Japan’s Creative Coast: A Curated Setouchi Art Journey
Explore Setouchi's world-renowned art installations and tranquil coastal villages in this week-long escape blending creativity, architecture and island life.
An Art Adventure
Days 1–3: Naoshima Island
Begin your journey on Naoshima, Japan’s legendary art island, where architecture, nature, and contemporary works combine. Stay at Benesse House, a minimalist retreat where exhibits and guest rooms blur into one, offering rare proximity to world-class art. Explore Tadao Ando’s architectural landmarks with a local guide, from the underground stillness of Chichu Art Museum to the forest-set Valley Gallery. Visit installations by Yayoi Kusama and James Turrell, with discreet access and expert insight into the island’s ongoing transformation into a living, open-air cultural project.
Days 3–5: Shimanami Kaido
Travel through the island-scattered Seto Inland Sea along the Shimanami Kaido, where design, nature, and slow coastal life intersect. Your base is Azumi Setoda, a carefully restored 140-year-old residence reimagined as a contemporary ryokan. Cycle the route’s most scenic stretches with a private guide, crossing between islands on elegant suspension bridges and passing through fishing hamlets. Set out by private boat to explore the surrounding islands, drifting past remote beaches, quiet inlets and fishing villages.
Days 5–7: Iwakuni, Hiroshima
Conclude your journey with a stay at Simose Art Garden Villa, an architectural masterpiece recently recognised as the world’s most beautiful museum. Explore the unique grounds, where minimal pavilions and outdoor installations blur the line between built and natural landscapes. With a private guide, spend a day exploring the UNESCO-listed island of Miyajima, home to the iconic Itsukushima Shrine, sacred mountain trails, and quiet temple enclaves tucked into forested hills.
