Discover Naoshima beyond its famous artworks through a walking experience created by a former Benesse House Museum staff member.

The experience begins at Miyanoura Port, where guests are introduced to the hidden history of the Seto Inland Sea. Before visiting the museums, the tour explores the history and culture that shaped Naoshima. This helps guests understand the connection between art, architecture, and nature.

The tour then continues to Naoshima Elementary School, where guests discover one of the island's earliest public artworks and an often-overlooked chapter in Naoshima's artistic history. Drawing on a personal connection to the artist's educational legacy, the guide shares unique stories and perspectives that reveal how contemporary art first began taking root on the island.

At Go'o Shrine, guests explore Hiroshi Sugimoto's philosophy through his published writings and discover that the shrine was designed not simply as a restoration project, but as an exploration of the relationship between nature, memory, and sacred space. One of the highlights of the experience is the mysterious natural light phenomenon inside the underground stone chamber. Because this rare event can only be witnessed on a few specific days each year, the guide presents original footage personally recorded over multiple visits, allowing guests to experience this remarkable moment regardless of the tour date.

The tour then visits a quiet hillside near Chichu Art Museum, where guests discover the hidden traces left by a contemporary artist whom the guide came to know personally while living overseas. Through years of personal research and conversations, the guide reveals a rarely shared artistic storey that most visitors never notice.

The tour continues inside Chichu Art Museum, where the guide shares exclusive insights gained through his experience as a former Benesse House Museum staff member. As guests explore the museum together, they discover the deeper philosophies, architectural vision, and subtle design details that reveal the extraordinary thinking behind one of Naoshima's most iconic museums.

The experience concludes at Benesse House Museum, where the guide previously worked and conducted gallery tours for visitors. His first-hand experience offers insights beyond guidebooks and audio guides, helping guests appreciate the museum as the culmination of Naoshima's vision of integrating contemporary art, architecture, and nature.

This experience is ideal for travellers interested in contemporary art, architecture, Japanese culture, and cultural history. Guests discover the stories and ideas behind Naoshima's world-famous contemporary art.