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Art, Culture, & Historical

Naoshima Art Island Excursion Day Tour

Art, Culture, & Historical

Okayama

English (Native), Japanese

7 hours 30 min

Private tour (only you and your group)

Up to 10 people

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.

Hugh C.

4.93 / 5

(69 reviews)

08:40 AM

Meeting Point

TBC

09:00 AM

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.

09:20 AM

MIyanoura Port

Arrive and hire electric cycle(s) to begin our art exploration adventure!

09:50 AM

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.

10:30 AM

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.

11:30 AM

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.

12:10 PM

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.

12:50 PM

Lunch

lunch at Chichu Cafe - a tasty selection with a nice sea view

01:30 PM

Kusama Yayoi Giant Pumpkin installation

photos of the signature installation at the pier.

02:00 PM

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.

04:30 PM

Conclusion

Conclude tour and ferry basck to Uno Port

Ending Point

TBC

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Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

guide fee

What‘s not included

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.

Important message from the guide

I am very familiar with leading tours throughout Japan so on occasion, I would be happy to create a bigger experience in other parts of the country if you would like to discuss directly with me.

***Please note that this is a three-stage process: We would agree on destinations and activities to be included. 2. I would compile an overview. 3. If that is accepted, the guest agrees to receive a detailed itinerary including information about attractions, activities and transit details.

**Depending on the guest's length of stay and the time required to produce the tour itinerary document the guest may be quoted a fee of my hourly rate up to a maximum charge of (8) eight hours and if satisfied, to agree to accept that (subject to some reasonable amendments), the agreement to receive the itinerary would be a binding contract to agree to pay for the itinerary with no further obligation to accept it as a tour offer.

**Please note that once step three has been started the guest agrees to the payment of the discussed fee.

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

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“A well rounded tour of Hiroshima. ”

Hugh was helpful, talkative and willing to answer questions during his walking tour. He went out of his way to give us food suggestions and even helped us set a reservation for one of the local restaurants. Hugh was knowledgeable as a local resident of the area.If you’re looking for a timely and concise tour, I would recommend.

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We had a most interesting afternoon with Hugh who gave us a enormous amount of knowledge and interesting discussions about the war, japanese history and the japanese way of living. We had several contacts before our day of visit and the arrangement was perfect for our little group. Hugh has an enormous knowledge about Japan and without any problems with language as we all are fluent in english, it was a very inspiring day. Many thanks to Hugh!!

Hugh C.

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Thanks Erland! It was a great pleasure sharing the day with you.

Abby M.

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“Very informative tour!”

Hugh was on time and helped us around with coin lockers before starting the tour. Though the weather was really bad and we had to make a lot of adjustments to the itinerary, Hugh was very patient and accommodating to our requests. You can see the passion in his eyes when he talks about the local history. He is very knowledgeable and professional. Highly recommended!