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I Day Trip to NAOSHIMA (The Island of Contemporary Art)
The island of Naoshima is located on the Seto Inland Sea. It takes only 20 minutes by ferry from Uno port (Okayama Prefecture) to Miyanoura port (Kagawa Pre.). Naoshima is famous for the special place of contemporary art presented in distinctive settings such as the Chichu Art Museum, the Benesse Art Museum, and Art House project.
Art sites in Naoshima are located in three different areas, such as Museum area, Art House Project area in Honmura and Miyanoure area. First we will go to Museum area, where there are three museums. ( But we will enter the next two museums because of time limit.)
1. Chichu Art Museum: The museum was built mostly underground to avoid affecting the beautiful natural scenery of the Seto Inland sea. Art works by Claude Monet, James Turrell, and Walter De Maria are on permanent display in this building designed by the globally famous architect Tadao Ando.
2. Benesse House Museum: This museum is a facility that integrates a museum and a hotel designed by Tadao Ando, based on the concept of “coexistence of nature, art, and architecture.”
◆ There are many outdoor artworks around the Museum Area, including yellow Pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama.
Then we’ll move to Art House Project area in Honmura by the local bus, only 6-7 minute-ride.
Art House Project is an art project underway in Honmura district. It began in 1998 with only one house, “Kadoya”, and now comprises 7 locations. This is a project to transform old houses, which enable artists to turn the space themselves into very unique artworks. You may encounter some unexpected style of houses.
Lastly we will visit, actually come back to Miyanoura port area where the ferry arrives. You’ll find some unique huge objects around the port, such as “Red Pumpkin” by Yayoi Kusama. You can’t miss this artwork because it must be one of the best picture spots in this trip.
Though seeing around only one island, at the end of the tour, you’ll realize you need more time to enjoy and appreciate both beautiful inland-sea sceneries and a number of distinctive artworks.
Why don’t you join my tour!
I’m looking forward to seeing you and sharing wonderful time with you!
Thanks
Meeting Point
At JR OKAYAMA station or your hotel
Chichu Art Museum
Benesse House Museum
Art House Projects @ Honmura Area
Ending Point
At Jr OKAYAMA station
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Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee
1 person : 15000 JPY
2 people : 24000 JPY
3-6 people : 28000 JPY
◆Your Transportation fee（per person) :
Approximate 1000 JPY ( if you have a JR pass )
◆Guide's Transportation : 4000JPY ( Including local bus, Jr train, ferry, and town bus )
*****(Pay it directly to the guide when the tour starts. )
◆Entrance fee or admission / per person ( free for children 15 and under )
・Chichu Art Museum : 2100 Yen
・Lee Ufan Museun : 1050 Yen
・Benesse House Museum : 1300 Yen
・Art House Project (multi-site ticket) : 1050 Yen
・ANDO MUSEUM : 520 Yen
◆Lunch
Tour Important Information
Most museums and Art House Project area in Naoshima close on Monday.
I strongly recommend that you come to JR Okayama station by 8:00 a.m. in order to enjoy fully the museums and artworks in Naoshima
Ferry's timetable to Naoshima from Uno Port ( as of August 1-2018)
9:22 a.m. ( Recommended)
11:00 a.m.
To the JR Pass holders who come to Okayama by Shinkansen:
You CAN'T get on the next two Shinkansen, which are NOZOMI and MIZUHO.
If you come to Naoshima from Takamatsu ( Kagawa prefecture), I can meet you at the ferry terminal in Naoshima and guide you around the island.
You need to get the ticket of Chichu Art Museum on the web in advance. ( See the website of Benesse Art Site)
Some museums and Art House Projects require you to take off your shoes. So please wear shoes that are easy to put on and take off.
The guide fee :
For a group of 3 ～6 participants : 28,000 JPY
For two participants : 24,000 JPY
For a solo traveler : 15,000 JPY
Important message from the guide
I can make the plan according to your schedule.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Kagawa Tour Reviews
Ananya B.
Kurashiki Historic Quarter ( inc. Ohara Museum of Art)
Customized
“Time well spent ”
Chizuru is an amazing and energetic guide - very familiar with the area, she made sure that I got the most out of both Naoshima and Kurashiki. She's thoughtful and sets the pace according to what suits you, which is perfect. She's well informed and gave me all sorts of interesting nuggets of information which I really appreciated. Would highly recommend you choose to spend your time with her :) Thank you so much!
Chizuru M.
(59 reviews)Hi Ananya, Thank you very much for the high evaluation and your complement. I was very nervous when we started the tour because it was the first guide in seven months. But I was able to relax soon thanks to your friendly personality. I feel relieved that everything went smoothly while paying attention to Corona measures. Thank you very much for your cooperation. The spread of coronavirus has not finished yet. Please stay healthy. Chizuru
Joan P.
Okayama Korakuen Garden & Kurashiki Historic Quarter ( inc. Ohara Museum of Art)
Customized
“Caring, flexible, knowledgeable and kind”
The day before we met Chizuru we totally changed what we wanted to do with her as we decided to end the day with a bike ride in the countryside. Not only was she most understanding, but went out of her way to take the train with us to ensure that we found the bicycle rental place, and help us through the process as the bike rental owner couldn't speak English. We were so grateful. She then hurried through some of the other places we asked for, always keeping an eye on the time, but still hitting the highlights and being most informative. She was a pleasure to be with.
Chizuru M.
(59 reviews)Hi Joan, thank you so much for your complement to me. I’m glad to receive such beautiful words. I’m relieved to hear that you enjoyed cycling without any problem. You asked me so many questions about Japanese culture, history, people and so on. I really enjoyed the conversation with you and felt that you liked Japan very much. I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Japan. Thank you! Chizuru
Paula W.
I Day Trip to NAOSHIMA (The Island of Contemporary Art)
Customized
“We loved our Naoshima tour with Chizuru!”
My sister and I recently had the good fortune to take a tour of Naoshima with Chizuru. What a wonderful day we had! Chizuru met us promptly at the ferry dock in the morning and whisked us away on an art adventure. She took us to several Art House Project sites in the Honmura district, the Ando Museum, Chichu Art Museum, the Benesse House Museum, outdoor artworks including the Yayoi Kusama yellow pumpkin, and the Naoshima Bath I Love YU. There's just no way we would have been able to navigate that many locations and time it all properly without Chizuru's help. Chizuru is so knowledgeable about Naoshima art and shared so much with us. We really appreciated her generosity, kindness, humor and all of the ways she helped make the day seamless and fun. She rearranged her schedule to meet us on the only day we could do the tour and emailed me all of the details I needed in advance. If you have the opportunity to take a tour with Chizuru, do it. She's a delight. Thank you, Chizuru!
Chizuru M.
(59 reviews)Hi Paula, Thank you so much for your wonderful tour review. I’m glad and appreciate to receive that. You also gave me a fortune to be able to join a part of your special trip with your younger sister. I really enjoyed spending a lot of time talking with two of you. I wish you your health and happiness in the future. Warmest thought for Christmas and a Happy New Year! Chizuru
