Guided Tour to Naoshima, Art, Island with a private car

We had an amazing day with Yoshiko in Naoshima. From the very beginning, she was extremely helpful and thoughtful, and even called us the night before the tour to discuss our travel plans from Okayama when we were concerned about arriving on time. We wanted to hit all of the major museums (Bennesse House, Chichu, and Lee Ufan, plus the art house project and the Yayoi Kusama pumpkins), which she told us not everyone is able to do in one day. But she kept us on schedule so that we were able to do it all, which was exactly what we wanted. Visiting Naoshima was made so much better by having her guide us, as we were not wasting time looking up directions or waiting for buses - she knew the best way to structure the itinerary, the best/fastest way to get around, including the exact bus and ferry timetables, and she navigated us expertly around the island while explaining the history of the projects and other interesting facts about the island. Going with her allowed us to experience the art and the island in full, and to effectively outsource some of the logistical work so that we could focus on maximizing our enjoyment. Yoshiko has lived in and around Naoshima all of her life and she brings her knowledge and experience as a retired teacher to bear as a guide. She is attuned to the way of life on the island and the development of art islands in Japan and art projects on Naoshima. Her flexibility and ease with which she navigated the island made our lives easier. It was very easy to put ourselves in her hands, and she gave us ample time and space to be at peace with and behold the art. As a result, it was a moving and relaxing experience. For those interested in visiting Naoshima, this is an excellent way to do so and well worth the cost.

I really enjoyed my day on Naoshima, made all the better by your guide Yoji. So much to see in one day and I was expertly taken round, it would have been very difficult to see everything if I was doing all the museums and art installations on my own as things are spread out over the island, and require various tickets etc. Yoji also explained so much about the various exhibits, buildings, history of the island and more that it brought it all life, making things interesting, memorable and understandable. Thank you, well worth the fee, i would encourage anyone to use your guide. Moira

Naoshima is an unforgettable experience into art of modern Japan, but most importantly, it reveals the evolution of the traditional Zen gardens centered in Kyoto into the architectural Zen gardens throughout Naoshima. The spirit is the same although the context is different. You cannot appreciate this powerful and fundamental growth without visiting the art centers themselves.