Kagawa Art Island Hopping in Setouchi

The Seto Inland Sea is the largest inland sea in Japan. With about 700 islands and a mild climate, the region offers spectacular scenic beauty in every season. Against this idyllic backdrop, the international contemporary art festival of Setouchi Triennale has further helped put the spotlight on this region and bring new audiences to this region. Explore some of the representative islands to be found below.

Naoshima is renowned for its huge art culture and is home to top contemporary art museums like Chichu Art Museum and Lee Ufan Museum. Benesse House Museum—a contemporary art museum and hotel—is another renowned museum which displays works from artists in Japan and abroad. The facility grounds feature numerous exhibitions and sculptures, and Yayoi Kusama’s famous “Pumpkin” and “Red Pumpkin” are perhaps the most recognizable and acclaimed.

Teshima’s main attraction is Teshima Art Museum, a unique concrete structure found beside some of the island’s rice fields.

Shodoshima, an island rich in nature with a temperate climate,is a treasure trove for art lovers, where its recommended to visit the Kankakei area. Here you’ll find Kankakei Gorge, one of the three most spectacular gorges in Japan which offer beautiful views in every season. In the Setouchi Triennale 2022, a work called "Soranotama/Kankakei" (Balls in the Sky) is open to the public, and visitors can enjoy the harmony of nature, people, and art. Shodoshima is also home to several other artworks that fuse the local community with art.