A 3-day, 2-night tour of the Seto Inland Sea Triennale 2025: A trip to Naoshima and Teshima based in Uno Port, Okayama Prefecture
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The Seto Inland Sea Triennale, which is held every three years, will kick off again in April 2025. This time, we will introduce a model plan for a three-day, two-night art trip based in Uno Port, Okayama Prefecture.
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Onko Chishin specializes in the operation of destination hotels, produced and managed by Onko Chishin. Inviting people out to destinations and contributing to the local revitalization—moving forward we aim to incorporate lodgings with a new sense of individuality in our lineup.
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Table of Contents
- What is the Seto Inland Sea Triennale 2025? A special experience that combines art and nature
- Day 1: Explore the art of Naoshima from Uno Port in Okayama Prefecture
- The perfect hotel for an art trip: "SETOUCHI KEIRIN HOTEL 10 by Onko Chishin"
- Day 2: Enjoy the fusion of nature and art in Teshima
- Day 3: Enjoy art and Japanese culture at the roadside station around Uno Station and Uno Port
- Access from Okayama Airport to Uno Port
What is the Seto Inland Sea Triennale 2025? A special experience that combines art and nature
The Seto Inland Sea Triennale is a festival of international contemporary art that represents Japan and is held once every three years on the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. Through the exhibition of artists' works and collaborations with local culture, you can experience the charm of the islands' culture and history.
Day 1: Explore the art of Naoshima from Uno Port in Okayama Prefecture
Take a ferry from Uno Port in Okayama Prefecture to Naoshima (Miyanoura). The journey takes about 20 minutes.
The time flies by as you enjoy views of the islands in the Seto Inland Sea.
Please refer to the official website for the timetable from Uno Port to Naoshima (Miyanoura).
Seto Inland Sea is widely known as the main location of the Setouchi Triennale, and the museums and artworks scattered throughout the island attract many visitors.
Naoshima is home to many famous art museums, including the Benesse House Museum, designed by architect Tadao Ando, the Chichu Art Museum, which spreads out underground, and the Lee Ufan Museum, which exhibits the works of Lee Ufan.
However, Naoshima's attractions are not limited to its art museums.
The outdoor artworks scattered around the island, including Yayoi Kusama's iconic "Pumpkin," are also worth visiting. The "Art House Project," which is being carried out mainly in the Honmura district of Naoshima, is currently renovating seven houses and temples and shrines, skillfully blending them with contemporary art while preserving the island's culture. You can feel the leisurely flow of time and life on the island as you stroll around.
And the best way to get around the island is by bicycle.
There are slopes in some parts of the island, but the moment you feel the cool island breeze and see the beautiful view of the Seto Inland Sea is a spectacular sight.
Electric bicycles are also available for rental, so even those with low physical strength can enjoy the tour comfortably.
The perfect hotel for an art trip: "SETOUCHI KEIRIN HOTEL 10 by Onko Chishin"
Returning from Naoshima to Uno Port, we would like to recommend SETOUCHI KEIRIN HOTEL 10 by Onko Chishin as a base for your art trip.
SETOUCHI KEIRIN HOTEL 10 by Onko Chishin
Located next to Tamano Keirin Stadium, this is Japan's first hotel integrated into a stadium. 126 of the 149 rooms face the track, allowing you to watch the cyclists practice and experience the excitement of the races up close on race days.
It is only about a 10-minute drive from Uno Port and Uno Station, making it convenient for travel.
Some rooms offer a spectacular view of the calm Seto Inland Sea. The view from the window is like a part of a work of art, allowing you to feel the afterglow of an art trip during your stay.
And for the best part of traveling, the food, why not try Cafe & Restaurant FORQ, where you can eat while looking out at the bicycle racing track that stretches out before you?
Cafe & Restaurant FORQ
A restaurant serving a wide variety of creative cuisine using ingredients from the Setouchi area of Okayama. Located inside Tamano Seto Inland Sea, overlooking the stadium.
For dinner, we offer a wide variety of options, from snacks and a la carte dishes that go well with alcohol, to course meals including roast beef bowls made with seasonal fresh fish and local meat. Please enjoy the bounty of Seto Inland Sea.
Day 2: Enjoy the fusion of nature and art in Teshima
And on the second day, we will go to "Teshima". We will travel by ferry from Uno Port to Teshima (Ieura Port), just like Naoshima. The journey takes about 40 minutes.
Please refer to the official website for timetables .
Teshima, like Naoshima, is dotted with a wide variety of art museums and artworks. Another great thing about island travel is being able to enjoy the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea and the islands along the way.
First, there is Teshima Art Museum, Teshima's most famous art museum.
This museum, which features a building shaped like a drop of water, is a special space that can be called architectural art, unlike traditional paintings and sculptures. Standing inside the dome, which resonates with the sounds and light of nature, you can experience the mysterious sensation of being one with nature.
After viewing the exhibit, we recommend relaxing at the attached cafe.
Afterwards, we went to a seaside restaurant where we could enjoy the spectacular view of Teshima. The view from the beautiful terrace seats was truly "photogenic." If you come early, you can visit without a reservation and enjoy light meals such as pasta made with local ingredients.
Teshima is also home to the Heart Archive, an art museum where you can listen to the heartbeats of people from all over the world.
Here, artist Christian Boltanski permanently preserves the heartbeats of various people as proof of their lives and exhibits them as artwork. You can also record your own heartbeat, making this a mysterious art experience.
A tour of Teshima will give you a moving art experience that is different from that of Naoshima.
Additionally, the art museums on Naoshima and Teshima introduced here can be booked in advance, so if you want to enjoy your visit smoothly, please consider making a reservation.
Day 3: Enjoy art and Japanese culture at the roadside station around Uno Station and Uno Port
You can actually enjoy an art trip in the vicinity of Uno Port. Around Uno Station and Uno Port, the gateway to Tamano City in Okayama Prefecture, there are plenty of spots where you can enjoy art and local culture.
We also recommend visiting roadside stations, which are an integral part of Japanese culture. Be sure to check out Miyama Park Roadside Station in Tamano City.
It is recommended when purchasing local specialties. Roadside stations sell freshly picked local vegetables and fish, as well as flowers, rice, and other local products that can only be purchased here, making them a popular spot with locals.
There is also a cafe that uses the vegetables and fresh fish sold at the roadside station, so be sure to enjoy a meal while you soothe your travel fatigue.
Miyama Cafe PUUT
A park cafe where you can enjoy healthy meals made with plenty of ingredients from Tamano. It is attached to the "Miyama Park Roadside Station," so please feel free to stop by on your days off or between shopping.
Closed: Every Tuesday *Cafe opening hours may vary depending on the season and operating conditions.
Access from Okayama Airport to Uno Port
It takes about an hour and a half to get from Okayama Airport to Uno Port by bus and train. It takes about 3 to 5 minutes on foot from Uno Station to Uno Port.
Onko Chishin specializes in the operation of destination hotels, produced and managed by Onko Chishin. Inviting people out to destinations and contributing to the local revitalization—moving forward we aim to incorporate lodgings with a new sense of individuality in our lineup.
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