Chichu Art Museum

Chichu Art Museum is an architectural masterpiece designed by Tadao Ando, built almost entirely subterranean to preserve the natural scenery of the Seto Inland Sea. Despite being underground, its concrete corridors and galleries are intentionally flooded with changing natural light that illuminates permanent installations, including works by Claude Monet. Visiting this modern art landmark on Naoshima requires booking tickets well in advance.

Commenters view Naoshima as an emotional, bucket-list destination and consider it a must-visit cultural hub in Japan. While the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive with high enthusiasm for Ando's architecture, some repeat visitors express disappointment over the rise in overtourism over the past decade. Others appreciate visiting during the off-season, such as December, for a much more tranquil experience.