Kagawa, Japan
NaoshimaNAOSHIMA
An island of sea, light and art.
34°28'N 133°59'E
01IntroductionIntroduction
An island of sea, light and art.
Naoshima Town, Kagawa Prefecture. An island in the Seto Inland Sea where museums and outdoor works are scattered through the island's landscape. From its calm inlets and beaches, you look out on the Setouchi sea with its layered islands.
02Key InformationKey information
Key information about Naoshima
Only information confirmed in the sources (listed at the bottom of the page) is shown. Please check the latest official information before your visit.
Naoshima — Kagawa
Photo: KimonBerlin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0
03StoryStory
The Story of
Naoshima
As the ferry nears the port, islands floating on a calm sea and white beaches come into view. Naoshima is an island that has become widely known through art.
The works are placed not only inside museums but also on the beaches and in the villages. In the evening, the sun sets beyond the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
04GalleryGallery
Photographs of Naoshima
3 photographs
—FilmTravel through film
Naoshima on film
直島対談［2 現代アートの島］
Source: ベネッセコーポレーション 公式チャンネル / Watch on YouTube ↗
The films shown here are published on YouTube by official channels such as the Ministry of the Environment, local governments and tourism associations, and are presented using YouTube's embed feature. Copyright remains with each publisher. No connection is made to YouTube until you press play.
05SeasonsThrough the seasons
The four seasons of Naoshima
SpringSpring
The season to explore the island on foot in a gentle sea breeze.
Recommended
SummerSummer
Beaches, and the deep blue of the Seto Inland Sea.
Recommended
AutumnAutumn
Clear air, and a slowly setting sun.
Recommended
WinterWinter
A quiet island with few visitors.
06LocationLocation
34°28'N 133°59'E
Kagawa, Naoshima Town (Shikoku)
An interactive map is in preparation. For now, the location is shown among all destinations.
07NearbyNearby scenic spots
Another landscape, close by.
Seto Inland Sea
SETOUCHI
About 68 km (straight-line distance)
Miyajima
MIYAJIMA
About 154 km (straight-line distance)
Amanohashidate
AMANOHASHIDATE
About 165 km (straight-line distance)
08RelatedSimilar landscapes
If you love this landscape.
MATSUSHIMA
Matsushima
Miyagi
One of the Three Views of Japan. A bay of pine-crowned islands.
AMAMI
Amami OshimaKagoshima · Kyushu
The main island of the Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture. Subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests, mangroves and a sea of intricate inlets spread across the island. In 2021 it was inscribed as part of the World Natural Heritage site "Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island".
Islands / Seas / Forests
OKINAWA
Northern Okinawa IslandOkinawa · Okinawa
Okinawa Prefecture, around Nakijin Village and Nago City in the north of the main island. On both sides of the Kouri Bridge, which spans to Kouri Island, spreads a shallow emerald-green sea.
Seas / Islands
10Photo CreditsPhoto credits
| Photo | Title / Photographer | Source | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| View west from Naoshima, -15 Aug. 2010 ashoyanishikawa from Japan | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | CC BY 2.1 jp |
| With the Seto Ohashi bridge (7046731871)KimonBerlin | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | CC BY-SA 2.0 |
 | 恵美須神社鳥居 琴弾地海水浴場 直島 Jul 13, 2011tablexxnx | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | CC BY-SA 2.0 |
 | Benesse House beach, Naoshima island - Jul 23, 2009Joi Ito | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | CC BY 2.0 |
 | Byoubujima1ブルーノ・プラス | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | CC BY-SA 4.0 |