# Kyoto, Miyajima and the art islands of the Inland Sea in 10 days

Ten days between Kyoto and the Seto Inland Sea: three nights at Hoshinoya Kyoto in Arashiyama, two ryokan nights on Miyajima island at Iwaso, two nights in Setoda at Azumi Setoda, then two nights on Naoshima at Benesse House, inside one of the museums designed by Tadao Ando. The Chichu Art Museum is closed from 12 January to 19 March 2027.

Source : https://umika-travel.com/en/ideas/inland-sea-art-islands-10-days/

This 10-day trip starts in Kyoto and travels down the Seto Inland Sea, between Honshu and Shikoku: Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima, the harbour of Setoda on the island of Ikuchijima, then Naoshima and its museums by the architect Tadao Ando, where you sleep in a museum hotel. It is designed for a couple who love contemporary art and architecture, from late March to May and in October and November. Nine nights, four hotels from Umika's selection, and plenty of boats.

## The trip at a glance

| Days | Stage | Hotel | Nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | Kyoto, Arashiyama | Hoshinoya Kyoto | 3 |
| 4 to 6 | Miyajima | Iwaso | 2 |
| 6 to 8 | Setoda, Ikuchijima island | Azumi Setoda | 2 |
| 8 to 10 | Naoshima | Benesse House | 2 |

Japan is a few hours' flight from Europe's main cities, direct or with one stop. You arrive through Kansai airport and leave by way of Okayama and the Shinkansen (Japan's high-speed rail).

## Choosing your dates

This trip has more calendar constraints than most:

| Constraint | What it means |
|---|---|
| Benesse House had no rooms left for sale in April 2027 when we checked at the end of October 2026; sales open 180 days ahead | the dates are set around Benesse House availability |
| Chichu Art Museum closed from 12 January to 19 March 2027 | travel from 20 March 2027 |
| Benesse House closed from 12 to 18 January 2027, Beach building from 4 January to 4 March 2027 | avoid winter 2027 |
| Naoshima museums closed on Mondays, Teshima museum on Tuesdays | day 9, on Naoshima, must not be a Monday |
| No dinner at Azumi Setoda on Tuesdays and Wednesdays | plan dinner outside the hotel on those evenings |
| Hoshinoya Kyoto from age 12, Benesse House Museum and Oval from age 6 | a trip for adults or older children |

## Days 1 to 3: Kyoto, on the Oi river

From Kansai airport, the JR Haruka limited express reaches Kyoto Station in about 80 minutes, then a train takes 15 to 20 minutes to Saga-Arashiyama. [Hoshinoya Kyoto](/en/hotels/hoshinoya-kyoto/) is reached by private boat from the Arashiyama landing: 15 minutes up the Oi river, first boat at 2.30 pm, last at 5.45 pm. This 25-pavilion ryokan (Japanese inn) looks onto the river and Mount Ogura; it has a tearoom floating on a wooden deck and serves kaiseki, a seasonal meal of many courses, from 5.30 pm.

Two full days for [Kyoto](/en/japan/kyoto/):

- **Arashiyama**, on the doorstep: the bamboo grove, where carving the bamboo is an offence punishable by a fine of up to 300,000 ¥ (about 1,692 €);
- **Higashiyama**: Kiyomizu-dera, open from 6 am, then the private tea ceremony at the Camellia Flower teahouse, 45 minutes, 8,000 ¥ (about 46 €) per person;
- **Fushimi Inari Taisha** and its some 10,000 torii, or shrine gateways, 5 minutes from Kyoto Station on the JR Nara Line.

## Days 4 and 5: Hiroshima and Miyajima

On day four, the Shinkansen leaves Kyoto, runs through Shin-Osaka and reaches Hiroshima, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Osaka. The day goes to the Peace Memorial Museum, open from 7.30 am for 200 ¥ (about 2 €), and the Atomic Bomb Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Then the World Heritage Sea Route boat leaves Peace Memorial Park and reaches Miyajima in 45 minutes, for 2,400 ¥ (about 14 €) per person, plus the island's visitor tax of 100 ¥ (about 1 €).

[Iwaso](/en/hotels/iwaso/), a ryokan founded in 1854 in the Momijidani valley, sends its free shuttle to the pier on request. It is a three-minute walk from Itsukushima Shrine. Its onsen, or hot-spring bath, has open-air baths facing the forest, open from 3 pm to midnight and from 6 to 9.30 am.

On the evening of day four, the 30-minute night cruise passes the illuminated shrine and Great Torii, for 2,000 ¥ (about 12 €) per person, from Pier 3; book at least two hours ahead.

Day five is for the island: the shrine from 6.30 am, then Mount Misen by its two ropeways, from 9 am to 4 pm, 2,000 ¥ (about 12 €) return, and about an hour's walk there and back to the summit. The [Hiroshima and Miyajima](/en/japan/hiroshima-and-miyajima/) page gives all the opening hours.

## Days 6 and 7: Setoda

On day six, the ferry takes you back to Miyajimaguchi in 10 minutes and the JR Sanyo Line train to Hiroshima in 25, then the Shinkansen runs to Mihara, where a fast boat reaches Setoda in 25 minutes. A private taxi from Hiroshima Airport takes about an hour.

[Azumi Setoda](/en/hotels/azumi-setoda/) occupies the Horiuchi family's 1876 house, built for shipowners and salt makers of the harbour and restored by the architect Shiro Miura. Every room has a hinoki (Japanese cypress) bath; the yubune public bath opposite is free for guests. Dinner is booked ahead, except on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when it is not served.

Day seven is spent on foot and by bicycle, which the hotel rents out:

- **Kosan-ji**, a temple built by an Osaka businessman in tribute to his mother, and its Miraishin no Oka hill, 9 am to 5 pm, 1,800 ¥ (about 11 €);
- **the three-storey pagoda of Kojo-ji**, raised in 1432, a National Treasure, a ten-minute walk from the harbour;
- **the Hirayama Ikuo Museum**, devoted to the painter born in Setoda, open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

## Days 8 and 9: Naoshima

On day eight, the fast boat returns to Mihara, the Shinkansen runs to Okayama, a JR train to Uno in 47 to 57 minutes for 590 ¥ (about 4 €), and the ferry crosses to Naoshima in 20 minutes for 370 ¥ (about 3 €). The hotel shuttle meets its guests.

[Benesse House](/en/hotels/benesse-house/), opened in 1992, is Tadao Ando's museum hotel. Its 65 rooms are spread across four buildings, one of them the museum itself; guests can visit the Benesse House Museum and the Valley Gallery until 11 pm, on their own after public closing. From 1 April 2027, they can also visit the art sites concerned without a ticket or reservation.

Day nine is for the museums of [the Inland Sea](/en/japan/seto-inland-sea-naoshima-teshima-setoda/):

- **the Chichu Art Museum**, largely underground, with Claude Monet's Water Lilies and works by James Turrell and Walter De Maria; entry is booked for a time slot, and the evening programme shows James Turrell's Open Sky at sunset, 45 minutes, 3,700 ¥ (about 21 €) per person, entry included;
- **the Naoshima New Museum of Art**, Tadao Ando's tenth building on the island, opened in 2025;
- or **Teshima**, 20 minutes away by boat, for Ryue Nishizawa's Teshima Art Museum, by reservation, closed on Tuesdays.

## Day 10: departure

The ferry takes you back to Uno and the train to Okayama. The Shinkansen links Okayama with Osaka in about 45 minutes and with Tokyo in about 3 hours 20 minutes, depending on the airport of your return flight.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why book Benesse House first?

The hotel has only 65 rooms and puts its nights on sale 180 days ahead. When we checked at the end of October 2026, it had no rooms left in April 2027. The trip dates are therefore set around its availability, and the other stages follow.

### Is the Chichu Art Museum open in spring 2027?

The Chichu Art Museum closes from 12 January to 19 March 2027 and reopens afterwards. It also closes every Monday. Entry is booked online for a date and time slot, with no tickets sold on site once it is full.

### How do you get from Miyajima to Setoda?

The ferry takes you back to Miyajimaguchi in 10 minutes and the JR train to Hiroshima in 25. The Shinkansen then runs to Mihara, where a fast boat reaches Setoda in 25 minutes. A private taxi from Hiroshima Airport takes about an hour.

### Can you do this trip with children?

Hoshinoya Kyoto welcomes children from the age of 12. At Benesse House, the Museum and Oval buildings accept them from the age of 6. As it stands, the trip suits children aged 12 and over.

### How many boats will you take?

Hoshinoya Kyoto's private boat, the boat from Peace Memorial Park to Miyajima, the ferry back, the fast boat from Mihara to Setoda and back, then the ferry from Uno to Naoshima and back. Each crossing lasts between 10 and 45 minutes.