Items | Hidden Naoshima Art Tour Insight from Former Benesse House Staff
Hidden Naoshima Art Tour Insight from Former Benesse House Staff
Important Information
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Public transportation options are available nearby
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Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
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Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
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Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
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Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
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Not recommended for travelers with limited mobility
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
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Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
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If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
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This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
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Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Become our Lokal Curator
Are you ready to turn your hobbies into a business?
Do you really know Naoshima? Most visitors come for the Yellow Pumpkin and Chichu Art Museum—but that's only part of the island's story.
As a former Benesse House staff member, a local guide from Kagawa, and someone with personal connections to artists featured on the island, I'll take you beyond the guidebooks to discover hidden artworks, untold stories, and remarkable places that most travelers never experience.
This isn't just a sightseeing tour. It's an opportunity to experience Naoshima through the eyes of someone whose life has been deeply connected to the island, its art, and its people.
Language Support This tour is conducted in English or Japanese. To help guests who speak other ...
Highlights
From 7 hours and 30 minutes to 8 hours
Offered in Japanese & English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
From 7 hours and 30 minutes to 8 hours
Offered in Japanese & English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Benesse House Museum admission ticket
Chichu Art Museum admission ticket
Go'o Shrine admission ticket
Exclusive insights from a former Benesse House staff member
Exclusive video footage of Go'o Shrine's rare light phenomenon
Local bus fares during the tour are not included.
Meals and drinks at the Chichu Art Museum Café are not included.
Bottled water
Breakfast is not included. If you would like to purchase breakfast or snacks before the tour, I can guide you to a convenience store just a 3-minute walk from Miyanoura Port.
Meeting Points
Departure
Marine station "Naoshima"
Please look for your guide holding an iPad at Miyanoura Port. If you are staying in Honmura, I'm happy to meet you there instead. Just let me know in advance.
Return
Hidden Naoshima Art Tour Insight from Former Benesse House Staff
About
Do you really know Naoshima? Most visitors come for the Yellow Pumpkin and Chichu Art Museum—but that's only part of the island's story.
As a former Benesse House staff member, a local guide from Kagawa, and someone with personal connections to artists featured on the island, I'll take you beyond the guidebooks to discover hidden artworks, untold stories, and remarkable places that most travelers never experience.
This isn't just a sightseeing tour. It's an opportunity to experience Naoshima through the eyes of someone whose life has been deeply connected to the island, its art, and its people.
Language Support This tour is conducted in English or Japanese. To help guests who speak other ...
Highlights
From 7 hours and 30 minutes to 8 hours
Offered in Japanese & English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
From 7 hours and 30 minutes to 8 hours
Offered in Japanese & English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Benesse House Museum admission ticket
Chichu Art Museum admission ticket
Go'o Shrine admission ticket
Exclusive insights from a former Benesse House staff member
Exclusive video footage of Go'o Shrine's rare light phenomenon
Local bus fares during the tour are not included.
Meals and drinks at the Chichu Art Museum Café are not included.
Bottled water
Breakfast is not included. If you would like to purchase breakfast or snacks before the tour, I can guide you to a convenience store just a 3-minute walk from Miyanoura Port.
Meeting Points
Departure
Marine station "Naoshima"
Please look for your guide holding an iPad at Miyanoura Port. If you are staying in Honmura, I'm happy to meet you there instead. Just let me know in advance.
Return
Itinerary
1
We will take a local bus to discover outdoor artworks hidden away from the usual tourist route. One of them is a remarkable sculpture that has stood watch over Naoshima since 1989, long before the island became known as an "Art Island." While most visitors pass by without noticing it, this work reflects the creator's powerful vision. As a former Benesse House staff member, a local guide from Kagawa, and someone with a personal connection to the artist, I'll share the deeper story and significance behind this remarkable work.
30 minutes
2
Art House Project
Discover the story behind Go'o Shrine and why it was reborn as a contemporary work of art. Drawing on my extensive research into Hiroshi Sugimoto's writings and architectural publications, I'll reveal the design philosophy behind this remarkable space—from the shrine above ground to the underground stone chamber.
Hidden within this architecture is a breathtaking "path of light" that appears for only a few minutes, twice a year. Using exclusive footage that I filmed myself, I'll reveal the true nature of this rare phenomenon that most visitors never have the chance to witness. Discover how architecture, light, and nature come together to create one of Naoshima's most unforgettable experiences.
45 minutes
3
Chichu Art Museum
Near Chichu Art Museum.
We will explore the artistic footprints left on Naoshima by a contemporary artist with whom I developed a personal friendship while living abroad. These hidden places never appear on official guide maps, yet they offer a rare glimpse into the artist's creative journey and his connection with the island. I'll share stories and insights that come from knowing the artist personally, revealing a side of Naoshima that most visitors never get to experience.
30 minutes
4
Chichu Art Museum
Step inside one of Japan's most celebrated museums and discover details that many visitors overlook. As a former Benesse House staff member, I'll share insights passed on to me during my time working there, including the hidden design concept behind Claude Monet's gallery and a fascinating secret surrounding Walter De Maria's installation.
I'll also introduce Tadao Ando's architectural philosophy through years of personal research and carefully collected publications, helping you experience Chichu Art Museum from a deeper and more meaningful perspective.
2 hours and 30 minutes
5
Benesse House Museum
Experience Benesse House Museum through the eyes of someone who once worked there. During my time as a Benesse House staff member, I had the privilege of leading museum tours, sharing stories that helped visitors discover details most people would never notice.
Beyond the artworks themselves, I'll introduce the ideas that shaped this extraordinary museum—from Tadao Ando's architecture, carefully designed to harmonize with the Setonaikai National Park, to fascinating stories behind selected installations and how they continue to evolve over time.
Some of these insights come from my firsthand experience working at Benesse House, while others are the result of years of personal research and a lasting passion for Naoshima. My goal is not simply to explain the museum, but to help you see it in a way that stays with you long after your visit.