Example Itinerary

Contemporary Art Wonders of Japan: Touring the Seto Inland Sea

Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Price Per Person
Interests
Art
Destinations
Japan

The Setouchi Triennale modern art festival was first held in 2010 with the goal of revitalizing the island communities of the Seto Inland Sea, which had fallen victim to depopulation and economic standstill despite their picturesque setting. As the festival features both permanent and temporary museums and installations, the overall concept places equal emphasis on art and architecture. Many of the permanent museums on this itinerary rank among the finest examples of contemporary architecture in the world today, and the Tadao Ando Museum even pays homage to the renowned Japanese architect who is its namesake. Visit this museum and many more on this voyage across island-dotted, aquamarine waters as you ferry between the premier islands of the Seto Inland Sea. The Setouchi Triennale has helped to reinvigorate the culture and economic prosperity of this region – be a part of this celebration of contemporary art, and take in the festivities while savoring some of Japan’s finest hotels. 

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

• Museums: Cutting-edge art spaces, such as Tokyo’s teamLab Borderless, are utilizing technology to push the boundaries of modern art.

• Naoshima: This island, filled with indoor and outdoor art installations, serves as the Setouchi Triennale’s principle venue.

• Architecture: Tour the Tadao Ando-designed Benesse House Museum, described as “a rare site where nature, art, and architecture come together.”

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Map

Tokyo

Arrive at the Tokyo International Airport and meet your guide for a private transfer to the hotel. We recommend settling in with a massage followed by a gourmet meal at one of your hotel’s numerous restaurants and bars.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Spread across the top six floors of the Otemachi Tower in Tokyo’s financial district, this lofty hotel presents city superb views and is just steps from Tokyo Station and Ginza shopping district.

History: This newly built-hotel is the first ever ‘city’ hotel from the luxurious Aman Resorts, a group that has over two dozen resorts in their portfolio spread across four different continents.

Services: The wealth of services here all take advantage of the stunning views, whether you’re treating yourself to a massage in the spa, enjoying fine Mediterranean cuisine in the 33rd floor restaurant or doing laps in the infinity pool.

Read More
Aman Tokyo Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: The Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, is located 38 floors above street level in a district of Tokyo called Nihonbashi, a business district often referred to as the “center of Japan”.

History: Of all Tokyo’s business districts, the 400-year-old Nihonbashi is the only one that still retains much of its old world charm.

Service: This is the only hotel in Tokyo to have been awarded Six-Star International Diamond status by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, recognizing the hotel’s reputation for excellence.

Read More
Mandarin Oriental Tokyo Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

High-tech: in-room amenities.

Pool: Large 65-foot swimming pool and equally sizable hydrotherapy pool.

Views: Superb views of the Imperial Palace.

Location: Within walking distance to the shopping paradise of Ginza.

Read More
The Peninsula Tokyo Preferred Hotel

Day 2

Map

Tokyo

The first full day of touring will include visits to some of Tokyo’s leading contemporary art galleries. In addition to the aforementioned teamLab Borderless gallery, which is a digital art museum displaying more than 50 artworks intermeshed as one in a single space, you’ll have the opportunity to tour galleries such as SCAI the Bathhouse, the Tomio Koyama Gallery, and the Yayoi Kusama Museum. The first of these, SCAI the Bathhouse, is centered on an ethos of supporting artists’ commitments to public spaces and generating new audiences. The gallery itself is housed within a stately old bathhouse with 200 years of history, and it has featured works by many renowned artists, including Anish Kapoor, Lee Ufan, and Bosco Sodi.

Tokyo
Tokyo

Day 3

Map

Naoshima

Today, take a bullet train (the Shinkansen) to Tokyo-Okayama before transferring to Uno Port. This gateway to the inland sea harbors a good number of outdoor art installations, including two vibrantly colorful sculptures depicting black sea bream fish. After a ferry ride to the island of Naoshima, check in to Benesse House and enjoy an evening to settle in and relax at leisure. Established in 1992, Benesse House actually comprises a museum and hotel, along with additional lodging facilities called Oval, Park, and Beach, plus a restaurant, cafe, spa, and shop. We suggest taking some time this evening to explore the Benesse House Museum, which features a collection of paintings, sculptures, photographs, and innovative contemporary art installations. The pieces of art are not housed exclusively within the museum, however, as artworks dot the surrounding landscape, beachfront, and many nooks and crannies within the museum and hotel structures.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Located on an island in the middle of the inland Japanese sea, and the closed mainland ferry port of Uno Port, guests can take a direct 20 minute ferry to the island.

History: In 1989, Naoshima International Camp was completed and with that, brought a rise in tourism to the island, which also in turn brought development in the way of Benesse House in 1992.

Service: This hotel is the ideal stop for lovers of modern art, who will appreciate the convenience of not only having stunning works of art in their rooms, but also a museum in the hotel itself.

Read More
Benesse House Preferred Hotel
Naoshima & Seto Inland Sea Islands
Naoshima & Seto Inland Sea Islands

Day 4

Map

Naoshima

A full day of museum tours awaits you today, with stops at the Chichu Art Museum, the Lee Ufan Museum, the Art House Project, and the Tadao Ando Museum. The first of these was designed to be almost entirely subterranean, yet architects still managed to foster an ambiance of ample natural light. This makes the Chichu Art Museum a perfect venue for viewing the visually rich works of artists such as Claude Monet and James Turrell. The Lee Ufan Museum is the result of a collaboration between internationally renowned artist Lee Ufan and one of the giants of Japanese architecture, Tadao Ando. With art provided by Ufan and architecture by Ando, visitors will notice an overall aesthetic of tranquility and harmony with natural surroundings. We recommend following up a tour of the Lee Ufan Museum with a stop at the Tadao Ando Museum, or vice-versa, to learn more about the man who did so much to establish and promote the aesthetic and culture of Japanese architecture.

Day 5

Map

Inujima and Teshima

The fifth day of your journey brings island hopping, more museum tours, and a visit to a needle factory as a change of pace. A ferry will serve as transport between the islands of Inujima and Teshima, with stops including the following: the Seirensho Art Museum, outdoor stone artworks, and the Art House Project on Inujima, along with the Yokoo House, Teshima Art Museum, and the previously mentioned needle factory on Teshima. Perhaps most notable on the first island destination of Inujima is the Seirensho Art Museum, which is built into the ruins of a former copper refinery. Many of the works housed within represent a critique of Japan’s modernization, as well as a visualization of the ethics of recycling and sustainability. On Teshima, a tour of an abandoned sewing needle factory is also a highlight. The installation juxtaposes a wooden hull form that was abandoned and never served its intended purpose with what remains of the needle factory.

Naoshima & Seto Inland Sea Islands
Naoshima & Seto Inland Sea Islands

Day 6

Map

Shodoshima

This morning, a ferry will transport you to the island of Shodoshima, which literally translates to “Island of Small Beans” and is the second-largest island in the Seto Inland Sea. There are many possibilities at hand for your full day of touring here, as the island also offers pristine beaches, a celebrated gorge, and a beautifully mountainous interior. Where the Triennale is concerned, however, around 40 artworks can be seen around the island. Most of these are located around the port towns along the southern coast, and some permanent installations from past festivals remain – both inside and outside. The island is also known for its sprawling olive plantations that benefit greatly from the Mediterranean climate; Olive Park is a working olive grove built on the site where the first olives in Japan were successfully cultivated 100 years ago.

Day 7

Map

Kurashiki

The final full day of your voyage in Japan’s inland sea will take you to Kurashiki, located in Okayama Prefecture, after a ferry to Uno Port and a one-hour transfer. The second half of the day will be spent touring, with planned stops including the Bikan Quarter, the Ohara Museum, and the Bizen Pottery Museum. The Ohara Museum is arguably the most impressive attraction in Kurashiki, as it features a substantial collection of works by famous Western artists. The museum houses masterpieces by Picasso, El Greco, Gauguin, Modigliani, Rodin, Klee, Pollock, and Kandinsky, to name a few. And aside from the main gallery of Western Art, the Ohara Museum also has two other areas displaying a variety of additional pieces – namely, a Craft Art Gallery and an Asiatic Art Gallery. The former showcases ceramics, woodblock prints, stencil dyes, and other such works, while the Asiatic Art Gallery includes relics from Egypt and Chinese antiques.

Hotel Options
About

The highest standard Western-style hotel in Kurashiki, Hotel Nikko warmly welcomes guests via its marble lobby, its simple and comfortable rooms, and its modern decor, a contrast to its location in Kurashiki’s old town. Guests may choose from 71 rooms, the best of which are found on the J floor (which we highly recommend).

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

About

This authentic ryokan is located in the heart of Kurashiki’s historical area, allowing for a true window into Japanese culture. The ryokan has been decorated to cater to traditional Japanese sensitivities, with tatami mat floors and clean, crisp lines, as well as elegant Japanese artwork adorning the walls.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Kurashiki
Kurashiki

Day 8

Map

Departure

After a one-hour transfer to Okayama, tour the Okayama Korakuen garden (time permitting), which is considered to be one of the finest landscape gardens in all of Japan. Finally, board the Shinkansen bullet train to either Osaka or Tokyo, where you will be transferring to the airport for your flight home.

Why Remote Lands?

Exclusively Asia

With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.

Travelogues

An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.

What Others Say

Here is a small selection of the kind words our clients have said about us recently.