Art Islands of the Inland Sea in 5 days

Okayama, the capital of the prefecture with the same name, is a city that gets easily overlooked; half-way between Osaka and Hiroshima, few travelers decide to stop here unless traveling to Shikoku or the Art Islands.

Visiting nearby Kurashiki is a must. The town is famous for its canals dating from Edo period (1603 – 1867) when they were used in rice trade, transporting the grain between the warehouses and the port. The two main destinations were Osaka and Tokyo (Edo). Many of the white storehouses with black tiled roofs remain and are today museums, cafes, craft and souvenir shops.

 Never since Cinderella used it as her carriage, has a pumpkin been as famous as the Pumpkin sculpture by Yayoi Kusama on Naoshima Island. Here, Japanese billionaire Soichiro Fukutake created environment where art, architecture and natural surroundings work together as a unique art experience.  .

Inujima is the closest of the art islands to the city of Okayama. The island used to be known for copper smelting and granite quarrying; the granite was used for the stone walls of Osaka and Okayama Castles. The original population of the island is ageing, but thanks to the Benesse Art Site project and the museums that have opened on the island, there are now newcomers who run small businesses on the island.

 Teshima is an island of rich soil and mild climate and has been farmed since ancient times: rice, citrus fruit, olives and other crops go hand in hand with dairy industry and fishing. The island has a number of art spaces, but Teshima Art Museum designed by Ryue Nishizawa attracts most visitors.  

Honjima Island is west of the Seto Ohashi Bridge, which connects Honshu and Shikoku islands creating rode access between Okayama and Takamatsu. Its historic importance and Edo period buildings make it an interesting day trip into history of Seto Inland Sea.

Kasashima Town is an Edo period port town where around 20 wooden houses have been meticulously preserved. Most are private houses, while three are open to the public.

 Shodo Island is another island well-known as a set of a book and two movies. Twenty-Four Eyes by Sakae Tsuboi and Akira Miura tells the story of twelve primary school children and their teacher over two decades of pre, during and after the second world war period.  

 Fast forward to the 21st century and Shodoshima is a popular island for its mild climate, outdoor activities and beaches.