The Setouchi Art Islands.
Ando concrete, a Monet room underground and a spotted pumpkin on a pier — the strongest contemporary-art sell in Japan, and a day that fails without planning.
How long is the The Setouchi Art Islands itinerary and who is it for?
6 nights. Collectors, architects, design-led clients and repeat visitors who have done the Golden Route and want the trip nobody at home has taken.
Last updated: 6 July 2026
Why it runs in this order.
Base on the island rather than commuting to it. The islands empty at five and that is when they are worth being on.
More on the region is on the destination guide.
The programme.
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Days 1–2Osaka or Okayama
Arrive Kansai. A night to reset, then across to Uno and the ferry — or straight in via Takamatsu if the routing suits.
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Days 3–4Naoshima
Chichu and Lee Ufan on timed entry booked months ahead, the Art House Projects in Honmura, and the island to yourselves after the last ferry out.
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Day 5Teshima
The Teshima Art Museum, which is one room and water and is the thing people remember longest. Ferries are infrequent; this is a planned day, not an improvised one.
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Day 6Takamatsu
Ritsurin Garden at opening, Sanuki udon made rather than eaten, and the Isamu Noguchi garden museum by appointment.
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Day 7Takamatsu or Okayama
Out, or two hours to Kyoto if the client is combining.
What the net rate covers.
- Six nights, with at least two on Naoshima itself
- All museum entries pre-booked on timed slots
- Ferry timings built into the itinerary rather than left to chance
- A guide who can talk about the architecture, not only the collection
- Luggage forwarded around the ferry legs
- 24/7 duty desk
What it does not.
- International air
- Most meals — the islands have few tables and we book them individually
- Travel insurance
When to ask.
Six to nine months. Benesse House rooms and Chichu slots are the constraint, and Mondays are a closure day that catches people out.
The Setouchi Art Islands — what agents ask.
How long is the The Setouchi Art Islands itinerary?
6 nights. Base on the island rather than commuting to it. The islands empty at five and that is when they are worth being on.
Who is the The Setouchi Art Islands programme for?
Collectors, architects, design-led clients and repeat visitors who have done the Golden Route and want the trip nobody at home has taken.
How far ahead does it need booking?
Six to nine months. Benesse House rooms and Chichu slots are the constraint, and Mondays are a closure day that catches people out.
What does Explera quote for this?
A confidential net rate to the travel agent, which you mark up yourself. We do not publish prices and we do not sell to your client — everything runs white-label under your brand.
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Suzuka and the Golden Route
The race as the centrepiece of a proper Japan trip, rather than a long-haul flight for three days at a circuit.
The Golden Route, Properly
Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto — the itinerary every operator sells, built so it does not feel like the itinerary every operator sells.
Hokkaido Powder and Culture
The best snow in the world with something to do when it stops falling, which is what separates a Japan ski trip from a Japan ski holiday.
Onsen and Craft
Gold leaf, lacquer, a hearth and a hot spring — the trip for a client who has seen Kyoto and wants to make something rather than photograph it.
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