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Naoshima Art Island Excursion Day Tour
This is a wonderful day exploring the art on Naoshima, one of three islands creating a contemporary art experience set amidst the rice fields and mountains on the island and merging with the rural setting in the surrounding Seto Inland Sea. It features architecture by Tadao Ando.
We will ferry from Uno Port to Naoshima and travel by local bus, or if you would like, hire bicycles and cycle around to visit the Chichu Art Museum and other art project installations in the town.
Meeting Point
TBC
- Optional meeting recommendations: Okayama Station(7:30 am) Uno Port (9:00 am) Naoshima (time and location TBC)
Uno Port
meet for ferry transit to Island
**Please note I would be happy to greet you at your preferred location e.g. hotel or station but this will affect the necessary meeting time.
**The itinerary is dependent on the timing for Chichu Museum access which must be made in advance and affected by available designated entry time. The following is the ideal timeline but may be shuffled as appropriate.
MIyanoura Port
Arrive and hire electric cycle(s) to begin our art exploration adventure!
Modern art in an underground building, with a garden inspired by Monet's Water Lilies. Chichu houses a small but impressive collection of works by artists including Claude Monet, James Turrell, and Walter De Maria. This is the highlight of a visit to Naoshima.
Hiroshi Sugimoto Museum
Hiroshi Sugimoto Gallery was conceived to connect Naoshima and Enoura, which can be said to be the starting point of Sugimoto's creative activities since Sugimoto's longtime efforts in Naoshima led to the creation of his ultimate work as an artist, "Enoura Observatory" in Odawara. The museum, called Valley Gallery, is Ando’s ninth building on the island.
Bennesse Museum
This building is also designed by Ando, Benesse House, the structure itself is sculpture-like. It is a museum-hotel that is home to works by famed artists Hiroshi Sugimoto, Gerhard Richter, Shinro Ohtake, Richard Long, David Hockney, and others.
Chichu Museum
Arguably the island’s centerpiece, it is modern art in an underground building, with a garden inspired by Monet's Water Lilies. Chichu houses a small but impressive collection of works by artists including Claude Monet, James Turrell, and Walter De Maria. This is the highlight of a visit to Naoshima.
Lunch
lunch at Chichu Cafe - a tasty selection with a nice sea view
Kusama Yayoi Giant Pumpkin installation
photos of the signature installation at the pier.
Art House Project
a collection of abandoned houses and workshops scattered throughout the village, within walking distance of one another, that have been converted into venues and art installations by artists from Japan and around the world.
It began as an opportunity to interject modern art into the lives of the islanders and the local area. And to connect their daily lives with the resonance of times past olden times. The result doesn’t completely live up to Fukutake’s dreams as the art remains somewhat separate from the residents’ lives, each house having become a mini-museum. But it has injected life into the villages.
Conclusion
Conclude tour and ferry basck to Uno Port
Ending Point
TBC
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Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee
entries, lunch, and transportation (you and the guide)
Art House Project = ¥1050
Chichu = ¥2,100 *free for children 15 and under
Hiroshi Sugimoto Museum = ¥1,500 *Includes Tea ticket (Tea and Sweets)
Benesse Museum = ¥ 1,300 * Free admission for children of 15
**Important
-–Chichu Museum requires advance booking and availability may be affected by that timing.
––**I require reimbursement for my 2-hour transit from Hiroshima where I am based to and from the ferry port.
¥15000 in cash in JPY on the day - thank you for your understanding
The ferry charges ¥300 each way and electric bicycles ¥1500 for the day.
Tour Important Information
You need to be of reasonable fitness. The cycles are electrically assisted and provide great flexibility for the itinerary and we move at a comfortable pace.
Once I send a requested tour offer I hold that date for 36 hours. Please note that I supply tours for several companies and I will close that date to enquiries via other providers for that period; if a booking is not made I reopen my availability. I am contractually obliged to accept bookings made for dates open on a provider site calendar; as such, I cannot guarantee availability until a booking is set. Thanks for your understanding.
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
Okayama Tour Reviews
“Enjoy a special day in Japan with this Aussie guide”
Hugh was incredible! He is a Japanese soul with an Aussie accent. His deep love and respect for Japan was immediately evident and he generously shared his take on history, culture, and language on our day-long adventure. He was easy to contact by email pre-trip to work out some details and was on time at our hotel starting point. We spent a full day on foot, train, and ferry to significant locations in and around Hiroshima. We especially enjoyed our lunch stop for okonomiyaki (savory pancake) at a wonderful location we never would have found on our own. Our group of 3 finished the day 10 times smarter than when we started.
“Great Tour Guide”
Hugh is very knowledgeable and flexible to tailor our tour day due to changing circumstances. For example, when the trains to Mijiima were not available because of heavy rains and mud slide risks, we started out in the reverse order and started with the atomic bomb dome and museum. When became clear that the trains would still be out for a few more hours. We took a cab, tram and two boats to get to and from Miyajima and had a great time. He is a wealth of knowledge for history buffs like myself. His fluency in Japanese was flawless and great to have as a guide.
Hugh C.
(76 reviews)Thanks Barry! It was a great pleasure sharing the day as your guide.
Eseroghene A.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Hiroshima's History
“A Blast from the Past - Letters from Hiroshima”
I have been an avid reader of anything 1945, and the cause of the war. Meeting Hugh capped it all! From the moment we met, to our final moments after the tour, it was out of this world! Hard to describe how I felt as he opened up his letters on Hiroshima, he had taken time to compile over his > 3 decades of stay in Japan! Hugh's masterful understanding of Hiroshima and its history should make every Japanese proud! If you plan to visit Hiroshima, you will be doing yourself a lot of good if you call him up Well done. More than brilliant for a tour guide. The highlight of my visit to Japan. Nothing came close at second or third place. Regards Ese
Hugh C.
(76 reviews)It was a privilege to share your day Ese!
