Art House Project

3 of 9 in Naoshima Island

Honmura (本村) is a charming port town on Naoshima’s eastern coast, known for the Art House Project. This unique collection includes abandoned houses, a temple, and a shrine, all transformed into contemporary art venues by both Japanese and international artists. Scattered across the town, the art houses blend seamlessly into the traditional Japanese neighborhood. While they may appear modest from the outside, their interiors are creatively reimagined by artists, each showcasing a different artistic vision.

Visitors can explore these art houses throughout Honmura, discovering a variety of artistic expressions in this peaceful town. The Art House Project is a must-see for contemporary art lovers.

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Art venues

Minamidera

Architecture by Ando Tadao and artwork by James Turrell
Minamidera is a new building, built on the site of an old temple, designed by famous architect Ando Tadao, who also designed Naoshima's art museums. Inside, you'll find James Turrell's art piece "Backside of the Moon," which plays with light and your perception of it. Visitors can enter the building every 15 minutes, and it's recommended to make reservations in advance.

Kinza

Designed by Naito Rei
Kinza is a small, 200-year-old house that has been turned into an artwork showcasing traditional building design and craftsmanship. It is located next to Gokaisho and can only be visited from Thursday to Sunday with advance reservations. Visitors can enter the building one at a time for up to 15 minutes. It is recommended to make reservations in advance.

Kadoya

Miyajima Tatsuo
Kadoya is a 200-year-old house that has been restored and has a traditional storehouse. It displays various artworks, including an LED display in a pool of water, a window turned into a digital screen, and a unique Japanese scroll painting.

Go'o Shrine

Designed by Sugimoto Hiroshi
Go'o Shrine is an old Shinto shrine that has been restored with a modern touch. A glass staircase takes you from the worship hall to an underground chamber symbolizing the connection between heaven and earth. Visitors can enter the underground chamber through a small side entrance.

Ishibashi

Artwork by Senju Hiroshi
Ishibashi was built about 100 years ago as the home of a successful salt merchant. It has been restored and now displays two large paintings by Senju Hiroshi. One painting is on the sliding doors of the main building, and the other, showing a beautiful waterfall, hangs in the nearby storehouse.

Gokaisho

Artwork by Suda Yoshihiro
Gokaisho was built on the site where people used to gather to play go, a type of Japanese chess. The building has a traditional design and features hand-carved wooden camellia flowers placed on the tatami mat floors. The rooms have views of a small garden with real camellia flowers, creating a beautiful contrast with the wooden ones inside.

Haisha

Artwork by Otake Shinro
Haisha is a former dentist's home and office that has been turned into a gallery for large sculptures. Some sculptures can be seen from different floors of the two-story house. One of the artworks is a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Otake, the artist, also designed the "I Love Yu" bathhouse.

Hours and Fees

All art venues

Getting there

Buses run 1 to 3 times per hour from Miyanoura Ferry Terminal to Tsutsujiso, stopping at Nokyo-mae bus stop in Honmura (5 minutes, 100 yen). Alternatively, you can bike (10 minutes) or walk (35-45 minutes) the 2.5 km. Honmura also has its own port with ferries to Uno Port on Honshu (20 minutes, 300 yen, five trips a day).