Benesse House Museum

Serene spectacular architecture in a wonderful setting. I had read a couple of reviews that made me dampen my expectations. But this is much better than I anticipated. Like many amazing architectural buildings, they can be seen as dated. But Benesse house is about staying in an amazing architects creation that empathises with its surroundings. As Ando uses a lot, a lot- of concrete it’s important the buildings are timeless. I am currently staying in the park wing in a ground floor room. The view is pretty amazing, had a lovely bath and while in some ways basic, I have been travelling through Japan for three weeks in high end accommodation and this has a special feel to it because if it’s pedigree.

A highlight of our Japan Art tour was having the opportunity to stay here to experience the Setouchi Triennale and all that is have to offer. The Tadao Ando designed hotel and museum was conceived with the idea of co-existence of nature, art and architecture. Guests are able to visit the museum 24 hours a day if they choose to. The two restaurants - the French Terrace restaurant and Japanese Issen restaurant were beautifully curated dining experiences. And you get to have Yayoi’s pumpkin located on the grounds all to yourself too.

Benesse House Museum is a beautiful space. The architecture and the way natural light is used make it a perfect setting for the artworks on display. It feels like both the building and the art are in conversation with the landscape around them. One room that stood out to me in particular was the central cylindrical space, which I found absolutely striking. I highly recommend sitting there for a while and just taking it all in. If you go at 08:00, you might have the entire museum to yourself, which makes the experience even more special. 19:00 is also a great time to visit, as most hotel guests are having dinner and the place is nearly empty. I had the whole museum for myself and as it was getting darker, I felt like a curious wanderer, sneaking quietly through the museum while seeing the wealthy dine nearby.

A very special place - a hotel in a museum designed by Tadao Ando. The opportunity to visit the artworks 24/7. Two very good restaurants. Complimentary bus service across the island. Not exactly a bargain but worth the money. Simply the best starting point for exploring Naoshima.

We stayed at the Park Benesse House and had a lovely view of the park. The room had the beautiful Japanese design with beautiful lines and lighting. The bed was very comfortable with luxurious linens. The Japanese dinner was a delectable 2 hour dining experience. We walked all around the island and really enjoyed seeing the Benesse museum after it was closed to the public. Would highly recommend experiencing Naoshima island. The service is top of the line.

Such a special experience getting to stay in the museum. The views from the rooms are beautiful and it’s so fun getting to explore the hotel after hours. We’ll be recommending it to everyone we know who travels to Japan. Docked a point because the Terrace restaurant needs some help- the service wasn’t great and the food was forgettable.

Didn't stay here but visited the museum. Best to buy tickets online since they are usually sold out if you are planning to buy onsite. Its also cheaper online via their website. This museum is very lovely. Every piece of it is simply delightful in the eye. Love how minimalist the art are but very impactful. Overall highly recommend visiting this museum.

The entrance fee is 1500 yen and buying online is 1300 yen. Better get it in your home country before visiting otherwise it might experience some transaction problems like us. The architecture of this museum is massive, feel the building harmony with the environment and the view is worth everything. Some of tourists girls thought they are centre of attention asked their parents taking thousands of pictures is quite annoying.

Small museum (s), nice architecture and mediocre contemporary art... not a a huge collection. No photography - I don't know why - we did it anyway... overpriced admission cost for the size. Nice nature scenes on island. Ferry runs about every 1/2 hour from Uno Port and other locations. No bicycles in the museum areas ... so you will walk until you drop up and down hills... The "free shuttles' are few and far in between. None of them run around lunch time. Public buses also only run up to the edge of the Museum area... but more often. If you want a bike you should reserve well in advance - and again, not permitted near the museum areas. A taxi is a good option - allowed onto museum roads as well.

I do love museums but am not a fan of contemporary art. I heard so much about this place and since i finally made it Naoshima, my friend and I decided to check it out. The entrance fee was a bit pricey and of course the food in the cafe were also higher than normal. The view from the cafe though was really pretty and we had a relaxing time. The art? Not impressed at all.

BOTTOM LINE: Go to IG to see pics of the amazing space and exhibits. I have mixed feelings about *all* of my museum visits on Naoshima. On the one hand, the most impressive aspect of these museums is easily the phenomenal design and vision of the spaces, all made to specifically highlight the exhibits (as such, the exhibits do NOT seem to change). Benesse House is no different. From the winding path to the entrance, the the multi-leveled spaces with cavernous rooms that play with light, sound and design, and outdoor verandas that meld into the landscape, it truly was an unforgettable experience. For me, room housing Bruce Nauman's "100 Live and Die" was the absolute highlight for me here. HOWEVER, the aggressive "no picture" policy was so incredibly disruptive that even if you weren't taking pictures, the constant piercing gazes of staff and the bee-line they made for others who did try to take picture made for an incredibly jarring experience in what should've been relaxing and zen-like. Sure, a place can set their own rules, but if you feel that art should be shared and discussed (as many world class museums seem to shaer; e.g., the Broad, MOMA, the Pompidou, Tate Modern, etc.), then this will surely be a downer.

Return me to the Benesse House, Naoshima, Japan. To a place of incommunicable beauty and serenity. Where contemporary art, architecture, and nature blend seamlessly. The grandeur of Tadao Ando's genius manifested in concrete, glass, and steel. This museum showcasing artwork, is itself, a work of art. With time at a disadvantage, the Oval could not be experienced. Assuming photos are an injustice, I will stay awhile, when I return to the Benesse House, Naoshima, Japan.

Skip it! Most of it is only open to hotel guests. Other areas were closed. A few cool pieces but not worth it

Came to Naoshima for a day trip and did Benesse House, Chi Chu and Lee Ufan, in that order. Note that I am not an art enthusiast, so none of the art "awakened" me or anything. You'll probably spend the most time in this museum, mainly because there's more in it, and because the grounds are nice. Very few other tourists.