About
Benesse Art Site Naoshima is an art project that has turned Naoshima, a small island in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, into a destination for contemporary art. It is also known as the Naoshima Museums. Rather than a single gallery, it spreads across the island, so a visit is as much a walk through the landscape as a tour of rooms.
What to expect
The site includes several museum buildings designed by the architect Tadao Ando. Their concrete forms sit within the island's setting, and many visitors find the architecture as absorbing as the works inside. The buildings are placed so that moving between them gives a steady sense of the island's shape and surroundings.
Planning a visit
- Location: Naoshima, Kagawa District, Kagawa 761-3110, Japan
- Kind of visit: a museum experience spread across an island, best taken at an unhurried pace
- Contact: +81-87-892-3223
Because the museums are spread out, allow time to get between them and to take in the island itself. Naoshima's landscape and coastline form a large part of the experience, and the art is set within it rather than apart from it. For current opening times, tickets and access, please contact the site directly before you travel.