Islands and Venues
Naoshima
A Mecca for Contemporary Art Lovers Worldwide
Naoshima is located on the northern edge of Kagawa, just south of Okayama, with an area of 8km², a circumference of 28 km, and a population of about 2,900.
In the 20th century, smelting powered Naoshima’s economic development, but the island also retained traditional cultural elements, such as a rare all-female puppet theater tradition. Over the last few decades, Naoshima has become a mecca for lovers of contemporary art and architecture who are drawn by the concentration of worldclass works by leading artists and architects.
On the south side of the island, internationally acclaimed architect Tadao Ando has designed multiple museums and accommodations, including Benesse House and the Chichu Art Museum. A new museum designed by Ando will open in the spring of 2025.
Click here for information on Benesse Art Site Naoshima museums and facilities.
History, Culture and Food
In the late 12th century, Emperor Sutoku was banished from the capital of Kyoto and spent three years on this island. Deeply impressed with the islanders’ simple sincerity, he named the island Naoshima, nao meaning sincere or honest and shima meaning island.In the 19th century, the performing arts flourished here, and the all-female puppet theater, Naoshima Onna Bunraku, carries on the tradition.The Honmura district still preserves the traditional townscape, and visitors can enjoy a variety of cafés and restaurants in buildings that were once private homes.
Naoshima Architecture
The island boasts many buildings designed by famous architects, including Naoshima Elementary School, which was completed in 1970, the Naoshima Ferry Terminal, which serves as the gateway to the island, and Naoshima Hall, which is integrated with the natural environment. The Hall’s garden conveys the changing seasons, with cherry blossoms in spring and colorful leaves in the fall.
A Mecca for Contemporary Art Lovers
Artworks are spread around the island, attracting contemporary art lovers from all over the world. Many buildings designed by world renowned architect Tadao Ando are concentrated in the south area of the island, including accommodations and museums, such as Benesse House, the Chichu Art Museum and the Lee Ufan Museum. The Naoshima New Museum of Art, a new facility designed by Ando, is scheduled to open in the spring of 2025 with a focus on works by contemporary artists from Asia, including Japan. The museum's cafe and terrace overlooking the Seto Inland Sea will offer visitors an iconic Setouchi view: the island of Teshima across the water with ships passing between.
