Naoshima: Art, Architecture, and History

Get to know Naoshima through a variety of artistic approaches: vacant houses, purpose-designed architecture, and glimpses into the island’s history. One focal point is the Honmura district, where the Art House Project brings artworks together with buildings and their former uses. The different visitor requirements at individual sites are also important to bear in mind when planning your trip.

Art in the Houses of Honmura

The Art House Project transforms vacant houses scattered throughout residential areas into works of art. The project incorporates both the history of the buildings and memories of the time when they were in use. The galleries are located in different parts of the Honmura district, and visitors explore the project on foot, walking between them. It currently includes seven sites open to the public. Check the current lineup before your trip.

Each house has a different history. Kadoya was the first building completed as part of the project. The approximately 200-year-old house was restored to its original appearance with plaster, smoked cedar boards, and traditional roof tiles. Gokaisho, in turn, was a building where island residents used to gather to play Go; today it is an art space. Its former community use sets it apart from Haisha: the building was once both a dentist’s home and clinic before Shinro Ohtake transformed the entire house into a work of art.

Ishibashi also tells a story of former use. The house was once the residence of the Ishibashi family, who prospered in salt production, and remained a private home until April 2001. Its restoration was considered important to understanding Naoshima’s history and culture. Together, these examples show how varied the starting points within the Art House Project are: a Go meeting place, a former home with a clinic, and the former home of a family involved in salt production.

Architecture, Art, and Island History

Minamidera is a new building by Tadao Ando, designed for works by James Turrell. The site thus combines purpose-designed architecture with the artworks for which the building was created. There is a special requirement for visiting: since October 1, 2024, Minamidera has been accessible only with an advance reservation. Check the current booking calendar beforehand.

At the ANDO MUSEUM, photographs, sketches, and models offer insights into Tadao Ando’s work and Naoshima’s history. The museum building itself is also part of this combination: the museum has given new life to a traditional wooden house that is about 100 years old. Ando’s work and the history of the house are presented side by side, while the museum’s content is not limited to architecture alone.

At Go'o Shrine, a historical date and a later architectural design come together. The shrine dates back to the Edo period. As part of its restoration, Hiroshi Sugimoto designed a building with a glass staircase connecting an underground stone chamber to the main hall. Visitors may visit and pray in the main and front areas at any time.

Planning Visits in Honmura

For the Art House Project, walking between the galleries at different locations is part of the visit: the sites are explored on foot. Bicycles or motorcycles can also be rented at various locations in Honmura. If you plan to use this option, confirm the current providers before your trip, as rental service information may change.

Keep the different requirements in mind when choosing which sites to visit. Minamidera requires an advance reservation; at Go'o Shrine, visitors may tour and pray in the main and front areas at any time. These are different visiting arrangements, not a uniform rule for all sites. If you plan to visit several locations, be sure to check the booking calendar for Minamidera and the current lineup of the seven Art House Project sites open to the public.

Discover more destinations: Furue, Marugame, Sanuki, Sakaide, Takamatsu, Shozu District, Tonoshō, Zentsūji

For the broader travel overview: Kagawa Prefecture.