How to get to the Chichu Art Museum: ferries, the island bus and the shuttle

The shape of the trip

Think of the trip in four legs. First, reach a mainland port: Uno on the Okayama side, or Takamatsu on the Shikoku side. Second, cross to Naoshima by ferry or high-speed boat. Third, ride the Naoshima town bus from the port towards Tsutsuji-so. Fourth, take the free Benesse Art Site shuttle from Tsutsuji-so to the Chichu Art Museum.

Each leg is short, but they do not always connect neatly. Ferries run to their own timetable, the town bus to another and the shuttle to a third. The safest approach is to choose your museum slot after you have looked at the sailings for your day, not before.

If you are staying on Naoshima, the trip is simply the last two legs. If you are coming for the day from Okayama, Kurashiki, Takamatsu or further, plan the whole chain.

From Uno, on the Okayama side

Uno port is the shortest crossing. Ferries and high-speed boats run from Uno to Miyanoura, Naoshima's main harbour, in about 20 minutes. A high-speed passenger boat also runs from Uno to Honmura, on the east side of the island, in about 20 minutes.

Uno port is about three minutes on foot from Uno station, which makes it the natural gateway for travellers coming by train from Okayama. Ferries and passenger boats use different piers at Uno and at Miyanoura, so check which one your sailing uses before you walk down.

Because the crossing is short, Uno makes it easier to fit the ferry around an entry time. Check both the outward and return sailings for your date.

From Takamatsu, on the Shikoku side

From Takamatsu, ferries reach Miyanoura in about an hour, and a high-speed passenger boat runs the same route. Takamatsu port is about five minutes on foot from Takamatsu station.

As at Uno, the ferry and the high-speed boat leave from different piers, both at Takamatsu and at Miyanoura. The timetables differ on weekdays and weekends, and some sailings marked as high-speed run only at certain times, so look at the current timetable for your exact date.

Takamatsu suits travellers who are already on Shikoku or who want to combine Naoshima with the city and its gardens. Allow for the longer crossing when you choose your museum slot.

Arriving at Miyanoura

Most visitors land at Miyanoura, a small harbour with a modern ferry terminal. The town bus starts here. Rental bicycles and motorcycles are available in Miyanoura and Honmura, and the Naoshima Tourism Association lists the options.

If you have luggage, think about it before you leave the port. The museum does not allow large items such as suitcases inside; they go in coin lockers or are left at the Chichu Art Museum Ticket Center. Travelling light for the museum day makes every leg easier.

Give yourself a few minutes to get your bearings. The bus can be busy when a ferry has just docked.

The Naoshima town bus

The Naoshima town bus runs from Miyanoura port, stops briefly in the Honmura area, where the Art House Project and the ANDO MUSEUM are, and continues to Tsutsuji-so. Beyond Tsutsuji-so lies the Benesse Art Site area, where the museums are.

The town bus is run for islanders as well as visitors, and residents have priority. On busy days you may have to let a bus go and wait for the next. Build that possibility into your plan rather than relying on the first departure after your ferry.

Check the town bus timetable for your day. If you are tight for time, the bus is usually the leg where a few extra minutes of margin make the difference.

The free shuttle to the museum

From Tsutsuji-so, a free shuttle bus runs through the Benesse Art Site area to the Chichu Art Museum, stopping at the Benesse House Museum and the Lee Ufan Museum on the way. On days when many visitors are expected, it runs every 20 minutes.

The shuttle drops you by the Chichu Art Museum Ticket Center, which is also where you can wait for the return shuttle, buy drinks at the Ticket Center Shop and leave large bags. Night Program visitors gather at the Ticket Center.

You can also walk the stretch from Tsutsuji-so. The area between the East gate near Tsutsuji-so and the North gate near the Lee Ufan Museum is private land, with many outdoor artworks along the way, and the operator recommends exploring it on foot.

Cycling and driving

Bicycles are a popular way round Naoshima, and you can rent them in Miyanoura and Honmura. The private area between the East gate and the North gate is closed to cars, motorcycles and bicycles unless you are staying at Benesse House, so cyclists park before the gate or at the Chichu Art Museum Ticket Center.

There are parking areas for cars, motorcycles and bicycles at the Ticket Center and near Tsutsuji-so. Coaches entering the Benesse House area need advance permission, which matters only if you are travelling with a large group.

In summer, remember that the island is hilly in places and the sun is strong. Arriving hot and rushed is not the best start to rooms designed for slow looking.

How much margin to leave

Your ticket is valid for the time you reserved, and the museum does not change dates or times. Work backwards from your slot: the shuttle from Tsutsuji-so, the town bus from the port, and the crossing from the mainland, each with a little slack.

A sensible rule is to plan to reach the Ticket Center well before your entry time, and to choose a sailing that leaves you comfortable even if one bus is full. If you are coming from Takamatsu, the longer crossing makes a mid-morning or early-afternoon slot easier than the very first one at 10:00.

If you want a second opinion, send us your ferry and your preferred time before you book. We will tell you whether the plan looks realistic.

A sample day from Okayama

From Okayama, the usual route is to travel to Uno, walk three minutes to the port and take the ferry or high-speed boat to Miyanoura, about 20 minutes. From the port, the town bus takes you towards Tsutsuji-so, and the free shuttle brings you to the Chichu Art Museum Ticket Center.

Build the day backwards from your museum slot. If your slot is in the early afternoon, a late-morning crossing gives you time for lunch near the port and an unhurried bus ride. If your slot is at 10:00 or 10:15, consider staying on the island the night before.

On the way back, the museum closes at 17:00 and the café at 16:45. Allow for the shuttle, the bus and the walk to the right pier at Miyanoura.

A sample day from Takamatsu

From Takamatsu, walk about five minutes from the station to the port and take the ferry to Miyanoura, about an hour. The high-speed boat is quicker but leaves from a different pier, so check which you are booked on.

Because the crossing is longer, a mid-morning or afternoon museum slot is easier to reach than the first of the day. Give the island legs the same margin as from Uno: the town bus to Tsutsuji-so, then the shuttle.

If you are combining Naoshima with other islands, remember that each route keeps its own timetable and weekend pattern.

If something goes wrong on the way

Your museum ticket is valid for the time you reserved on your date, and the museum does not change dates or times. That is why margin matters more than speed. If a bus is full, wait for the next one calmly; this is the scenario your margin is for.

If the weather closes the museum, as can happen in a typhoon, you get your money back in full for a date we booked. If the ferries are disrupted while the museum stays open, write to us as soon as you can and we will tell you what can be done.

Arriving at Honmura instead

The high-speed passenger boat from Uno to Honmura, about 20 minutes, lands you on the east side of the island, close to the Art House Project and the ANDO MUSEUM. It is a good choice if you plan to start the day in Honmura and reach Chichu later.

The town bus links Honmura with Tsutsuji-so, where the free shuttle to the museum begins, and with Miyanoura port. Check the bus timetable for your day, because connecting from a Honmura arrival to an early museum slot can be tight.

On the way back, you can return the same way or take the bus to Miyanoura for a ferry to Uno or Takamatsu. Whichever you choose, confirm the departure pier before you set off.

Getting back, and the Night Program

After a daytime visit, the shuttle and town bus take you back to Miyanoura for the ferry. The café inside the museum opens until 16:45, and the museum closes at 17:00, so a late-afternoon sailing suits most daytime visits.

After the Night Program, which finishes after dark for much of the year, check the last sailings carefully. In 2026 the program ended at about 17:40 in late November and December, but at about 20:00 in June and July. Staying a night on Naoshima removes the pressure entirely.

Typhoons can disrupt ferries as well as close the museum. If the museum closes on a date we booked for you, you get your money back in full; ferry tickets follow the ferry operator's own terms.