Is Naoshima Island Value Visiting?

My brother-in-law calls them “hallway hikers.” The kinds of individuals—often white; often prosperous—who put on out of doors clothes and footwear on a regular basis, even in city or quasi-urban settings. Definitely, the middle-aged couple ready for the Benesse Home shuttle bus on Naoshima island match this invoice.

Despite this, the masked attendant allow them to onto the automobile with out a re-assessment, neither on the lady’s hideous mustard-colored beanie, nor on the man’s scratched Y2K-era Oakleys.

In my case, to make certain, he utilized most scrutiny. “I’m sorry,” he murmured muffledly by means of the filthy piece of fabric masking his mouth. “However this bus is just for lodge visitors.”

I felt shocked (I used to be the one one within the neighborhood dressed even near to be visiting Japan’s “artwork island”) but additionally disillusioned. In contrast to the others for whom cash was clearly no object (despite, or possibly due to, their frumpy style), lastly having the ability to afford to spend an evening right here was a second of triumph.

Is Naoshima price visiting? Sure, however—in good methods and not-so-good ones—it’s most likely not what you’re anticipating.

The Reality About Benesse Home

I’d been curious in regards to the Naoshima museum lodge nearly so long as I’ve been coming to Japan, even when again then (in 2014) Japan’s tourism growth hadn’t actually begun in earnest. Till very not too long ago, nonetheless, I hadn’t even thought-about staying there. With nightly charges of over 500 USD, even at present change charges, it’s among the many costliest locations I’ve ever stayed (alone dime, anyway). I’ve had an excellent couple of years, nonetheless.

The lodge was very good; my room provided an exquisite view of the Seto Inland Sea. Although not included, the meals ranged from good to spectacular, and had been roughly price what I paid for them. Having the ability to go to a world-class museum in my pajamas was priceless. On the similar time, the chilly service I acquired upon ready for the shuttle did recur greater than as soon as, which left a nasty style in my mouth that by no means actually went away.

5 Methods to Take pleasure in Naoshima Extra

Arrive skeptical (so you possibly can depart grateful)

 

I’ve felt jaded about Naoshima since lengthy earlier than I visited—and never simply because I used to be bitter that I couldn’t afford to remain at Benesse Home. It appeared like it will be not possible pretentious, and will by no means reside as much as the hype. It’s undoubtedly pretentious, I can’t lie. But despite not being a lot of an artwork individual, I ended up being impressed by what it needed to supply, to not point out how a lot work it took for people to switch it into what it’s.

Don’t hire a motorbike

 

To the informal observer, bicycle could be the proper solution to execute a Naoshima itinerary, given the island’s comparatively small dimension. Nonetheless, biking on Naoshima isn’t particularly sensible, on condition that bikes are prohibited on the property of Benesse, which owns all of the island’s finest museums. As an alternative, I like to recommend utilizing the shuttle bus to journey lengthy distances, and strolling between locations which might be shut to at least one one other.

(Mindfully) reserve museum tickets upfront

 

Not all museums on Naoshima require reservations, however a few of its finest ones do. The excellent news is that many of those (Benesse Home Museum, Lee Ufan Museum) don’t require you to commit upfront to a selected time. Despite this, museums nearly all the time promote out, so I’d extremely suggest that you simply ebook your tickets at the very least a couple of days (and, ideally, a couple of weeks) upfront.

Don’t skip the Chichu Museum

 

Mine isn’t the one Naoshima journey weblog to heap reward upon the Chichu Artwork Museum. Nonetheless, I initially felt aggravated by this place, which is the one main Naoshima museum that requires you to make timed reservations (I timed mine improper). Nonetheless, whilst an individual who’s not a passionate artwork lover, strolling into the room with Monet’s “Lilies” actually took my breath away, to say nothing of how superlative your entire remainder of the expertise was.

Keep in a single day, even in the event you can’t afford a museum lodge

 

Talking of advance reserving, it is advisable ebook Benesse Home six months upfront (to the day, or actually the minute) if you’d like any likelihood of staying there, worth however. Can’t be bothered to do that, or simply can’t afford it? There’s nonetheless worth to staying in a single day, as doing so merely offers you extra time at discover. Non-Benesse Naoshima lodging choices embody MY LODGE and Sparky’s Home.

How Many Days Do You Want in Naoshima?

If you happen to keep at Benesse Home and usually are not independently rich, I doubt it is possible for you to to afford greater than an evening or two in Naoshima. You’re spending a minimal of 500-1000 USD, not together with the price of museum tickets and different sights. On the similar time, Naoshima is larger than it appears to be like, significantly in the event you resolve to discover on foot like I did. You may undoubtedly spend longer than three days right here exploring.

Embedded within the query of what number of days in Naoshima you spend is the query of whether or not you’ll go to close by Teshima, and in addition the place you’ll be earlier than and after you come right here. For that reason, I feel it’s price it to contemplate hiring me to plan your journey. Regardless of how lengthy you keep in Naoshima (in the event you keep the night time in any respect), working with me ensures your journey shall be completely paced and organized.

 

Different FAQ About Visiting Naoshima Island

How do I journey to Naoshima?

Naoshima is accessible by direct ferry from the town of Takamatsu on Shikoku island, and from the port of Uno close to Okayama metropolis on the primary island of Honshu. If you happen to keep in both of those cities, you possibly can attain Naoshima in simply over an hour door-to-door. Coming from Tokyo or Osaka, nonetheless, often entails a half- or perhaps a full-day journey.

Do I must pre-book Naoshima island?

You don’t must pre-book your ferry to Naoshima—in truth, they will’t be reserved. Nonetheless, sure museums required advance (and, in some circumstances, timed reservations); you clearly must ebook lodging upfront in the event you plan to remain in a single day.

How do you get round Naoshima?

Until you drive your individual automobile over on a automobile ferry, there are three fundamental methods to discover Naoshima: By shuttle bus; by bike; or on foot. If the climate is sweet, I like to recommend driving a shuttle bus to the primary museum space, after which exploring on foot. Bike is an efficient possibility in concept, however since bikes are forbidden from entertain Benesse property, they aren’t truly as sensible as they appear on the floor.

The Backside Line

Is Naoshima price visiting? Although I resisted coming right here for a very long time—for cause that, in some ways, my go to affirmed to be true—I discovered myself delighted greater than disillusioned, typically in ways in which had been humbling and overwhelming. Whereas it’s true that Naoshima is crammed with pretentious wealthy folks (and, objectively talking, is among the many least historically lovely islands within the Seto Inland Sea), the number of artwork and the best way it’s curated are nothing wanting spectacular, to say nothing of what a once-in-a-lifetime expertise the Benesse Home Lodge is—properly, at the very least for “regular” folks. I hope you’ll contemplate hiring me to plan your Japan itinerary, whether or not or not you resolve so as to add Naoshima to it.