Chichu Art Museum

The Chichu Art Museum opened in 2004 on Naoshima, a small island in Japan's Seto Inland Sea. Designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando, the museum was commissioned by the Benesse Corporation as part of their broader art project transforming Naoshima into a contemporary art destination.

The museum's architectural significance lies in Ando's masterful use of concrete, natural light, and geometric forms. The building is constructed primarily below ground level, with carefully designed openings that channel sunlight into the exhibition spaces throughout the day, creating an ever-changing interplay between art, architecture, and nature.

The permanent collection features works by only three artists: Claude Monet, James Turrell, and Walter De Maria. The museum houses five paintings from Monet's Water Lilies series in a specially designed room that uses only natural light, allowing visitors to experience the works as the artist intended.

Turrell's three installations manipulate light and space to alter perception, while De Maria's Time/Timeless/No Time presents a large-scale sculptural installation featuring a 2.2-meter diameter granite sphere and gilded wooden sculpture in a dramatically lit concrete space.

Chichu Art Museum is located in the southern part of Naoshima Island. From Miyanoura Port, the island's main ferry terminal, visitors can take the Benesse Art Site Naoshima shuttle bus directly to the museum, which takes approximately 20 minutes. Alternatively, rental bicycles and electric bikes are available at the port, though the route involves hilly terrain. From Honmura Port, the smaller eastern port, the museum is accessible by town bus or bicycle.

Admission costs ¥2,100 for adults and ¥1,050 for ages 15 and under. The ticket price includes entry to all exhibition spaces and installations. An additional fee applies for English-language audio guides, which provide detailed commentary on the artworks and architecture.