Setouchi: Where Art Meets the Sea
The Seto Inland Sea is one of Japan’s most distinctive landscapes. Its calm waters stretch between the islands of Honshu and Shikoku, surrounded by seven prefectures: Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tokushima, Kagawa, and Ehime. This region, known as Setouchi, has been a cultural and commercial crossroads for centuries. Its maritime routes once connected cities, temples, and fishing villages, creating a space where spirituality, nature, and daily life intertwined.
Today, beyond its serene scenery and rich historical heritage, Setouchi is distinguished by a unique feature: its bond with contemporary art. Several of its islands have been transformed into open-air art spaces, where museums, sculptures, and architecture engage in dialogue with the sea and nature, making the region a cultural destination like no other.
The “Art Islands”
In the eastern part of the Inland Sea, small islands have been reborn as artistic stages. Here, visitors don’t simply enter a museum—the museum surrounds them. Works of art are not confined to galleries but appear along paths, beaches, piers, and even inside former factories. The experience lies in exploring each island at a slow pace, letting the art emerge almost unexpectedly within the landscape. The Setouchi Triennale is also held here every three years.
Artists Who Shaped Setouchi
Tadao Ando
The renowned Japanese architect has left a profound mark on the region. His minimalist style—exposed concrete, pure geometric forms, and masterful use of natural light—creates spaces that seem to emerge from the earth itself. On Naoshima, he designed the Chichu Art Museum, a mostly underground museum where rooms illuminated solely by sunlight offer an intimate experience that shifts throughout the day. He also designed the Benesse House Museum, where guests can sleep surrounded by art, blurring the boundaries between lodging, gallery, and landscape.
Yayoi Kusama
Japan’s most internationally acclaimed artist is also central to the imagery of Setouchi. Her giant polka-dotted pumpkins have become symbols of Naoshima. Placed along the seashore, these sculptures create a striking contrast with the natural surroundings while integrating them into her playful visual language. Kusama transforms the everyday—a vegetable form, a repetitive pattern—into an experience that invites reflection on time and space from a different perspective.
Islands in Setouchi
Art Islands
Naoshima
Naoshima is considered the artistic jewel of Setouchi. Here, some of Japan’s most innovative museums coexist with outdoor works of art and small fishing villages that still retain their slow rhythm of life. In addition to Yayoi Kusama’s sculptures and Tadao Ando’s museums, highlights include the Art House Project, where traditional houses have been converted into art installations. The island is best explored on foot or by bicycle, letting the sea and the art guide each step.
Teshima
Quieter than Naoshima, Teshima offers a profoundly contemplative experience. The Teshima Art Museum is its main attraction: a building shaped like a water droplet resting on the earth, designed by Ryue Nishizawa and Rei Naito. Inside, organic forms, silence, and the sound of water create an atmosphere that connects visitors with the essence of the place. Beyond the museum, small art installations blend into the fields and trails, turning each corner into an invitation to pause.
Inujima
With a strong historical legacy, Inujima is a prime example of how art can revive the memory of a place. Its former copper refinery was transformed into a museum, with installations reflecting on themes such as modernization, sustainability, and the relationship between humanity and nature. The island combines the beauty of its industrial past with new artistic expressions, creating a unique atmosphere of introspection.
The Setouchi Art Triennale
The Triennale is one of the most distinctive contemporary art festivals in the world. Each edition lasts 107 days, spread across three seasons—spring, summer, and autumn—allowing visitors to experience the islands at different times of the year.
- Spring: April 18 – May 25
- Summer: August 1 – August 31
- Autumn: October 3 – November 9
During these months, the islands of Naoshima, Teshima, Megijima, Ogijima, Shodoshima, Oshima, and Inujima, along with the ports of Takamatsu and Uno, become open stages for the world. The Triennale not only attracts art lovers but also travelers seeking a different Japan, far from the big cities and in direct contact with local communities.
Additional sites are available only during specific seasons:
- Spring: Seto Ohashi Bridge
- Summer: Shido, Tsuda, Hiketa
Autumn: Honjima, Takamishima, Awashima, Ibukijima, and Utazu
Islands of Nature and Gastronomy
Shodoshima
The second-largest island in the Seto Inland Sea is famous for its soy sauce production and for its olive groves, first introduced in the early 20th century. Its landscape combines terraced fields, quiet beaches, and olive orchards that give it a unique Mediterranean atmosphere within Japan. It is also an ideal destination for those seeking to combine art, gastronomy, and nature in one journey.
Kitagishima
Known as the “Island of Stones,” Kitagishima owes its name to its tradition of granite quarrying. Today, beyond its industrial heritage, it offers visitors an authentic fishing environment, with small ports, houses by the sea, and a daily life that reflects the simple spirit of Setouchi.
Tailor-made trip in Setouchi
At Encounter Japan Travel, we design personalized experiences to discover this region in a unique way.
Private transport: we arrange everything from exclusive catamaran cruises to transfers by helicopter or private jet.
Luxury stays: we select accommodations that combine comfort, design, and privileged locations. Among our recommendations: Benesse House, ROKA, Shimayado Mari, Azumi Setoda, Ryokan Kurashiki, and Uno Hotel.
Offer your travelers the best experience in this little-known part of Japan.
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Mariana Aranda
