Where the ocean meets unspoiled landscapes, Japan’s Setouchi region has become a renowned hotspot for the arts in Japan – celebrated as a place where creativity, nature, community, and culture all come together to offer some of the most immersive art experiences in the country. Home to a blend of contemporary art installations and museums, scenic landscapes, and quintessential Japanese heritage, Setouchi promises to immerse travellers in an extraordinary world which can be explored and enjoyed in so many ways.
Whether you decide to travel by scenic train, drive through rural landscapes, or join a cycling tour, here are some of the top sights and experiences in Japan’s Setouchi region where you’ll see art, culture and nature colliding in some of the most unique ways.
A scenic rail journey with an artistic flair
Travel aboard the sightseeing train, La Malle de Bois, which has its own art gallery to enjoy while you cruise through the scenic surrounds of Setouchi. Starting at Okayama Station, the train offers breathtaking views of coastal landscapes, islands, and picturesque towns, primarily operating along the Seto Inland Sea and travelling towards Uno, Mihara, Hinase, and Kotohira. A journey on board La Malle de Bois can also offer a welcome break from a cycling tour with plenty of bicycle storage. Advance reservations are required.
While embracing the concept of ‘slow travel’ as it meanders along the coastline, La Malle de Bois boasts a vintage but luxurious interior, featuring artworks by local artists or even installations as part of the Setouchi Triennale. With various stops along its route, the train can be a great way to explore some of Setouchi’s art museums, historical sites such as Kotohiragu Shrine and Onomichi, and traditional villages such as Imbe Bizen Pottery Village.
Overnight stays with an artistic twist
Created in collaboration with world-renowned contemporary artists and leading Japanese architects, a stay at A&A (Artist & Architect) Hotel in Okayama’s cultural Izushi town area where many historical buildings still exist offers a novel way to immerse yourself in the city’s vibrant arts culture. As part of a project launched by the Ishikawa Foundation to promote art and culture in Okayama, you can experience various forms of art while staying in one of A&A Hotel’s uniquely designed houses.
Meanwhile, on the art island of Naoshima, the recently opened Naoshima Ryokan ROKA offers a luxury ryokan experience that combines the traditional architectural style of Naoshima with modern design and comfort. While the ryokan features its own exclusive artworks for guests to marvel, it provides the perfect base for those visiting the island to explore the many other artworks and installations dotted around the island. Alternatively, you might consider a stay at Benesse House Museum – part art museum and hotel – for an exclusive and immersive experience staying amongst the artworks as well as a luxurious overnight stay looking out over the Seto Inland Sea.
Art islands
Situated in the Seto Inland Sea, the small islands of Naoshima, Megijima, and Ogijima in Kagawa Prefecture are known for their year-round arts scene – home to some of the most incredible indoor and outdoor art installations set against stunning natural backdrops.
Naoshima is at the heart of the art island collective, especially known for the Benesse Art Site Naoshima which includes art museums, galleries, and outdoor installations by renowned Japanese and international artists.
Highlights of the Benesse Art Site Naoshima include the Chichu Art Museum – a partially underground museum that seamlessly integrates artworks with the nature around it, the Benesse House Museum, the Art House Project encompassing a series of traditional Japanese houses transformed into art installations, and the iconic yellow pumpkin Sculpture by renowned contemporary artist, Yayoi Kusama.
Megijima offers an alternative and more intimate but equally inspiring art island experience that typically combines the local mythology about demons living in the area with modern creativity. Outdoor artworks can be spotted around the island including the “Seagull Parking Lot” where around 300 seagull weathercocks line at Megijima’s port, while Onigashima Cave – where demons are said to reside according to local mythology – is a key art venue during the Setouchi Triennale. Meanwhile, you can visit Ogijima to experience more community-focused art initiatives including the colourful Ogijima Pavilion where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Seto Inland Sea, and the vibrant Project for wall painting in lane, ogijima wallalley.
Uno Port and outdoor arts
Regarded as the gateway to the art islands of the Seto Inland Sea from Honshu, Uno Port In Okayama Prefecture is filled with contemporary art installations which interact with the surrounding environment and tell their own story, offering travellers the perfect introduction before journeying onwards to the islands. Highlights include the larger-than-life mesmerising geometric black lines covering Uno Station and the spectacular installation, ‘Beyond the Last Stop’, just outside the station exit made up of colourful abandoned bicycles found around the port which have been repurposed into artistic yet functional rental bicycles.
Other installations to make time for around Uno Port include Uno Chinu (the Black Sea Bream of Uno) – a giant colourful fish sculpted with ocean rubbish; Memory of Ship’s Hull – a sculpture made entirely of iron waste; The Statue of the Goddess of Love by Indian sculptor, Dhruva Mistry; and the Gift from the Sea by artist, Miho Shirai, which features golden marine animals climbing a mast in the plaza of Uno Station.
The Setouchi Triennale Art Festival
First held in 2010, the Setouchi Triennale is a major international art festival that takes place every three years across 12 islands including Noshima, Megijima and Ogijima, and their coasts of the Seto Inland Sea throughout spring, summer, and autumn. Seven islands host the Setouchi Triennale during all three seasons, while five islands and around Takamatsu Port, Uno Port, and the Kagawa Prefecture coast take part for one season only. Each season offers a different experience for visitors.
While some of the islands are home to art and installations that are available to see all year round, during the festival, the islands collectively transform into an even bigger open-air museum of contemporary artworks – designed by Japanese and international artists to reflect the local culture, history, and natural beauty of the region. During the festival period, you’ll also enjoy a host of live performances and local food experiences.
The next Setouchi Triennale Art Festival will begin in April 2025 and continue to November 2025, and depending on which islands you’re visiting, you can access the art islands from either Uno Port or Takamatsu Port.
Awe-inspiring art museums
Reflecting the Setouchi region’s admiration for the arts, you can experience one of several impressive permanent art museums at any time of year you visit. In Takamatsu City in Kagawa Prefecture, you’ll discover the Takamatsu Art Museum which is known for its diverse collection of works which focus on contemporary art. The museum houses a huge collection of paintings and sculptures, photography, plus more while the museum also hosts a variety of travelling exhibitions from around Japan and international locations.
The Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art (MIMOCA) in Marugame City in Kagawa Prefecture is another stand-out art museum worth visiting. The museum was built to celebrate the life of Genichiro Inokuma who was a prominent painter from the city of Marugame. While the museum houses a variety of modern and contemporary artworks across different mediums, you’ll also be impressed by the museum’s naturally bright and spacious architecture designed by the famous Japanese architect, Yoshio Taniguchi. Yoshio Taniguchi is also known for designing the expansion and renovation of The Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Other spectacular museums to keep on your radar when planning a trip to the Setouchi region include the Hirayama Ikuo Museum of Art in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture – dedicated to the work of Japanese painter Ikuo Hirayama, and the Kurashiki Ohara Museum of Art – Japan’s first private art museum focusing on Western paintings.
Visitors can explore the best of the Setouchi Region by choosing from one of 23 ‘Setouchi Journeys’, where curated routes take travellers on three to five-night journeys across the region. Find out more about the different routes and itineraries here.
For itineraries that showcase the areas and experiences mentioned in this story, see Step back into Setouchi History in Kurashiki, and A Four-Day Tour of Setouchi’s Art Islands, Dogo Onsen and the Shimanami Kaido
