Shake hands with La Gioconda

Mona Lisa at Otsuka Art Museum

Yes, it's possible here at Otsuka Museum of Art Naruto, Tokushima. You are allowed to shake hands with her, meaning you can touch the masterpieces. Just they are not original but meticulous reproductions using the ceramic tiles an Otsuka group company produces. Unlike original paintings, they last almost forever with proper maintenance as necessary. They are replaceable even when damaged or broken. And you are sure to enjoy the proximity with the paintings. Besides, where else can you get to see all those artworks at one time?


All the masterpieces you saw in your art textbook gather here,  in addition to those whose titles you might not know but which are nevertheless important in art history.


The museum stands close to the bridge called the Grand Naruto Bridge connecting Shikoku and Awajishima islands.


You can spend a couple of hours easily there. Half a day - yes. All day - if you like it, meaning if your energy lasts. The volume is enormous. 


Free museum tours are available basically in Japanese but audio guide equipment is prepared and they come with an English channel. 


Basically drinks and food should not be brought into but it's possible to drink and eat something easy at the tables and chairs placed out the buildings, like at a terrace and on the grass. My husband and I used the table on the terrace near Monet's waterlily paintings, the originals of which are displayed at Musée de l'Orangerie.


Combined with the bridge visit, where you can see dynamic whirl pools if you come at the right time, the tour to the museum makes one interesting day. 

Let's dine at Teshima Island

Shima Kitchen

Shima Kitchen and IL Vent. Both were built on the occasion of the 1st International Art Festival Setouchi. They serve good food and drinks and are good food and art spaces.

IL VENT

Teshima Museum part of the surrounding hills

Teshima Art Museum & white clover

This time, the Teshima Art Museum in early summer. White clovers were in bloom. The wild flowers matched naturally the terraced rice paddies nearby, enabling the landscape to retain its original idyllic atmosphere. 

The shell of the museum and the cafe/shop are pretty thin; 25 cm. I heard NISHIZAWA wanted to make it thinner like 15 cm. 

The shell is beautifully done. Considering the construction people couldn't see the inner surface of the shell when they were pouring the concrete mixture on top of the joined steel rods which were assembled on the earth mound which formed the museum, they did a splendid job. In addition they couldn't fix the inner surface after the mound was taken. In ordinary constructions, they can polish and complete the inner surface but not in this case. So there was no rehearsal or fixing; only the real act.

The inner space of the museum stretches row and horizontal, making it different from common domes.

Seasons come around and it seems to be an endless journey we're living but nothing stays the same and all are transient. That's the way all things are.

Museum cafe/shop

The Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum

Prelude before stepping into Noguchi World

Kagawa prefecture is trying to emphasize on its artistic properties. One of them is the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum in Aji, Takamatsu city. Some 30 minutes away by car from the JR Takamatsu Station.

Reservation required so you need to prepare in advance but worth visiting. Isamu Noguchi said art has to be a gift to future generations otherwise it's not worthwhile. The place is inspiring and peaceful. The museum under the same name in Long Island, New York City, came first. This museum opened after Isamu's death in accordance with his will.

Leave big cities and come to Shikoku, where many pilgrims wearing a white costume and a light brown conical hat are frequently spotted. They are visiting all or some of the 88 temples established in Shikoku in the 9th century by Kukai though their seriousness will vary in level. But they all would like to know themselves more I believe.

How Isamu spent his days in Mure I wonder. Having two cultural backgrounds and a complicated relationship with his Japanese father must have affected him greatly; sometimes in difficult ways because of the times he had to live through and other times as blessing.

Click HERE to know a bit more about the museum.

Isamu-ya, Noguchi's residence, 
is seen among the trees

Naoshima's cat cafe

Here's one of the latest additions to Naoshima fun: a cat cafe Nyao-shima (in Japan cats go nyao instead of meow). You can drink something and in a separate room can play with the cats.

The Oval Wing of the Benesse House

The green panels are doors to each room.

Here are some photos of the Oval Wing at the Benesse House in Naoshima. Only overnight guests are allowed to come this far. The location is fantastic and the suite room is artistic though the wing was built in 1994 and the facilities were not latest. 

It stands on the hill and full of nature. wild plants grow on the rooftop garden and colorful caterpillars are casually seen on the exterior walls or floors. 

The suite room looks like this. All Benesse House rooms are adorned with artworks, and so is the Oval suite.

Must be good for special occasions.

Oval suite

Chichu Cafe invites you to the Inland Sea

All people went outside @ Chichu Cafe

The Chichu Art Museum designed by ANDO Tadao barely stands up above the ground. Most of the construction is buried in the ground and you practically do not see the exterior of the museum. But that enabled the long slit made between the concrete mass above and the one below. The long slit bending at one point is void without any support. 

The excitement of the museum visit will be boosted by dropping by Chichu Cafe where the scenery outside will make you refreshed. 

Just like in this photo, visitors feel like going outside and chill. 

View from the Museum Wing of Benesse House

Time exposed by SUGIMOTO

Here's a photo taken from a room on the 2nd floor of the Museum Wing, Benesse House, Naoshima. 

From the balcony are seen Time Exposed, a series of monochrome photos of the horizon taken at many locations of the world by SUGIMOTO Hiroshi. Beyond the artwork lies the Inland Sea, dotted with countless islands and islets (though someone in charge counted and in fact there are 727 islands with their circumferences 100 meters or longer; about 3000 if the smaller ones are included).

Two of my fellow guides and I shared the room. Very pleasant. The room was comfortably large and we didn't feel we were too close. But one of the beds was simpler and smaller, being brought into the room to accommodate three of us.

The Benesse House is located on an island. Do not expect the convenience you appreciate at hotels in big cities. But the island has a lot to offer which you cannot experience in Tokyo, Osaka, or even in Kyoto.

The Inland Sea is only here and this collaboration of nature, art, and architecture is specific only at this site. The island let you experience more than convenient wi-fi system you usually would like to have.

However, don't despair. I did log on to the Net while staying there, not in my room but in the public space where the system was available. Due to some complications, it took some time for me to finally log on to the system but the staffer was kind and caring. 

After all another memory at Naoshima was added and I'm happy.

Monorail at Benesse House

Monorail at Benesse House

This monorail is only accessible to the guests who stay overnight at the Benesse House accommodations comprising four wings. 

First, the Museum wing was built in 1992, followed by the Oval, then the Beach and Park wings. All were designed by ANDO Tadao, a Pritzker Architecture Prize winner who was also in charge for the Chichu Art Museum built in 2004 and Lee Ufan Museum in 2010 both located on Naoshima Island.

If you choose a room at the Museum wing, you are practically staying in a contemporary museum. In addition, your room is also spiced up with a few artworks.

Staying in the Oval wing gives you a new and memorable experience. Going up there by monorail is already a bit of excitement. The Oval wing is on the top of the hill but it does not rise high; rather it appears to be part of the terrain and surroundings.

The Park is my favorite and affordable among the four. It stands in the "park" adorned with artworks. The veranda of the room provides you with a lovely view of the park hosting dreamy artworks including George Ricky's kinetic piece placed close to this wing.

The Beach stands almost on the beach and the sound of waves can be constantly heard once its windows are open.

The photo is the monorail running between the Museum and the Oval. It's a thrilling approach to one different type of accommodation where you should slow down and watch sunset on the horizon.