Japan 2024 # Naoshima island
Added 2025-09-20 18:48:57 +0000 UTCNaoshima. The island of art. The island of museums. The island I didn’t really understand.
Maybe it’s because at the start of the trip I wasn’t feeling well — I was nauseous, sleepy, hot — and on top of that, we had to take a ferry to get there.
People travel to Naoshima to see famous art objects by Japanese and international artists. And the idea itself is actually great. The island has a whole system of buildings — museums, restaurants, hotels. You can either get around in a golf cart or walk and turn it into a little hike.
And honestly — the museums were architecturally interesting, the art installations impressive. We even saw the original Water-Lily Pond by Claude Monet.
But what I loved most were the shells and little stones Gary and I found on one of the beaches. As silly as it may sound :) We already have this tradition — wherever we are, in Portugal, in Japan or in Mexico, we always bring back small treasures from the shore.
Maybe I just didn’t connect with this place. Maybe I don’t fully understand Asian culture yet. But making such a long journey just for these art objects didn’t feel worth it (forgive me, Claude Monet).
As an experience, though — it was wonderful.
What I enjoyed most was the small village on the island’s coast — seeing real daily life, having coffee in a tiny café, petting a cat. That gave me far more emotions than the museums themselves.
What’s more memorable for you when you travel — the big “must-see” spots or the small everyday moments?
