Island in Kagawa, Japan
Naoshima for solo travelers
Is Naoshima good for solo travel?
A small island of Tadao Ando museums, Yayoi Kusama pumpkins and quiet fishing villages. Superb for two or three art-focused days; rooms are scarce and pricey, and everything is closed or slow on Mondays.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Common in tourist areas |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women. Expect friendly, reserved locals; footpaths are well lit near villages. |
How to meet people in Naoshima
Small guesthouses with shared tables, bike tours, art-house walks and the cafés of Honmura. Most solo travelers meet other guests at breakfast.
Good things to do alone
- Book Chichu Art Museum early; it sells out
- See Kusama's Yellow Pumpkin at sunset
- Walk the Art House Project in Honmura
- Soak at I Love Yu, a bathhouse artwork
- Day trip by ferry to Teshima and Inujima
Where to stay in Naoshima
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Miyanoura | Ferry port with Red Pumpkin, cafés and guesthouses |
| Honmura | Old fishing village with Art House Project; quiet, walkable |
| Benesse House area (Tsutsujiso) | Museum hotel and Chichu; scenic but pricey |
Solo travel across Japan
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 5/5 | Limited |
| Kyoto | 5/5 | Limited |
| Osaka | 5/5 | Limited |
| Fukuoka | 5/5 | Limited |
| Hiroshima | 4/5 | Limited |
| Nara | 4/5 | Limited |
| Sapporo | 4/5 | Limited |
| Okinawa | 4/5 | Limited |
| Niseko | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Yokohama | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Kanazawa | 4/5 | Limited |
| Takayama | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Nagoya | 4/5 | Limited |
| Kamakura | 4/5 | Limited |
| Kobe | 4/5 | Limited |
| Hakuba | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Ishigaki | 4/5 | Limited |
| Nagasaki | 4/5 | Limited |
| Miyakojima | 4/5 | Limited |
| Hakodate | 4/5 | Limited |
| Otaru | 4/5 | Limited |
| Beppu | 4/5 | Limited |
| Matsumoto | 4/5 | Limited |
| Koyasan | 4/5 | Limited |
| Naoshima | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Hakone | 3/5 | Limited |
| Kawaguchiko | 3/5 | Limited |
| Nikko | 3/5 | Limited |
| Shirakawa-go | 3/5 | Limited |
| Furano | 3/5 | Limited |
Quick answers
Is Naoshima good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). A small island of Tadao Ando museums, Yayoi Kusama pumpkins and quiet fishing villages.
How do you meet people in Naoshima?
Small guesthouses with shared tables, bike tours, art-house walks and the cafés of Honmura. Most solo travelers meet other guests at breakfast. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Naoshima?
Common in tourist areas.
Is Naoshima safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women. Expect friendly, reserved locals; footpaths are well lit near villages.
More about Naoshima
Going to Naoshima solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Naoshima meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- Naoshima Tourist Association
- Benesse Art Site Naoshima
- Kagawa Tourism
- Naoshima Tourist Association: access and ferry fares
- Benesse Art Site: medical facilities on Naoshima
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.