Art House Project
Art House Project
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
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45 within 3 miles
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78 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
379 reviews
Excellent
172
Very good
146
Average
47
Poor
12
Terrible
2
Finecutpost
Melbourne, Australia52 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
We loved the Art House Project at Honmura. Walking along really narrow laneways to visit each small exhibit a delightful way to spend half a day. unfortunately there are No Camera signs everywhere. In someways this is good as many people can be very intrusive with camera usage.
One warning many restaurants that say they open at night at Honmura are not open when you arrive. call before you leave your accommodation.
One warning many restaurants that say they open at night at Honmura are not open when you arrive. call before you leave your accommodation.
Written September 17, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gail R
Berkeley, CA42 contributions
Jun 2016 • Family
If you love art installations, Naoshima is a must for your Japanese visit. It's a beautiful, small, quiet island filled with amazing art. It would be hard to choose a favorite but these six art houses stand out. I don't want to say too much because part of the experience is the uniqueness of each house. They are in a relatively small area so you can walk to each one (there is a staring building to buy your ticket/get a map). 4 of the houses have very memorable/moving installations I clearly remember 3 months later. One was just okay (I thought) and one more I didn't get). But well, well worth it for the four.
We made the mistake of doing Noashima as a day trip. It would have been much better to stay overnight and enjoy the art leisurely.
We made the mistake of doing Noashima as a day trip. It would have been much better to stay overnight and enjoy the art leisurely.
Written October 30, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VBontap
41 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
And grab a timed ticket. Ours was for 2 hours later (it only holds a small group ever 15 minutes) & we couldn't wait that long. Wish it had been our first project, not the last!
Each project is really unique & easy to wonder between.
You can purchase your ticket at any of them for access to all 6.
Naoshima island is not very picturesque. The bus, bike or walk from the main ferry in Miyanoura is quite depressing. The houses and infrastructure is run down & unkept. Such a shame.
We ate yummy fish burgers at Maimai. It's the only food they have on offer (oh, & hash browns). Plus delicious drinks.
You can do the art house projects in 3 hours with a stop for lunch (if you get your timed ticket for the dark room/Minamidera)!
Each project is really unique & easy to wonder between.
You can purchase your ticket at any of them for access to all 6.
Naoshima island is not very picturesque. The bus, bike or walk from the main ferry in Miyanoura is quite depressing. The houses and infrastructure is run down & unkept. Such a shame.
We ate yummy fish burgers at Maimai. It's the only food they have on offer (oh, & hash browns). Plus delicious drinks.
You can do the art house projects in 3 hours with a stop for lunch (if you get your timed ticket for the dark room/Minamidera)!
Written October 14, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Skin197
Auckland, New Zealand579 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
a group of about 6 old houses built around 100 years ago that have been modified for various art exhibitions; make sure you pick up a local map of the house locations. In fact I recommended you don't take the first bus if you catch the first ferry at about 8am from Takamatsu to Naoshima Island - as all of the art house project houses don't open till 10am anyway; and there were no cafes open in Honmura at that time of the day. Better to take the second bus on arrival and use the time in between to pick up some local maps from the ferry terminal. Small local buses only hold 28 people and cost 100 yen per ride pp.
Written November 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StewieTokyo
Saitama, Japan237 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
The venues are scattered around Honmura village and are a former Buddhist temple, Shinto Shrine, dentists office, Go club house and merchants houses - all are turned into art installations to be experienced.
Good
1) All within easy walking distance of each other and the village center.
2) One ticket for all venues.
3) Variety - I was not impressed by the darkened temple interior experience but was bowled over by the waterfall paintings in the storehouse
4) Not just copying Western modern art - this is Japanese
Comment
1) You have to go to the central ticket office near the harbour to buy the tickets
2) There is timed restricted entry for the temple
3) Old buildings might not have easy access or air conditioning
4) All venues close at 4:30
5) Some, such as the shrine, are mostly outdoors
Good
1) All within easy walking distance of each other and the village center.
2) One ticket for all venues.
3) Variety - I was not impressed by the darkened temple interior experience but was bowled over by the waterfall paintings in the storehouse
4) Not just copying Western modern art - this is Japanese
Comment
1) You have to go to the central ticket office near the harbour to buy the tickets
2) There is timed restricted entry for the temple
3) Old buildings might not have easy access or air conditioning
4) All venues close at 4:30
5) Some, such as the shrine, are mostly outdoors
Written August 31, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
scot_in_oz
Melbourne44 contributions
Nov 2014 • Family
There are seven 'art houses' scattered around the Honmura District of Naoshima. Pick up a ticket and a map at the Tourist Office, and then spend a happy couple of hours strolling around the village looking at each. The highlights? James Turrell's 'Minamidera' House, which makes the most demands of the viewer (you feel your way in complete darkness into the house, then sit on a bench waiting for the artwork to become visible...), and Shinro Ohtake's house of found objects is a hilarious and thought-provoking delight.
Written November 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Didi
Paris, France28 contributions
Apr 2020 • Couples
This is a great concept, from old houses to art, respecting traditions with a new eye. It also gives a chance to hang out in the village.
Could be deeper and more enjoyable if there was a minimum information on the artists/exhibitions.
Staff in the houses sometimes display an unpleasant police attitude.
Could be deeper and more enjoyable if there was a minimum information on the artists/exhibitions.
Staff in the houses sometimes display an unpleasant police attitude.
Written April 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TibetTrader
Surrey, UK216 contributions
Dec 2019
You gotta go! The "Dark Room" is amazing and the art houses are quite remarkable and quite humbling somehow....
Written December 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
360travelling247
Berlin, Germany115 contributions
Oct 2019 • Family
Cool use of old houses. You can squeeze through a narrow tunnel to understand what’s below a shrine for example.
Written October 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1calgal2016
Los Angeles, CA40 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
There is more to this than just seeing the Art House Project properties — they seem to be designed to offer an experience. All of it is contempory, so come with an open mind. One unexpected extra was walking through a traditional Japanese neighborhood. You and get a glimpse of gardens as you wander through the narrow streets. We did not see all five projects, but the three we saw were unique, strange and interesting.
Written June 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I read with interest your great review about having a terrific experience in Naoshima if one does the food and hotel right. We are visiting late in Oct and already have our hotel reservation, but I was wondering if you could recommend any particular restaurants that you really liked. Also, although we are staying two nights, we will only have one full day for seeing the island. Are there particular museums you liked better than others (they all seem to get mixed reviews, especially the Chichu). Thanks so much for your advice!
Written August 5, 2019
Yes I agree with mickyhk, Ando is the architect designer of the Benesse House. There is the Ando museum in the same vicinity as the Art House project. The Art a House project is a series of old houses that have been repurposed to house contemporary art. Art house and Benesse house are very close by bus, bike or walk
Written March 15, 2016
I have a few days in Osaka at the end of my japan tour and considering whether to visit Naoshima. the journey there seems rather daunting, several train rides and a ferry over 3 hours. are there any other options eg by coach? or day tour?
Written May 1, 2015
I don't know any other way of getting there...but it's worth it. I stayed on Shikoku but would recommend staying on Naoshima.
Written March 16, 2016
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