Naoshima
A Seto Inland Sea island where Tadao Ando-designed museums and site-specific installations are the main reason to go.
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Naoshima is an island in the Seto Inland Sea, part of Kagawa Prefecture, about 13 km north of Takamatsu, the prefectural capital, and about 3 km south of Tamano City in Okayama Prefecture. Ferries run between Miyanoura and Takamatsu, and between Miyanoura and Uno port in Tamano. The island is known for its contemporary art museums and site-specific installations, which Benesse, a company based in Okayama, has directed since the late 1980s.
The Chichu Art Museum, designed by Tadao Ando, is partly underground, and its name means 'in the earth'. It holds works by James Turrell and Walter De Maria and paintings by Claude Monet, and natural light changes how they look through the day. Entry requires a timed online ticket for a 15-minute slot. Benesse House, an Ando-designed hotel and museum, lets you stay on the island. Honmura keeps old castle-town streets, temples and shrines from the late 16th century, and the Ie Project fills restored houses there with installations. Daytime restaurants are few, but some minshuku serve local fish dinners to overnight guests.
Naoshima in five
- Book Chichu and Teshima slots firstOnline tickets cost less than the gate price at every Benesse site, and Chichu and Teshima use timed entry. If a slot is sold out online, none are sold at the venue.Benesse ticket rules
- Come via Uno from Okayama, Hiroshima or OsakaOkayama to Uno is about 50 minutes by train, then a ferry of about 20 minutes to Miyanoura. From Takamatsu the boat takes roughly 30–60 minutes depending on the vessel.
- Avoid MondaysMost art facilities close on Mondays, and some ferries adjust to match. Check the Benesse calendar before you fix the day.Naoshima day trip guide
- Ride the island bus or rent a bicycleThe three main art zones are spread across hills, so the local bus or a rental bicycle saves time. Book the bike early on weekends.
- Decide between a day trip and one nightNaoshima alone fills a long day. Adding Teshima means a second ferry and another timed ticket, so stay a night if you want both without rushing.Naoshima day trip guide
Things to do in Naoshima
See all attractions in Naoshima
Need to know
- Getting there
- Ferry from Uno (about 20 min) or Takamatsu (30–60 min)
- Getting around
- Island bus, rental bicycle and walking
- Best base
- Day trip from Okayama or Takamatsu, or a night on the island
- Time needed
- 1 full day for Naoshima; 2 with Teshima
- Chichu ticket
- Timed entry; ¥2,500–2,700 online, ¥2,800–3,000 on site Read more
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh9°Low3°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Mild, fewer crowdsMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, fewer crowds
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Blossom, mildAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 131 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Blossom, mild
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Mild, greenMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 142 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- JuneRain13 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°Rainy seasonJuneRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 211 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- JulyRain12 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Hot, humidJulyRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 218 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- AugustRain11 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°HottestAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 172 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Typhoon riskSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 186 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Typhoon risk
- OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low17°Clear, mildOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 132 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, mild
- NovemberPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Autumn colorNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- DecemberPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Cold, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
Average daily high and low in Naoshima, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Naoshima
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 68%
- Wind
- 16 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Naoshima
09:51 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today21°15°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 21°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed20°15°28%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 28%.
- Thu20°16°82%Thursday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 82%.
- Fri21°11°41%Friday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 41%.
- Sat15°7°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun15°6°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 05:38 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 157.5 JPY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Teshimashort ferry from MiyanouraThe Teshima Art Museum, a timed-entry concrete shell in a rice terrace.
- Takamatsuabout 30–60 min by ferryRitsurin Garden and Sanuki udon on the Shikoku side.Read the guide
- Kurashikiabout 15–20 min by train from OkayamaA preserved canal quarter of white-walled storehouses.
- Hiroshimaabout 40–50 min by shinkansen from OkayamaPeace Memorial Park, the museum and Miyajima.Read the guide
Before you go to Naoshima
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Naoshima, checked
All Naoshima guides
Plan around Naoshima
Takamatsu is the other gateway to Naoshima
Read the guideHiroshima travel guidePair Naoshima with the Peace Park and Miyajima
Read the guideJR Pass worth it?Price the shinkansen to Okayama before you buy
Read the guideBest time to visit JapanBlossom, autumn color and typhoon season
Read the guideMoney in JapanCash on the island, cards and IC cards
Read the guideNaoshima FAQ
Can you visit Naoshima as a day trip from Osaka?
Yes, but it is long: the shinkansen to Okayama, a train to Uno and the ferry take roughly 2.5–3 hours each way. Base yourself in Okayama or Takamatsu, or stay a night, for a relaxed art day.
Do you need to book Chichu Art Museum in advance?
Yes. Chichu uses dated, timed tickets, and slots can sell out. Tickets are cheaper online, and if a slot is sold out online none are sold at the museum, so book before you fix your ferry.
How many days do you need for Naoshima?
One full day covers Benesse House, Chichu and the village of Honmura. Add a second day for Teshima and Inujima, or a night on the island to avoid ferry pressure.
Is Naoshima open on Mondays?
Most art facilities close on Mondays, so plan your trip for Tuesday to Sunday. Check the official Benesse calendar for holidays, as closures shift when Monday is a public holiday.
Is Naoshima worth visiting?
Yes, if you like contemporary art and architecture. The Chichu Art Museum alone is worth the trip. If you prefer temples and food, Miyajima or Himeji is the better use of a day.