Hi again! This is Kurumi! Today, I’m introducing you to a charming island filled with art sites.
Naoshima is a photogenic island that is full of artwork! If you want your social media to be eye-catching then this is the go-to for you. The dotted red pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama welcomes you to the island! It also has adorable shops, cafes and a public bath.
What is Naoshima Island?
Naoshima is an island in Kagawa Prefecture, located between Kagawa and Okayama Prefectures. To visit Naoshima, you have to take a ferry. There are two ports from which ferries depart to Miyanoura Port, Naoshima: Uno Port in Okayama Prefecture and Takamatsu Port in Kagawa Prefecture.” Which port you should be using depends on which city you are coming from so please check out the website below. If you are coming from Tokyo, the Port of Takamatsu would be the easier choice, but if you are coming from Osaka, the Port of Uno would be the better choice.
I would recommend you rent an electric bicycle as your transportation on the island. Renting electric bicycles is what tourists in Naoshima usually do on their arrival. I recommend you that you book your bicycle beforehand. You can book online in English on the website of “Ougiya” (a rental bicycle shop). See the link below. If you don’t rent a bicycle, you can either take a bus, walk, or rent a car.
“Ougiya” (a rental bicycle shop)
Places I would recommend:
Public Bath: I❤︎Yu (Yu means bath in Japanese)
This eye-catching building is a public bath you should visit, even if you’re not planning to take a bath there. The building and souvenirs are super cute, and the interior is amazing, too! (You can enter and/or purchase souvenirs even if you don’t take a bath.) There is a fake elephant in the bathroom. Washing your hair while being watched by an elephant is something you do not get to experience anywhere else. If you are staying overnight in Naoshima you could take a bath there at night time. The neon of the building is pretty too. They are open from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm and closed on Monday. It takes 2 minutes on foot from Miyanoura Port.
Public Bath I Love Yu (Google Maps)
Bakery: pan tocori (takeaway only)
When you enter the bakery, you are surrounded by the smell of freshly baked bread. It’s just irresistible. I would personally recommend their chocolate bread, but I’m pretty sure all other kinds are tasty too. Apparently, you can’t take photos inside, and you need to ask for permission to take photos of their appearance outside. Well, don’t worry, their bread are photogenic enough just by themselves 😉 Please note that they are only open from Thursday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. It takes 13 minutes by electric bicycle from Miyanoura Port. (The time it takes by electric bicycle is calculated at 12 km per hour. )
Cafe: Naoshima Cafe Kon’nichiwa
I really liked the atmosphere of the cafe. It felt like a grandmother’s house in the countryside. They have turned an old house into a cafe nicely so you can feel a relaxed atmosphere there. They are open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm every day, so you can have lunch there too. It takes 12 minutes by electric bicycle from Miyanoura Port. (The time it takes by electric bicycle is calculated at 12 km per hour. )
Naoshima Cafe Kon’nichiwa (Google Maps)
The access to the island is not so convenient, but I believe it is worth going 🙂 Hope this information helps your visit to Naoshima!