Can I buy combined tickets for other Art House Project sites?

Yes. Combined tickets for multiple Art House Project sites are available at discounted rates, making it economical to visit several installations including Kadoya, Minamidera, and Kinza in one trip.

Can I take photographs inside the museum?

Photography policies vary. Check with staff upon entry regarding restrictions on interior photography, as rules may differ from other Naoshima art sites.

How does the Ando Museum fit into a Naoshima itinerary?

The museum is part of the Honmura Art House Project walking route and works well combined with other installations in the historic district. Most visitors explore multiple Honmura sites in a half-day.

How crowded does the Ando Museum get?

The museum operates timed entry during peak periods due to its compact size. Visit early in the day or during weekdays to avoid the largest crowds, especially during holiday periods and summer months.

Ando Museum, Naoshima

Q: What other Tadao Ando buildings can I visit on Naoshima?

Naoshima features multiple Ando-designed structures including the Chichu Art Museum, Lee Ufan Museum, and Benesse House Museum. These are separate paid attractions located in different areas of the island.

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Last updated Mar 10, 2026

The Ando Museum is located in the Honmura district of Naoshima Island in the Seto Inland Sea, Kagawa Prefecture. Opened in 2013, the museum was designed by architect Tadao Ando as both an exhibition space for his architectural philosophy and a demonstration of his design techniques. The building integrates a 100-year-old wooden house with new concrete interior spaces, creating a dialogue between traditional Japanese residential architecture and contemporary minimalist design using Ando's signature exposed concrete and geometric forms.

The museum documents Ando's work transforming Naoshima from a declining industrial island into an international contemporary art destination. Exhibitions feature sketches, models, photographs, and materials explaining his design process for Naoshima projects including the Chichu Art Museum, Lee Ufan Museum, and Benesse House Museum. The building demonstrates Ando's approach to adaptive reuse, preserving the wooden exterior while inserting modern concrete interiors. The museum is part of the Honmura Art House Project, which integrates contemporary art into traditional island homes.

The museum experience emphasizes the contrast between preserved wooden exterior and modern concrete interior spaces. Displays include documentation of Ando's Naoshima projects, architectural drawings, and conceptual materials. The spatial design showcases Ando's manipulation of natural light through positioned openings and creation of contemplative environments. The museum is located within the Art House Project walking route, near installations including Kadoya, Minamidera, and Kinza.

The museum is approximately 2 kilometers from Miyanoura Port, Naoshima's main ferry terminal. Reach Honmura by town bus (approximately 10 minutes, ¥100) or rental bicycle. Naoshima is accessible by ferry from Uno Port in Okayama (20 minutes) or Takamatsu Port in Kagawa (approximately 50 minutes). Admission is ¥520 for adults and ¥310 for children aged 15 and under. The museum operates timed entry during peak periods due to limited interior space.

What other travelers are saying about Ando Museum, Naoshima

A very pleasant and thoughtfully designed space with fascinating architecture. The museum beautifully combines traditional Japanese elements with Tadao Ando’s signature modern concrete design, creating a striking contrast. Inside, you’ll find a clear and engaging explanation of Ando’s architectural works and philosophy, which makes the visit both inspiring and educational. A must-visit spot on Naoshima for architecture and design lovers.

Nikolas Klimčák

Sep 7, 2025

If the architecture is a major reason you came to the island, or if the architecture stood out to you in any way while visiting the museums, please do not miss (the very small) Ando museum. I loved seeing the miniature of the ChiChu museum and actually it really helped me understand the how and why of that building. Some beautiful quotes and statements from the architect written out here. It felt extra nice to visit here AFTER experiencing all the architecture IRL but I could also see it going the other way around in order to have some extra context and appreciation in advance? Also, it’s pretty crazy they commissioned Ando to design sooo many of the spaces on the island. Dozens of huge commissions. The Island of Ando.

I am almost late! The museum is close at 4 pm. I came around 15.45. I am definitely mesmerised by the architectural, but the staff is very strict and serious. Maybe he needs to go home ASAP, but because we are very late, he can't welcome us with friendly gestures. And the reservation is very tricky. You need to match it with ship departure time from uno port.

Unless you are a die-hard Ando fan that has to see everything related to him and his work, you can skip this. It's tiny, and will take you about 20 minutes to finish even if you read everything and examine every nook. It only has an impact if it's very sunny outside. It costs 600, which seems steep considering the contents, but you can save 100 yen if you fill out a huge annoying form online to register. I love museums, but given the contents, I would have preferred to skip this one and spend more time in other museums on the island. That said, it is a nice little building and you can learn the history of Ando and Naoshima.

Aaron Bramson

Feb 23, 2026

So happy they changed the no photo policy. Only through my viewfinder that I discovered that the concrete is actually curved. This is an absolute gem for anyone who are interested in architecture.

Ando Museum, Naoshima

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What other travelers are saying about Ando Museum, Naoshima

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