Setouchi Triennale 2025 Art Tour
Setouchi art island-hopping
6 Days / 5 Nights – Takamatsu / Shodoshima / Naoshima / Teshima / Onomichi and extend your journey to Hiroshima.
From USD 17,850 per person
Cruise the Setouchi Triennale 2025 with an art curator
Explore Japan’s ‘art island’s’ on an unforgettable art journey to the Setouchi Triennale in 2025.
With a local art expert, you will cruise the Setouchi Triennale and visit Naoshima and Teshima, two of the islands emblematic of the Inland Sea’s art culture, as well as Shodoshima and Ogijima.
Our tours will take place on the following dates:
Spring: April 18 – May 25
Summer: August 1 – August 31
Fall: October 3 – November 9
- A tailor-made itinerary crafted personally for you
- English-Speaking resident art curator
- Hand-Selected Luxury accommodations
- Airport Meet and Greet with private transfers
- Internet access
- Thoughtful customer service
- And more !
- A six-day journey to enjoy Setouchi Triennale.
- An innovative and exclusive experience at the heart of the Seto Inland Sea.
- Step into a world, a unique art scene that fascinates many to which even some Japanese people have no access.
Day 1 – Takamatsu Arrival
Yokoso 高松へようこそ！– Welcome to Takamatsu!
Meet your driver for an enjoyable airport transfer with a private vehicle.
Then you’ll likely spend your first day in Takamatsu just getting settled.
Or you may want to visit the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum and Ritsurin Garden.
In the evening enjoy a truly unique meal! A multi-course kaiseki, an omakase sushi experience… the choice is yours.
Overnight at your residence
Anabuki-tei
Day 2 – Ogijima / Shodoshima / Naoshima
After a relaxed breakfast, your private car and guide will take you to a catamaran for a trip to Ogijima and Shodoshima.
Ogijima, will greet you with its tranquil shores and an atmosphere of quiet contemplation. This island distinguishes itself by seamlessly integrating contemporary art within its pristine natural environment. As you wander, you’ll encounter thought-provoking installations that engage with the coastal landscape, utilizing the beaches, the harbor’s edge, and even the embrace of the surrounding sea as their canvas.
Later, the catamaran will carry you to the larger island of Shodoshima, a central stage for the renowned Setouchi Triennale.
Here, a vibrant tapestry of artistic expression unfolds. Expect to encounter a diverse collection of ambitious installations, striking sculptures, and engaging interactive projects. The artworks on Shodoshima often draw inspiration from and resonate with the island’s inherent beauty, nestled amongst its verdant mountains, iconic olive groves, and the historic soy sauce breweries that dot the landscape.
Throughout your exploration, your guide will provide insightful context and enhance your appreciation of the art and the islands’ distinct character.
Overnight at your hotel
Benesse House
Day 3 – Naoshima
After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, your private guide and driver will meet you at your hotel to begin your journey to Naoshima — one of Japan’s most extraordinary destinations for contemporary art and architecture.
Often referred to as the crown jewel of the Setouchi Triennale, Naoshima has become a pilgrimage site for art lovers around the world. This small island in the Seto Inland Sea offers a unique fusion of nature, art, and architecture, seamlessly woven into the fabric of daily island life.Your visit will take you to some of Naoshima’s most iconic attractions:
- Chichu Art Museum, a subterranean marvel designed by Tadao Ando, where natural light is masterfully used to illuminate works by Claude Monet, James Turrell, and Walter De Maria.
- Benesse House Museum, where art extends beyond gallery walls into the hotel rooms and surrounding landscape.
- Lee Ufan Museum, showcasing the Korean artist’s minimalist sculptures in perfect harmony with Ando’s architectural design.
- …
As you explore the island, you’ll encounter outdoor sculptures by world-renowned artists, including Yayoi Kusama’s iconic polka-dotted pumpkins, set against the tranquil backdrop of the sea and sky.
In an exciting development for art enthusiasts, a brand-new museum designed by Tadao Ando is set to open in May 2025 as part of the Setouchi Triennale. This addition is expected to further elevate Naoshima’s reputation as a global art destination.
Overnight at your hotel
Benesse House
Day 4 – Naoshima / Teshima / Onomichi
After breakfast, board a cruiser for another journey to Teshima and Onomichi.
Teshima, is another rural island in the Seto Inland Sea that joined the nearby islands of Naoshima and Inujima to become an exciting destination for contemporary art in recent years.
The main attraction on Teshima is the Teshima Art Museum, one of the most intriguing contemporary artworks in Japan. Standing amongst terraced rice fields, the simple concrete structure stimulates its visitors’ senses with the play of water drops on a concrete surface. The island of Teshima, beyond that location, is dotted with artworks that frequently blend with the natural environment.
Continue your journey to Ikuchi Island, with impressive views of dynamic structures Great Seto Bridge or Seto Ohashi Bridge and wide vistas of islands and town.
The Ikuchi Island is set on the western side of the Seto Inland Sea in the Hiroshima region. Your hotel is a few minutes on foot from the port on Shiomachi Shotengai, which was once a major shipping thoroughfare, with 10,000 people passing through daily in its centuries-old heyday.
Today, it’s been repaved by the Azumi team, yet retains a sleepy rural feel, lined with old school fruit shops, traditional houses, and low-key restaurants.
Overnight at your hotel
Azumi Setoda
Day 5 – Why not extending your journey to Hiroshima & Miyajima?
Embark on your last cruise, through the serene waters of the Seto Inland Sea with another exclusive chartered cruise from Setoda.
Glide beneath the awe-inspiring Shimanami Kaido bridges, which elegantly link the islands, and discover the region’s captivating straits and timeless charm of Setouchi.
Your journey will include stops at enchanting islands such as Mukaishima, Tashima, and Momoshima — each offering its own distinct character, scenery, and cultural allure.
Then experience the serenity of Miyajima, home to the iconic floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine. It is one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, and the World Heritage Site of Itsukushima Shrine shines brightly amid its beautiful scenery.
The present shrine dates from the 12th century and the harmoniously arranged buildings reveal great artistic and technical skill. The shrine plays on the contrasts in colour and form between mountains and sea and illustrates the Japanese concept of scenic beauty, which combines nature and human creativity.
Overnight at your hotel
Sekitei
Day 6 – Hiroshima / …
Conclude your journey in Hiroshima, visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum.
Capital of the prefecture of the same name, is the most important city of the Chugoku region. It was founded in 1589 on the north coast of the Seto Inland Sea (Setonaikai) by the feudal lord Terumoto Mori.
Besides the tragedy on August 6, 1945, Hiroshima is also known for its rich history, culture, and identity.
Your Journey with us ends at the Hiroshima station, where you will board a shinkansen to…
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