Naoshima is not a city street lined with museums: between one artwork and the next lie the sea, small communities, hills and ferry timetables. Chichu Art Museum makes that relationship visible by sitting mostly underground. Designed by Tadao Ando and opened in 2004, it preserves views of the Seto Inland Sea and presents permanent installations by Monet, James Turrell and Walter De Maria. The day works best when built around a timed reservation rather than an improvised checklist.
Book Chichu first: admission is tied to a date and time, and popular slots can sell out. Children who enter free still need a reservation. At Miyanoura, the local bus connects the port with Honmura and Tsutsujisō; Benesse’s free shuttle runs from Tsutsujisō toward Chichu, Lee Ufan and Benesse House. The island is hilly, and time between a stop and a building matters, so avoid scheduling visits only minutes apart.
After Chichu, continue to Lee Ufan Museum, where stone, steel, painting and architecture shape a more concentrated route. The building is partly embedded in the hillside, and the works reward looking from different positions without rushing. The listed fee is ¥1,200 online or ¥1,400 at the door; hours are 10:00–17:00, last admission 16:30, and Monday closures are usual. Chichu costs ¥2,500 on weekdays and ¥2,700 on weekends and holidays; its galleries and café require museum admission.
The ferry from Uno to Miyanoura takes about 20 minutes; from Takamatsu, the crossing is around an hour. Check both museums’ calendars, book timed entry and leave a generous buffer for the return boat: a delayed bus can affect a ferry connection. The visit does not require racing to see everything. Two museums taken in properly, lunch and the landscape between them make a more realistic day than adding stops with impossible timings.
Profiles of the recommended places: Chichu Art Museum · Lee Ufan Museum
Reserve Chichu before travelling, then plan Lee Ufan around the bus and return ferry. On Naoshima, transfer time is part of the itinerary.
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On Naoshima, Chichu Art Museum does not dominate the landscape: much of the building lies underground, with daylight entering through courtyards and geometric openings. Tadao Ando’s architecture makes the walk between galleries part of the visit. Opened in 2004 to preserve views of the Seto Inland S
Visitor feedback often praises the relationship between architecture, natural light and the artworks; cost, busy time slots and the no-photography policy are also mentioned.
Partly underground museum devoted to Claude Monet, James Turrell and Walter De Maria
A short distance from Naoshima’s southern shore, the Lee Ufan Museum keeps its profile low and lets the hillside, stone and sky become part of the exhibition. The project brings together artist Lee Ufan and architect Tadao Ando; some rooms are partly underground, and the courtyards make silence and
Visitors appreciate the quiet setting, architecture integrated into the hillside and the works’ use of stone and steel; others find the visit brief or the price high.
A dialogue between Lee Ufan’s works, stone, steel and Tadao Ando’s architecture
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of Chichu Art Museum ↗
Primary source
Benesse Art Site Naoshima · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Chichu Art Museum ↗
Primary source
Benesse Art Site Naoshima · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Chichu Art Museum ↗
Primary source
Benesse Art Site Naoshima · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Lee Ufan Museum ↗
Primary source
Benesse Art Site Naoshima · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Lee Ufan Museum ↗
Primary source
Benesse Art Site Naoshima · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Benesse Art Site Naoshima · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Benesse Art Site Naoshima · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Benesse Art Site Naoshima · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Benesse Art Site Naoshima · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Benesse Art Site Naoshima · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Visitor feedback and Google rating ↗
Secondary source
Wanderlog · Accessed October 11, 2026
Rating and review count for the exact museum listing.
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Visitor feedback and Google rating ↗
Secondary source
Wanderlog · Accessed October 11, 2026
Google rating and comments for the exact museum listing.