Exploring the World of Naoshima

Before the Setouchi Triennale 2025, let's explore this sacred island, a pilgrimage site for many art enthusiasts. With limited time, there's a debate on whether to visit Naoshima or Teshima, or even attempt a whirlwind tour of both in one day. However, once on Naoshima, its charm convinced us to change to the latest ferry. The art installations, road designs, and graffiti corners are endless to explore. The most famous are Yayoi Kusama's red and yellow pumpkins, located at the start and end of the journey. A red polka-dotted pumpkin bus picks you up, adding to the fun. (Thanks to the driver for waiting for us to exchange money and even coming to find us!) Biking is also a great option due to the long bus intervals. Our route was casual, planning to wander and stop. We took a bus to "Art House Project," where a fascinating installation resembling a plastic bubble is actually a bike parking lot. A few steps away, you can taste Naoshima gelato from a small window shop run by one person, offering fruit sherbet and classic flavors like milk and matcha. Without many stops, we transferred at the station to visit the Chichu Art Museum. Initially, we didn't specifically look for the yellow pumpkin, but spotted it as a glowing dot in the distance during the bus ride, planning to visit on the way back. On the uphill journey, the driver pointed out a raccoon and cat eating together, which turned out to be a local tanuki. We rushed back to see this amusing pair, more fascinated by the journey than the art itself. We enjoyed blending in with the locals and wandering around. As the sun set, we walked along the beach to our last stop of the day. The yellow pumpkin glowed against the sea, but the backlight made it hard to capture. Instead, we sat on the grass, waiting for the sunset. Over half the visitors were Westerners, with bikini-clad women on the beach, people drinking beer in the sea, and a man swimming past the yellow pumpkin. Watching them, I realized I'm not that carefree, avoiding getting my shoes wet or swimming. Quoting "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," "Sometimes, I don't 📷, I just stay, in it." Some moments can't be captured by a camera; it's better to enjoy them. #Takamatsu #SetouchiTriennale #Naoshima #YayoiKusamaPumpkin