Chichu Art Museum

What to know

The Chichu Art Museum (地中美術館, Chichū Bijutsukan) is a one-of-a-kind contemporary art museum built into a hillside overlooking Naoshima's southern coast. Designed by Tadao Ando, the museum itself is a work of art. It is mostly underground and uses only natural light to illuminate the exhibits, creating an experience that changes with the surrounding environment.

The museum focuses on a small but exceptional collection. The first gallery features large murals from Claude Monet's "Water Lilies" series. Next are works by James Turrell, who uses light as a medium, including the "Open Sky" room from his "Skyspaces" series—similar to the one at Kanazawa's 21st Century Museum. At the deepest part, you'll find Walter De Maria's "Time/Timeless/No Time" installation.

To ensure a pleasant visit, the museum limits the number of guests. It is highly recommended to reserve a specific date and time slot through the official website in advance. Note that bags and cameras are not allowed inside; you must store them in coin lockers before entering.

Buses run 1-3 times per hour from Miyanoura Ferry Terminal via Honmura to the Tsutsujiso bus stop at Benesse House's east gate (10 minutes, 100 yen). From there, you can walk (30 minutes) or take a free shuttle bus to the Chichu Art Museum (10 minutes). Alternatively, it's about a 2 km bike ride (10 minutes) or a 30-40 minute walk from Miyanoura ferry terminal.

From the Chichu Art Museum, the free shuttle bus takes just a few minutes to the Lee Ufan Museum or Benesse House. You can also walk between the museums (5 and 15 minutes respectively).