Things to Do in Naoshima (直島町), Kagawa: Sights, Train Access & Travel Guide

Last reviewed: October 27, 2026 · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.

Overview & City Profile

Naoshima (直島町) in Kagawa Prefecture (Shikoku, Japan) is anchored by local sights including Yayoi Kusama Yellow Pumpkin & Red Pumpkin, Chichu Art Museum (地中美術館), Benesse House Museum and served by Miyanoura Port (宮浦港) & Honmura Port (本村港) (20 min ferry from Uno Port in Okayama; 50 min ferry from Takamatsu Port) via the regional hub at Takamatsu Station (JR Marine Liner from Okayama) & Takamatsu Port. Set at 51 m elevation (34.4583°N, 133.9833°E), Naoshima offers travelers a base for sampling regional Sanuki udon (chewy hand-cut wheat noodles served kama-tamago, bukkake, or kake style), Honetsuki-dori (garlic-pepper roasted bone-in chicken leg from Marugame), Shodoshima olives & soy sauce cuisine and exploring neighboring Tamano (玉野市) (4.6 km), Takamatsu (高松市) (13.5 km), Sakaide (坂出市) (19.4 km), Tonoshō (土庄町) (20.3 km).

Naoshima is an island in Japan's Seto Inland Sea, part of Kagawa Prefecture. The island is best known for its many contemporary art installations and museums. The Town of Naoshima administers Naoshima and 26 smaller islands nearby. Naoshima Island is known for its many contemporary art museums. For example, the Chichu Art Museum (literally, "in the earth") houses a number of site-specific installations by James Turrell, Walter De Maria, and paintings by Claude Monet. Designed by Tadao Ando, it is located on one of the highest points of the island, and various exhibits and facets of the museum's architecture take advantage of its commanding view. Within Kagawa Prefecture, Naoshima (直島町) serves as a art island town in Kagawa Prefecture (municipal incorporation: 1954-04-01) and pairs naturally with wider prefectural highlights such as Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu (one of Japan's finest landscape gardens), Naoshima & Teshima contemporary art islands, 1,368 steps of Kotohira-gu (Konpira-san), and original hilltop Marugame Castle.

What to See & Do in Naoshima (直島町): Landmarks & Sights

Visitors exploring Naoshima (直島町) from Miyanoura Port (宮浦港) & Honmura Port (本村港) (20 min ferry from Uno Port in Okayama; 50 min ferry from Takamatsu Port) at 51 m elevation (34.4583°N, 133.9833°E) can visit these nearby shrines, temples, parks, and geographic landmarks (with straight-line distances from central Naoshima):

• Yayoi Kusama Yellow Pumpkin & Red Pumpkin — local sightseeing landmark near Naoshima (直島町).
• Chichu Art Museum (地中美術館) — local sightseeing landmark near Naoshima (直島町).
• Benesse House Museum — local sightseeing landmark near Naoshima (直島町).
• Art House Project in Honmura (家プロジェクト) — local sightseeing landmark near Naoshima (直島町).
• Lee Ufan Museum — local sightseeing landmark near Naoshima (直島町).
• Primary Rail Gateway for Naoshima: Miyanoura Port (宮浦港) & Honmura Port (本村港) (20 min ferry from Uno Port in Okayama; 50 min ferry from Takamatsu Port) (connecting to Takamatsu Station (JR Marine Liner from Okayama) & Takamatsu Port).

Closest Neighboring Municipalities to Naoshima

When planning a regional rail or driving loop around Naoshima (直島町) and Miyanoura Port (宮浦港) & Honmura Port (本村港) (20 min ferry from Uno Port in Okayama; 50 min ferry from Takamatsu Port), consider pairing your stop with the 5 closest neighboring municipalities across Kagawa Prefecture and Shikoku:

• Tamano (玉野市) — 4.6 km from Naoshima (Okayama Prefecture)
• Takamatsu (高松市) — 13.5 km from Naoshima (Kagawa Prefecture)
• Sakaide (坂出市) — 19.4 km from Naoshima (Kagawa Prefecture)
• Tonoshō (土庄町) — 20.3 km from Naoshima (Kagawa Prefecture)
• Utazu (宇多津町) — 21.9 km from Naoshima (Kagawa Prefecture)

Getting to Naoshima & Getting Around

Train & hub access to Naoshima (直島町) via Miyanoura Port (宮浦港) & Honmura Port (本村港) (20 min ferry from Uno Port in Okayama; 50 min ferry from Takamatsu Port): 55m direct from Okayama Station across the Great Seto Bridge on the JR Marine Liner rapid train to Takamatsu. From Takamatsu Station (JR Marine Liner from Okayama) & Takamatsu Port, transfer to local JR or private rail lines serving Miyanoura Port (宮浦港) & Honmura Port (本村港) (20 min ferry from Uno Port in Okayama; 50 min ferry from Takamatsu Port) to reach central Naoshima (34.4583°N, 133.9833°E).

• Local rail & IC cards at Miyanoura Port (宮浦港) & Honmura Port (本村港) (20 min ferry from Uno Port in Okayama; 50 min ferry from Takamatsu Port): JR regional trains and private commuter lines link Takamatsu with Naoshima (直島町) and neighboring Tamano, Takamatsu, Sakaide. Nationwide IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA) work at major urban gates; for rural branch stations or local buses around Naoshima, carry ¥1,000 bills and ¥100 coins for the onboard fare box.
• Luggage & station coin lockers: Travelers exploring Naoshima and continuing toward Tamano can store bags at major transfer stations or check suitcase dimensions in our Luggage & Locker Checker and ship large bags ahead via Takkyubin.
• Driving & car rental around Naoshima: While Miyanoura Port (宮浦港) & Honmura Port (本村港) (20 min ferry from Uno Port in Okayama; 50 min ferry from Takamatsu Port) anchors public transit for Naoshima, picking up a rental car at Takamatsu Station (JR Marine Liner from Okayama) & Takamatsu Port makes it easy to link Yayoi Kusama Yellow Pumpkin & Red Pumpkin and Chichu Art Museum (地中美術館) with nearby Tamano (玉野市) (4.6 km), Takamatsu (高松市) (13.5 km), Sakaide (坂出市) (19.4 km), Tonoshō (土庄町) (20.3 km). See our Renting a Car in Japan Guide.

What to Eat in Naoshima (直島町) & Kagawa

Dining near Miyanoura Port (宮浦港) & Honmura Port (本村港) (20 min ferry from Uno Port in Okayama; 50 min ferry from Takamatsu Port) and across Naoshima (直島町) highlights the regional food culture of Kagawa Prefecture and Shikoku. Look for these local specialties at station restaurants, family-run shokudo, and markets in Naoshima:

• Local specialty & terroir of Naoshima (直島町): coastal fishing ports, marine aquaculture, and fresh seafood markets.
• Sanuki udon (chewy hand-cut wheat noodles served kama-tamago, bukkake, or kake style) — regional specialty enjoyed across Naoshima (直島町) and Kagawa Prefecture.
• Honetsuki-dori (garlic-pepper roasted bone-in chicken leg from Marugame) — regional specialty enjoyed across Naoshima (直島町) and Kagawa Prefecture.
• Shodoshima olives & soy sauce — regional specialty enjoyed across Naoshima (直島町) and Kagawa Prefecture.
• Oiri pastel wedding rice pearls — regional specialty enjoyed across Naoshima (直島町) and Kagawa Prefecture.

If you are dining in Naoshima (直島町) with food allergies or dietary restrictions, use our Japanese Phrasebook & Allergy Show-Cards at restaurants around Miyanoura Port (宮浦港) & Honmura Port (本村港) (20 min ferry from Uno Port in Okayama; 50 min ferry from Takamatsu Port).

Where to Stay in Naoshima (直島町)

Visitors staying overnight in Naoshima (直島町) can look for business hotels, traditional ryokan, or family-run minshuku near Miyanoura Port (宮浦港) & Honmura Port (本村港) (20 min ferry from Uno Port in Okayama; 50 min ferry from Takamatsu Port), or base at major rail hubs in Takamatsu (Takamatsu Station (JR Marine Liner from Okayama) & Takamatsu Port) or neighboring Tamano, Takamatsu, Sakaide for quick train access into Naoshima. Compare hotel tiers and ryokan etiquette in our Japan Accommodation Guide.

Best Time to Visit Naoshima & Seasonal Highlights

Seasonal guide for Naoshima (直島町, 51 m elevation at 34.4583°N, 133.9833°E): Mild, sunny Seto Inland Sea climate makes spring (March–May) and autumn (Sept–Nov) ideal for island art hopping and climbing Kotohira-gu.

Wider sightseeing across Kagawa Prefecture that pairs well with visiting Yayoi Kusama Yellow Pumpkin & Red Pumpkin in Naoshima (直島町) includes: Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu (one of Japan's finest landscape gardens), Naoshima & Teshima contemporary art islands, 1,368 steps of Kotohira-gu (Konpira-san), and original hilltop Marugame Castle.

Practical Travel Tips for Naoshima (直島町)

• Tourist information (観光案内所) for Naoshima: Stop by the Kankō Annaijo desk at Takamatsu Station (JR Marine Liner from Okayama) & Takamatsu Port or Miyanoura Port (宮浦港) & Honmura Port (本村港) (20 min ferry from Uno Port in Okayama; 50 min ferry from Takamatsu Port) for local bus schedules to Yayoi Kusama Yellow Pumpkin & Red Pumpkin and walking maps of Naoshima (直島町).
• Cash & ATMs in Naoshima: Convenience stores and major hotels around Miyanoura Port (宮浦港) & Honmura Port (本村港) (20 min ferry from Uno Port in Okayama; 50 min ferry from Takamatsu Port) accept international cards, while smaller eateries and shrines near Yayoi Kusama Yellow Pumpkin & Red Pumpkin often prefer yen cash; 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) and Japan Post ATMs in Naoshima accept foreign debit cards.
• Local dining hours in Naoshima: Around Miyanoura Port (宮浦港) & Honmura Port (本村港) (20 min ferry from Uno Port in Okayama; 50 min ferry from Takamatsu Port) and neighboring Tamano, Takamatsu, Sakaide, lunch service typically runs 11:30 AM–2:00 PM and dinner spots open around 5:30 PM with last orders between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM.