Naoshima is a lovely island within the Seto Inland Sea, known for its Mediterranean atmosphere, relaxed way of life, and in recent years, it’s fantastic arts scene. It is the main venue and considered the flagship of the ‘Setouchi Trienneale’ – see below for details – most recognisable for its seaside dotted pumpkin installation by artist Kusama Yayoi. Installations and museums across the island attract tens of thousands of visitors each year including the ‘Art House Project’, ‘Benesse House’, ‘Chichu Museum’ and much, much more.

There’s a decent range of accommodation on the island, mostly in the form of small guesthouses. The popularity of the arts festival means that accommodation prices can be quite high, especially so in summer when prices peak in August. If you’d like to stay on Naoshima, make sure to book well in advance, remembering that it can also be visited as a day-trip using ferry services from both Takamatsu on Shikoku and Uno Port in Okayama Prefecture on Honshu.