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Kagawa 🏝 Island 📷 10

Naoshima

直島町

A ferry ride away — smaller roads, clearer water and a different pace.

See the photos How to get there Open in Maps
Best season April–October (calmest seas and longest daylight)
Time needed Half a day to a full day
Admission Ferry roughly ¥500–3,000 each way (≈ $3–19)
Opening hours Depends entirely on the ferry timetable

What this place is

Naoshima (直島, Naoshima) is an island in Japan's Seto Inland Sea, part of Kagawa Prefecture.The island is best known for its many contemporary art installations and museums.The Town of Naoshima (直島町, Naoshima-chō) administers Naoshima and 26 smaller islands nearby.As of 2020, the town has an estimated population of 3,026 and a density of 210 persons per km2.The total area is 14.22 km2.Naoshima Island is known for its many contemporary art museums.For example, the Chichu Art Museum (literally, "in the earth") houses a number of site-specific installations by James Turrell, Walter De Maria, and paintings by Claude Monet.Designed by Tadao Ando, it is located on one of the highest points of the island, and various exhibits and facets of the museum's architecture take advantage of its commanding view.Another contemporary museum (and hotel) is Benesse House, also by Ando.

Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Why it is worth the trip

  • The crossing itself: the approach by sea is half the experience.
  • Coastal scenery and viewpoints you can circle in a day on foot, by bike or by local bus.
  • A small resident community whose food, festivals and dialect differ from the mainland nearby.

What you can do here

  • Rent a bicycle or e-bike at the port and ride the coastal loop.
  • Walk to the island's main viewpoint or lighthouse for the wide sea panorama.
  • Eat seafood caught that morning at a port-side restaurant.
  • Stay overnight if you can — the island empties out after the last ferry and the night sky is excellent.

Photos

Photos from Wikimedia Commons — click any image for the photographer and licence.

Getting there by public transport

Route on Google Maps

Good to know before you go

  • Plan around the ferry timetable first, everything else second; the last boat is unforgiving.
  • Ferries are cancelled in high wind or swell — have a backup plan for the day.
  • ATMs, konbini and card payment can all be scarce; bring cash and water.

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