalize these sleepy rural islands that have suffered from massive depopulation, an aging population, and dying industry. Naoshima, Japan’s Art Island. The Benesse Art Site Naoshima, the collective name for all art-related activities by Benesse Holdings, Inc. and Fukutake Foundation on these islands, also includes sites on the two nearby islands of Teshima and Inujima, which are less crowded and more laid-back. There’s also much to experience in Takamatsu, including the Ritsurin Garden’s artfully landscaped paths of more than 1,000 pruned pine trees, as well as the region’s signature udon noodles—a thick wheat-flour noodle. ; Kyushu - the third largest main island and nearest to the Asian continent. Japanese billionaire Soichiro Fukutake opened Benesse House Museum in 1992, bringing contemporary architecture and art to abandoned homes and beaches on the island. There’s a lot to see around Benesse House, from the sculptures along the beach to the architecture of Tadao Ando, who designed the house and Naoshima’s museums. It is between Honshu and Kyushu. Twenty years ago, Naoshima was an isolated and sleepy island, but Fukutake saw the island’s natural beauty as a perfect backdrop for art, and art as a salvation for the island’s suffering economy. | As the location of the Benesse Art Site, the island of Naoshima (直島) has become one of the region's biggest tourist attractions, offering a unique opportunity to see some of Japan's best contemporary art in … A group of Japanese artists rejuvenated the island. Originally dotted by small fishing and farming communities the Japanese Art Islands are now also home to galleries, coffee shops and art installations. From Takamatsu, you can catch frequent ferry service directly to the eastern islands taking part in the Setouchi Triennale during all three sessions throughout the year (except Inujima,  which you can reach by changing boats on Shodoshima or Teshima). Very jealous of your trip! Or for a more traditional Japanese experience, head up the hill to Hanajyuki’s onsen (hot springs) heaven with sweeping views of the city and the sea from the rooftop onsen or from your own private balcony onsen. Be sure to spend time at Tadao Ando’s Chichu Art Museum, a subterranean space located a five-minute drive up the road from Benesse House that was designed underground so it wouldn’t tamper with the natural landscape. But the most powerful art here is the unseen and the unsnapped. The map can be downloaded, printed, and used for coloring or educational purpose like map-pointing activities. One of them is the vicinity to the Seto Inland Sea and the islands located in it. We start by exploring the Art House Project, a series of traditional village houses and spaces that have been taken over and transformed by artists. Japan has 6,852 islands. It well may be the world’s most photographed gourd. Hokkaido - the northernmost and second largest main island. Learn how to explore this unique and inspiring place. The best place to see contemporary art in Japan: not the modern metropolis of Tokyo but a cluster of rural islands in its inland sea. Naoshima (直島) is an island in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan.Although the island is much closer to the main Japanese island of Honshu, administratively it belongs to Kagawa Prefecture in Shikoku.. Travelers on an art pilgrimage are also putting these once-overlooked islands back on the map. The medium sized islands with moderate climate are a top priority destination for everyone who visits western Japan. Designed by architect Tadao Ando, the Benesse House overlooks the Seto Inland Sea and doubles as both a museum and boutique art hotel. You will love Naoshima. (There’s even an, that will take you to all the locals’ secret spots. But you won’t find this giant gourd in the ultra-modern metropolis of Tokyo; instead, it’s in an unlikely haven for world-class contemporary art—a cluster of small and sparsely populated islands in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. The yellow polka-dotted pumpkin on a pier—the creation of the 90-year-old pop-art grandma Yayoi Kusama—is the unofficial symbol for Japan’s contemporary art mecca. Naoshima Island, Japan's "art island", is filled with immersive art to be biked & walked through. © Copyright A Lady in London 2007 - 2020. Instead, focus on one of these islands a day and try to enjoy the slow pace and natural beauty of the region, as well as the local food. The Art Islands of Japan are located in the Seto Inland Sea and fast becoming an art destination. This is the island where it all began. Naoshima (直島) is an island in the Seto Inland Sea that is known for its modern art museums, architecture and sculptures. It’s inspiring to see art mixing seamlessly with everyday life in the local area. Art Islands Japan. ; Shikoku - the second smallest main island after Okinawa. Don’t miss Taiwanese artist Wang Wen-Chih’s massive bamboo installation Love on Shodoshima. Your best bet is to make the island of Shikoku’s port city Takamatsu your base. Located on Naoshima’s east coast, this place is bursting with art and sculpture. There are 34 centenarians (peopl… Naoshima is famous for its contemporary art museums as well as outdoor contemporary art installations throughout the island. The Setouchi Triennale covers 12 islands and two port cities so there’s a lot of ground to cover. Among the prefectures of Japan, Okinawa actually has the youngest and fastest-growing population, despite the fact that Okinawa's population is known as one of the oldest in the world. It’s hard to say good-bye to this magical art island, but I’m glad we’ve had 2 days to explore its highlights. Naoshima, Teshima, Shodoshima and the other major Setouchi art islands are most easily accessed from the ferry port in Takamatsu, just a short walk from Takamatsu Station. (Plus, the ferry to Naoshima is covered in Yayoi Kusama’s signature red poppy dots.) The building, which is built down into the ground, shows Ando at his finest. The lockers at Uno station. Known for its waterfront pumpkin sculptures, it also has a wealth of other outdoor art and museums mixed in with its old industrial infrastructure and traditional villages. But for now I’m off to Kyoto, where more magic awaits…. Over a million people are expected to visit the Setouchi Triennale this year, with more than 200 artworks, installations, and events spread out over the islands. ), Japanese billionaire Soichiro Fukutake openedÂ. Another must-see is the large-scale installation The Shore Where We Can Reach by Chinese artist Xiang Yang. , a subterranean space located a five-minute drive up the road from Benesse House that was designed underground so it wouldn’t tamper with the natural landscape. Trace the course of the war from Pearl Harbor to the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay. I would love to return someday and see more art on the neighboring islands, which have joined Naoshima in reinventing themselves as creative havens. If you don’t want to be limited to the ferry schedules, maximize your art-hopping with InsideJapan Tours’ personally tailored itineraries for the Setouchi Triennale, which include on-demand charter yacht service between the 12 islands. Among the islands that can be visited from Takamatsu, Naoshima is said to be most special … Pico Iyer enjoys a moment of serenity Mood indigo: Benesse House, a … From Takamatsu, you can catch frequent ferry service directly to the eastern islands. Also known as “Olive Island,” Shodoshima was the first place in Japan to successfully cultivate olives. By 1941, the tiny island was producing 400,000 tonnes of coal per year, powering Japan’s industrial expansion. Naoshima Island, Japan's "art island", is filled with immersive art to be biked & walked through. In the interim they have erected a museum dedicated to the novel, and 007 in general, in hopes this will present Naoshima as an ideal Bond location. Learn how your comment data is processed. Initially a small wooden fishing boat, Xiang Yang has added on new components to the structure from places he’s been—including Chinese wooden furniture and even discarded chair parts from Brooklyn—so that it is now a vessel of his life’s journey. If you want to be close to the ferries, stay at JR Clement Inn Takamatsu, a modern Western-style hotel steps from the train station and ferry docks. We also visit the Ando Museum, which is in another converted village home. Up the hill we discover the Benesse House Museum, a beautiful architectural feat with a variety of works from artists like David Hockney, Kan Yasuda, and Richard Long. My boyfriend and I have traveled here from Tokyo via a bullet train to Okayama, a local train to Uno Port, and the aforementioned ferry. Photo: 663highland , CC BY 2.5 . I hope you get a chance to go someday. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. [1] [2] This list provides basic geographical data of the most prominent islands belonging or claimed by Japan . Your email address will not be published. Naoshima is Japan’s art island. I love the work of Richard Long particularly. Local residents—from age 5 to 95—set these LED counters to a speed that indicates how they view the passage of time. There are many art museums and sculptures on the island. Naoshima. Spend a night at the museum under the same roof as works by Hiroshi Sugimoto, David Hockney, Gerhard Richter, Shinro Ohtake, and Richard Long. The Island of Honshu. taking part in the Setouchi Triennale during all three sessions throughout the year (except Inujima,  which you can reach by changing boats on Shodoshima or Teshima). The ferry from Takamatsu to the island is 1 hr (¥1,220 for … The main transport hubs for the Setouchi Islands are Okayama, Hiroshima, and Kobe on Japan's main island Honshu, and Takamatsu and Matsuyama on Shikoku. Takamatsu is a port town and with this come several benefits. With the opening of the Benesse House in 1992 the first art activities on the island were started under the name Naoshima Contemporary Art Museum. End a day of art-hopping with an imaginative treat—soy sauce-covered ice cream at the café at Yamaroku Shoyu, a soy sauce brewery that was featured on Netflix’s Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. End a day of art-hopping with an imaginative treat—soy sauce-covered ice cream at the café atÂ, , a soy sauce brewery that was featured on Netflix’s, are the two closest islands to the port of Takamatsu. But even if you miss the Setouchi Triennale this year, the permanent art on these islands—from a subterranean modern art museum to the pop-art installations along the sea—is well worth the 90-minute flight from Tokyo anytime. ” a series of stand-alone galleries scattered throughout the island. A city grew up around it so dense it inspired the nickname “island … These islands’ unique history and way of life are not being painted over and forgotten; they are being preserved and reimagined for future generations. 112 countries and counting! MORE: The enchanting ancient forests of Japan… Put your camera away and experience the pitch-black darkness of famed American light artist James Turrell’s sensory twisting Back Side of the Moon. The residents of Naoshima (roughly 3000 of them) were so chuffed to have their island feature in Raymond Benson’s Bond novel, The Man with the Red Tattoo, that in 2004 they started a nationwide petition to get the feature film made here. Just east of Teshima and Inujima lies Shodoshima—the second largest island in the Seto Inland Sea—that hosts over 40 artworks during the Triennale. I t well may be the world’s most photographed gourd. ), If you want to be close to the ferries, stay at, , a modern Western-style hotel steps from the train station and ferry docks. Naoshima is Japan’s art island. It’s not every day I’m greeted by a pumpkin. Once shut-down elementary schools are turning into art exhibits, and abandoned homes are now filled with contemporary artwork made in collaboration with the local people. The above map represents the four main islands of Japan, Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku and Okinawa. >> Next: Plan Your Trip With AFAR’s Guide to Japan, 7 Reasons Why Grenada is the Perfect—and Out of the Ordinary—Holiday Getaway, California’s New Lockdown: What Travelers Need to Know, Sign up for the Daily Wander newsletter for expert travel inspiration and tips, AFAR’s Gift Guide for Shopping Small Businesses, Subscription Boxes and Membership Gifts That Are Perfect for Travelers, 10 Last-Minute Gifts for the Wine Lovers in Your Life, The 7 Best Global Gifts for Whiskey Lovers. The main islands, Naoshima and Teshima are about 3 hours from Kyoto by train and ferry. The once sleepy fishing and industrial townships of the art islands have flourished into communities that support and host some of Japan’s most compelling contemporary art. Photo by Yasushi Ichikawa / Artist © Wang Wen Chih, 2019. New here? Wowzers, this place looks like my heaven as an artist! Lady’s Guide to Naoshima, Japan’s Art Island. No cameras are allowed in Japanese digital artist Tatsuo Miyajima Sea of Change 98 permanent exhibit either. Naoshima, Teshima, and Inujima (Kagawa Prefecture) Three islands in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea – Naoshima, and to a lesser extent Teshima and Inujima – are contemporary art wonderlands. Browse and download Minecraft Japanese Maps by the Planet Minecraft community. Some are outdoors. The "art island" of Naoshima is dotted with calming concrete installations a world away from Tokyo's frenetic pace. Made in collaboration with the island’s residents, it encourages you to pause and reflect by the shallow pool of glowing numbers. Naoshima is the best known of the Art Islands, and its art is generally divided between the Benesse and Honmura areas.Benesse is home to several major museums including the Ando Tadao designed Benesse House Museum, Lee Ufan Museum, and the remarkable Chichu Art Museum with its jaw dropping Monet 'Water Lilies' room. 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