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Major city · Japan

Naoshima直島

Go for one night, two if you want both Chichu and the Art House Project without rushing. Skip Mondays: most museums close.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
JPY
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
avoid Mondays (museums closed), mid-August, typhoon season Sep
Airports
TAK · OKJ
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 5
  • East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
  • East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
  • Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
  • Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
  • Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.

Naoshima is a 3,000-person island in the Seto Inland Sea, administered by Kagawa Prefecture but reached by ferry from Uno on Honshu or Takamatsu on Shikoku. It is a contemporary-art destination: Tadao Ando museums, the Art House Project in Honmura village, and outdoor works including the two gourds. One night covers the core; two nights lets you see both villages and the museums without a ferry-clock rush. Book beds and museum tickets before you travel.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Naoshima, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or a light lunchMany kitchens close early.¥600–1,200 (≈ US$5–9)
  • Metro or bus rideTown bus ride¥100 (≈ under US$1)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30)
  • Museum or sight ticketChichu Art Museum entry¥2,060 (≈ US$14)
  • Budget bedGuesthouse dormitory bed, a night, per person¥2,500 (≈ US$17)
  • Mid-range bedPrivate room in a guesthouse, a night, per room¥10,000 (≈ US$70)
  • High-end bedPrivate room in a guesthouse, a night, per room¥16,000 (≈ US$110)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥6,000 (≈ US$45) · Mid ¥10,000 (≈ US$70) · High ¥20,000 (≈ US$140)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Chichu Art MuseumBenesse House MuseumArt House Project in HonmuraThe yellow and red gourdsNaoshima Bath House I ♥ Yu
Airports
TAK Takamatsu Airport (Bus to Takamatsu port, then ferry to Miyanoura, about 1 h 30 min total) · OKJ Okayama Airport (Bus to Okayama station, train to Uno, then ferry; about 2 h 30 min total)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Naoshima: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

9°C

1°C

5 rd

Feb

10°C

1°C

6 rd

Mar

14°C

4°C

8 rd

Apr

19°C

9°C

9 rd

May

24°C

14°C

9 rd

Jun

27°C

19°C

11 rd

Jul

31°C

23°C

10 rd

Aug

33°C

24°C

7 rd

Sep

29°C

21°C

10 rd

Oct

23°C

14°C

7 rd

Nov

17°C

8°C

6 rd

Dec

12°C

3°C

5 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The island is small and hilly: Miyanoura port to Chichu is about 30 min on foot, Miyanoura to Honmura about 30 min. Rent a bicycle (about ¥500/day push, ¥1,000/day electric) or use the town bus (¥100, timed to ferries, not frequent). The Benesse House shuttle links the southern sights about every 30 min; check the current timetable.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Teshima

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Ferry from Miyanoura or Honmura, about 20–30 min

Teshima Art Museum and a quieter island; check the day's sailings first.

Takamatsu

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Ferry from Miyanoura, about 50 min–1 h

Ritsurin Garden and the port's noodle shops; an easy onward base.

Shodoshima

overnight

Door to door: 2–3 h

Ferry via Takamatsu or a seasonal direct sailing

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep one night.

Kotohira

overnight

Door to door: 2–2.5 h

Ferry to Takamatsu, then JR to Kotohira

The shrine steps are a full half day; combine with a Takamatsu night.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Miyanoura

Main port; guesthouses, the bath house, 7-Eleven and the 24 h ferry link. Best for a one-night trip with bags.

Honmura

Art House Project village on the east side; quieter, closer to the Ando Museum and the eastern ferry pier.

Benesse / Tsutsuji-so

South coast near the museums; Benesse House hotel and the yurt lodges. Few shops, so eat where you sleep.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
¥6,000–9,000 (≈ US$45–65) excl. bed
Mid
¥9,000–15,000 (≈ US$65–110) excl. bed
High
¥15,000 (≈ US$110)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Private room in a guesthouse1 × 1 night × ¥10,000¥10,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ¥10,000¥20,000
Ferry Uno → Miyanoura, both ways2 × ¥600¥1,200
Town bus, one day2 × ¥200¥400
Bicycle rental, one day2 × ¥500¥1,000
eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500¥5,000
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge¥3,760
Trip total≈ ¥20,680 per person per day, bed included¥41,360≈ US$300

2026 estimate in yen; ferry and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Chichu Art Museum entry¥2,060 (≈ US$14)
Benesse House Museum entry¥1,030 (≈ US$7)
Art House Project, six housesKinza is separate at ¥510¥1,030 (≈ US$7)
Naoshima Bath House I ♥ Yu¥510 (≈ US$4) adult
Town bus ride¥100 (≈ under US$1)
Coffee or a light lunchMany kitchens close early.¥600–1,200 (≈ US$5–9)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe; the real risks are the ferry timetable, Monday closures and heat on the hill walk. Carry cash, keep to the road, and note there are no lifeguards at Gotanji beach.
  • Most museums and the Art House Project close on Mondays and on the day after a public holiday: plan around it.
  • Museum tickets are dated or timed at busy periods and Chichu tickets are bought at a separate ticket centre about 50 m away: check the official site before you sail.
  • Many guesthouses and shops take cash only and close early; carry yen and eat before 19:00.
  • Last ferries leave in the early evening: confirm the day's timetable at the port, not from memory.
  • The road from Miyanoura up to Chichu is a steady climb; an electric bike or the bus saves the walk.

Emergency numbers

Police
110
Fire and ambulance
119

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Naoshima直島

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police110
  • Fire and ambulance119

Embassy

No embassies on the island; most are in Tokyo, with consulates in Osaka. US citizens: consulate-general in Osaka (check the address).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Ferry Uno → Miyanoura: about ¥300 (≈ US$3), 15–20 min
  • Ferry Takamatsu → Miyanoura: about ¥520 (≈ US$4), 50 min–1 h
  • Town bus, Miyanoura → Tsutsuji-so: ¥100 (≈ under US$1)

Say or show

  • すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
  • ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
  • これをください — This one, please (kore o kudasai)
  • いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
  • カードで払えますか？ — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
  • トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)

Ferries are the only way on and off; confirm the last sailing before you book a bed.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Naoshima. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Mondays (museums closed), mid-August, typhoon season Sep · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry-to-bed contract: last sailings from Miyanoura and Honmura field-checked, plus a Takamatsu fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Miyanoura, Honmura, Chichu/Benesse, Tsutsuji-so.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Chichu, Benesse House Museum, Lee Ufan, Art House Project, I ♥ Yu) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Monday and holiday-closure fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Japan

Sources