Search destinations

Benesse House, Naoshima

Located in the island town of Naoshima, Benesse House is a unique blend of both hotel and museum. Be surrounded by wonderful works of contemporary art and sweeping views of the Seto Inland Sea.

Designed by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the property consists of four separate buildings each housing their own guestrooms. Museum rooms are situated within the museum itself putting you within steps of the fabulous artwork. The hill-top Oval rooms boast incredible sea views whilst the Park rooms overlook the green lawn and mountains of Shikoku. Finally, the Beach building encompasses eight suite-style rooms on the water’s edge. All are spacious, airy and enjoy a clean, modern décor.

The hotel is part of the Benesse House Museum, one of the most renowned modern art museums on the island. Whilst the museum is open to the public, guests of the hotel have the special privilege of continuing to explore after hours. You’ll also find two large and airy restaurants, the Terrace Restaurant serving French cuisine and the Museum Restaurant specialising in kaiseki (small, intricate dishes). There’s also a spa on site where treatments range from facials to full-body therapies.

Benesse House, at a glance

  • Iconic museum and boutique art hotel on the southern coast of Naoshima Island
  • 65 guestrooms spread across four separate buildings, the Museum, the Oval, the Park and the Beach
  • Tranquil pastel colour schemes complemented by bright wooden furnishings and modern bathrooms
  • Museum rooms are expansive and situated within the museum itself
  • The Oval encompasses six hill-top guestrooms, accessed by mono-rail, with floor-to-ceiling windows, private terraces and undisturbed sea views
  • Park rooms are built on a gentle slope, facing the art-filled gardens and surrounded by the rich natural beauty of Setouchi
  • Beach rooms are spacious, airy and just steps from the shore
  • Two restaurants (Japanese and French) and a cafe serving light snacks and tea

For leisure and pleasure

  • Uninterrupted views across the Seto Inland Sea
  • Unique and interesting artwork displayed throughout the museum, guestrooms, lawns and beaches
  • These include works by famous artists from Japan and around the world, including Andy Warhol, Shinro Ohtake, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Gerhard Richter, David Hockney and more
  • Private, after-hours access to the museum
  • Shuttle bus to take guests to and from the island’s art installations
  • Explore the island on foot or rent a bicycle
  • Cafe and museum shop selling books and art goods
  • Spa offering a selection of treatments

 

SEE OUR OTHER HOTELS

  • We have travelled with TUTC six times, the most recent was to New Zealand last year. The trip was very well organised as usual, with excellent accommodation and a wide variety of experiences. We had booked to go to Australia with them this year but due to Covid this was cancelled, Ultimate handled the situation very professionally and promptly refunded the whole of our deposit without any quibble.

    -
    DN, August 2020