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The Ultimate 14 Day Japan Itinerary for Art Lovers
Planning a two-week journey through Japan’s art scene can feel overwhelming, with countless galleries and destinations competing for your attention. This curated itinerary guides you through Tokyo’s design enclaves, Kanazawa’s modern art institutions, and the iconic museums of Naoshima, blending renowned highlights with quieter cultural experiences. Along the way, you’ll engage deeply with Japan’s artistic traditions—from private zazen meditation in Tokyo to hands-on kintsugi workshops in Kanazawa—here’s the ultimate 14-day itinerary for art lovers in Japan.
Itinerary Highlights
Nezu Museum, Tokyo – A peaceful escape in the Aoyama district, offering a stunning collection of premodern Asian art surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens.
Hiroshi Senju Museum, Karuizawa – Experience the beauty of Hiroshi Senju’s waterfall paintings, complemented by a museum designed to seamlessly blend with the surrounding forest.
Kenroku-en Garden, Kanazawa – Considered one of Japan’s three most beautiful gardens - Kenroku-en has scenic ponds, rolling hills, and beautifully pruned trees, perfect for an early morning stroll.
Chichu Art Museum, Naoshima – A museum built mostly underground to avoid affecting the natural scenery of the seto inland sea and designed by Tadao Ando, that features works by Monet, Turrell, and De Maria, with a focus on light, space, and nature.
Miyajima Island, Iwakuni – In the island where gods are said to dwell, see the iconic Itsukushima Shrine with its floating torii gate, hike Mount Misen, and marvel at the autumn colours in Momijidani Park.
Day 1-5 – Tokyo
The Nezu Museum, with its tranquil gardens and refined collection of Japanese art, provides a peaceful escape in the heart of Tokyo, while the sleek design of 21_21 Design Sight in Roppongi stands as a testament to Tokyo's forward-thinking approach to art and architecture. Here’s how to spend your first five days in the capital.
Highlights
Daikanyama T-Site — Daikanyama T-Site is a cultural complex in Daikanyama, offering a refined selection of art, design, and travel books, along with the sleek Anjin Lounge. Each space remains open until 10 pm–so grab a book, a glass of wine, or a coffee, and recharge after your day in the big city.
Nezu Museum, Aoyama — The Nezu Museum in Aoyama combines a collection of pre-modern Asian art with an oasis-like Japanese garden out the back. Its minimalist design by Kengo Kuma creates a harmonious connection between architecture and nature.
21_21 Design Sight, Roppongi — Designed by none other than architect Tadao Ando and fashion designer Issey Miyake, 21_21 Design Sight showcases innovative contemporary design through rotating exhibitions. Its striking architecture and thought-provoking displays based on “everyday life” make it a hub for design enthusiasts and art lovers visiting Japan’s capital city.
Yanaka — Yanaka offers a rare glimpse of old Tokyo with its narrow streets, wooden houses, and small galleries. It retains a quiet, traditional charm, making it an authentic escape from the modern city.
Getting Around
Tokyo’s transport system is straightforward and highly efficient. The Tokyo Metro is the quickest way to travel around central Tokyo, while JR lines serve the suburbs and outlying areas. For trips to other cities, the Shinkansen (bullet trains) offer fast connections. Prepaid IC cards like Suica or Pasmo can be used across all public transport, including buses.
Top tip: You can now add IC cards directly to your phone.
Experience
Private Zazen Meditation Experience — Engage in a deeply calming private Zazen meditation session at Kinryuji Temple in Asakusa. Guided by a seasoned monk, this experience offers a rare opportunity to practice traditional seated meditation in an authentic temple environment. Finish up the experience with matcha tea and traditional sweets.
Where to Stay
K5 Tokyo — K5 Tokyo is a luxury boutique hotel blending cutting-edge design with rich Japanese heritage. Housed in a restored 1920s bank building, the hotel offers sophisticated, minimalist rooms and an intimate atmosphere, alongside exceptional French-Japanese-Scandi dining and a curated art collection.
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Day 5-7 – Karuizawa
Karuizawa is an ideal retreat for those seeking a blend of art, nature, and peace at the same time. The Hiroshi Senju Museum offers an immersive experience with its contemplative waterfall paintings set within a serene forest, while Shiraito Waterfall provides an escape into nature. The Karuizawa New Art Museum complements the area’s natural beauty with contemporary art in a minimalist setting.
Highlights
Hiroshi Senju Museum — This museum showcases the works of Japanese artist Hiroshi Senju, known for his large-scale waterfall paintings. Leading architect Ryue Nishizawa was enlisted to ensure the space flows naturally with the landscape and celebrates the confluence of nature, art and architecture as one.
Shiraito Waterfall — Located in the forests North of central Karuizawa, this 3-metre high, 70-metre wide waterfall is best viewed in the Summer when the vegetation is most extravagant, though Autumn leaves also make it popular later during the year.
Karuizawa New Art Museum — Opened in 2012 and designed by Nishimori Rikuo, the Karuizawa New Art Museum presents contemporary art in a sleek, minimalist space with floor-to-roof windows covering every side. The first floor houses a glass chapel designed by Kengo Kuma in the garden, while the second is home to an art museum of roughly 1,000 square meters.
Getting Around
Karuizawa is a small, walkable town. Many highlights are within walking or cycling distance from the main station, but buses and other transport are necessary for those sights further out. Consider renting a bicycle or hopping on Kusakaru Kotsu or Seibu busses.
Where to Stay
Hoshinoya Karuizawa — Just an hour from Tokyo, Hoshinoya Karuizawa is a luxury ryokan set deep inside a forest, that offers traditional Japanese design with immersion in nature. The guest pavilions (rooms) are imbued with geothermal heating and look out over either the bird sanctuary, the forest, or the river that weaves throughout the property.
Day 7-10 – Kanazawa
Kanazawa is a city rich in both traditional and contemporary art. The Higashi Chaya District invites visitors to step back in time with its preserved tea houses, while the iconic Kenroku-en Garden provides a tranquil space with its meticulously curated landscapes. The 21st Century Museum of Modern Art is a must-see for its striking collection of contemporary art, and the DT Suzuki Museum offers a wonderful introduction to Zen philosophy.
Highlights
Higashi Chaya District — A beautifully preserved historic district, Higashi Chaya offers a glimpse into Kanazawa’s past with its traditional wooden tea houses and charming streets. The district exudes a quiet elegance, with opportunities to experience the city’s rich cultural heritage.
Kenroku-en Garden — Located next to Kanazawa Castle, Kenroku-en Garden is known as one of Japan’s three great gardens. A masterpiece of landscape design, Kasumigaike Pond, the numerous bridges, and seasonal flowers offer a peaceful setting to experience the changing beauty of nature.
21st Century Museum of Modern Art — While Kanazawa is celebrated for it’s relationship to ancient crafts, the 21st Century Museum of Modern Art, a striking building with transparent walls, showcases global contemporary works in a light-filled, open environment. Its collection focuses on work that proposes new values (since 1980), work influencing new values (since 1900), and work closely associated with Kanazawa.
D.T. Suzuki Museum — Opened in 2011 in Suzuki’s birthplace of Kanazawa, this museum explores the life and writings of Zen philosopher D.T. Suzuki, who introduced Japanese Zen to the West. Its minimalist design, with open spaces and clean lines, reflects Suzuki’s teachings, encouraging quiet contemplation.
Getting Around
Kanazawa’s main attractions are within a two-kilometre radius of Kanazawa Castle Park, making it easy to explore on foot. A network of local buses, including the Kanazawa Loop Bus, connects the station to key sites, with taxis also readily available.
Note: IC cards can only be used on the Kanazawa Loop Bus, JR busses and the Machi Bus.
Experience
At Urushitoki Sadaike, a fourth-generation lacquerware workshop in Kanazawa, you’ll observe master artisan Takashi Sadaike at work. The hands-on experience includes practising kintsugi, the traditional art of repairing ceramics with natural lacquer and taking home a finished piece the same day. You’ll also learn about the full lacquerware-making process, from harvesting urushi sap to crafting wooden bases.
Where to Stay
Nestled in a renovated building once owned by Shinbidou, Korinkyo immerses guests in Kanazawa’s artistic and cultural heart. Surrounded by Kutani pottery and modern art, the space offers a peaceful retreat, perfect for recharging in a city rich with history and craftsmanship.
Day 10-12 – Naoshima Island
Naoshima Island, Japan’s art haven, seamlessly blends contemporary art with nature. The Chichu Art Museum, housed underground, is a must-see, while the Benesse House offers an immersive experience with its modern architecture.
Highlights
Chichu Art Museum — A unique underground museum built into the landscape, Chichu Art Museum showcases works by Claude Monet, James Turrell, and Walter De Maria. The site solely uses natural light to create an experience that’s influenced by the natural environment. Be sure to book your visit in advance to secure a spot.
Benesse House — Part museum, part hotel, Benesse House is an iconic site on Naoshima. It houses an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art while ensuring guests have the chance to stay immersed in the artwork. Part of a broader initiative to revitalise the island, Benesse House aims to foster a deeper understanding of art through immersive experiences. It can get busy at times, so be sure to prebook to avoid disappointment.
Teshima Art Museum — Teshima Art Museum, designed by Rei Naito and Ryue Nishizawa, is nestled among rice terraces on a neighbouring island - block out half a day to experience this area. Its concrete structure, with oval openings, allows light, wind, and natural sounds to enter, offering a meditative experience with water droplets forming on the polished floor.
Valley Gallery — A smaller yet engaging gallery accessed via a path that weaves and winds through the island’s nature. The site features installations by Yaoi Kusama and Tsuyoshi Ozawa. Ando’s aim was to ‘create a space while preserving as much of the existing topography and trees as possible’.
Naoshima Art House Project — A collection of art installations integrated into old houses in the Honmura district, this project invites visitors to explore both art and the island's traditional architecture in a unique, interactive way.
Getting Around
Buses run from Miyanoura to the Benesse House complex, with additional shuttle buses for guests operating once or twice per hour. Rental bicycles (500 yen/day) provide a scenic way to explore the island, though bear in mind that some roads are hilly.
Where to Stay
Roka Naoshima, the island’s first ryokan, opened in 2022, blends local materials and design to create a peaceful retreat in the hillside. Surrounded by nature, the hotel offers a unique, secluded experience, perfect for those seeking tranquillity on this art-filled island.
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Day 12-14 - Iwakuni
Iwakuni, a city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, is best known for the Kintai-kyo Bridge. For art lovers, the Simose Art Museum presents an elegant collection of works in a refined setting, while a day trip to Miyajima Island uncovers its historic beauty.
Highlights
Simose Art Museum — Located along the scenic banks of the Nishiki River, the Simose Art Museum offers a diverse collection of contemporary and traditional Japanese art, all housed in a modern, understated space. This ‘Garden of art by the Sea’, houses traditional works like Japanese dolls and Art Noveau glass works alongside modern masters like Henri Matisse, March Chagall, and Kaii Higashiyama.
Miyajima Island Day Trip — A short ferry ride from Iwakuni, Miyajima Island is known for the iconic “floating” torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine as well as Mount Misen, and a number of walking trails that change with the seasons. If you want, stay in one of the ryokan overnight to enjoy much of the island to yourself, when the daytime tourists have gone back home.
Getting Around
Iwakuni is easily explored on foot or by bus–all of the attractions are located within walking distance of the Kintai-kyo Bridge. The Nishigawa Railway connects Iwakuni Station with Shin-Iwakuni Station–the two main nearby stations with trains running every 1-3 hours.
Where to Stay
Simose Art Garden Villa — Simose Art Garden Villa blends effortlessly into its natural surroundings, offering a peaceful atmosphere with views that echo the nearby Simose Art Museum. This contemporary retreat invites quiet reflection, where art and nature coexist in harmony.
10 Tips & Tricks
Pre-Book Museum Tickets: Popular art destinations like Chichu Art Museum on Naoshima and Benesse House can have limited entry times and can be fully booked, especially during peak seasons. Be sure to book your tickets well in advance to avoid missing out.
Explore Art and Nature Together: In places like Karuizawa and Naoshima, make time to experience art in its natural landscape. Consider a walk through the Hiroshi Senju Museum’s surrounding forest or the open spaces of the Teshima Art Museum to immerse yourself in both artistic and natural beauty simultaneously.
Pack Comfortable Footwear
You’ll be walking a lot between galleries and museums, particularly on Naoshima Island and in places like Yanaka, which is best explored on foot. Comfortable shoes are essential for enjoying the journey without discomfort.
Stay in Art-Inspired Hotels: If you’re a design lover, opt for stays that are themselves works of art, such as Benesse House or Roka Naoshima. These hotels double as museums, offering a fully immersive art experience where you can wake up surrounded by contemporary works.
Visit Museums Early or Late
For a quieter, more intimate experience, plan your museum visits early in the morning or later in the afternoon. These times tend to be less crowded, allowing you to engage with the art in peace.
Explore Smaller Galleries
Beyond the well-known institutions, Japan is home to small, independent galleries tucked in neighbourhoods like Daikanyama or Yanaka. These often offer a more personal connection to local artists and unique exhibitions.
Take Advantage of Local Art Workshops: In Kanazawa, don't miss the chance to try your hand at the art of kintsugi. Participating in a hands-on workshop at Urushitoki Sadaike is a great way to connect with Japan’s craft traditions and take home a piece of art that you made yourself.
Bring a Camera (But Be Respectful)
Some museums may allow photography in specific sections–bring a camera even to those that don’t, the areas are often beautiful in their own right. Capture moments, but always check the rules and be mindful of the experience of others.
Use Bicycles on Naoshima
Naoshima Island’s compact size and scenic routes make it ideal for cycling. Renting a bike from the ferry terminal gives you flexibility and a peaceful, efficient way to explore the island’s art spaces.
Maximise Light and Space in Museums
Naoshima’s art museums, such as the Chichu Art Museum, are carefully designed to incorporate natural light and space. When you visit, take a moment to appreciate how the lighting affects the mood and experience of the artwork. Take your time and soak in the environment, as it’s as much a part of the art as the works themselves.
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