What to know
Honmura is a small port town on Naoshima's eastern coast, home to the Art House Project. This initiative transforms abandoned houses, a temple, and a shrine into contemporary art spaces by artists from Japan and abroad.
The art houses are scattered throughout the town, blending seamlessly with the traditional neighborhood from the outside. Inside, however, each has been reimagined by artists to express their unique vision.
Below is a list of the art houses in Honmura:
The Honmura Lounge, just steps from the central bus stop, serves as an archive and information center for the Art House Project. Here you can find materials on the artists and architects involved, as well as details about each house. Also among Honmura's traditional buildings is the Ando Museum, though it is not part of the Art House Project.
Buses from Miyanoura Ferry Terminal to Tsutsujiso run 1-3 times per hour and stop at Nokyo-mae in Honmura (5 minutes, 100 yen). Alternatively, it's a 2.5 km bike ride (10 minutes) or a 35-45 minute walk from the terminal. Honmura also has its own port with less frequent ferries to Uno Port on Honshu (20 minutes, 300 yen).
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 10:00 to 16:30 (last entry at 16:15)
- Closed
- Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday); Kinzan also closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- Admission
- 1400 yen (~$8.96) (combination ticket for all houses except Kinza and Minamidera, 1200 yen (~$7.68) if purchased online) or 700 yen (~$4.48) per house (600 yen (~$3.84) if purchased online); advance reservations required
- English name
- Art House Project
- Original name
- Art House Project
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.