Sitting opposite the Seto Inland Sea on the arty island of Naoshima, Benesse House feels more like an art gallery than a hotel and that's mostly because it is. It is a contemporary museum with rooms and is an extraordinary place to stay for art lovers.
The best accommodation on the arty island Naoshima, with easy access to the staggering number of art galleries and exhibitions
Both a museum and a hotel, Benesse House is an extraordinary place to stay
Beautiful views as Benesse House is perched on the shores of Seto Island Sea
There's both French and Japanese dining, as well as a spa
Created by the incredibly well respected architect, Tadao Ando, Benesse House is the place to stay on the arty Japanese island of Naoshima. It brilliantly complements the natural surroundings and the blues of the Seto Inland Sea with its simple lines of concrete, glass and wood. The hotel isn't luxurious but it is stylish, functional and comfortable and most of the small complex has been designed to take in the sea views. Four buildings make up the property including Oval, Museum, Beach and Park. Availability is always very tight at Benesse House, and whilst we do everything to secure the best rooms, its just worth going with what you get as all the rooms are more than good enough.
Naoshima together with nearby Teshima and Inujima Island have become some of worlds most remarkable destinations for contemporary art and architecture, with humble beginnings that started 1987. Benesse House is at the forefront, showcasing some of the regions major art works, many of which wouldn't look out of place in the Tate Modern. Spend a couple of nights here and explore the dozens of galleries and exhibitions across these remarkable islands.
When to visit
Eat your kiseki dinner in Isse, Benesse House’s signature Japanese restaurant. After dinner take time to explore Benesse House museum at night, when it is closed to the public and exclusively open to hotel guests.
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Enquire NowBenesse House sits on the southern island shores of Naoshima, a small island that sits between Shikoku and Honshu.
From Tokyo, Hiroshima and Kyoto there is direct Shinkansen bullet trains to Okayama and after a private transfer to the port, where you catch your small ferry across to Naoshima.
