Ando buries a museum into the hill so the light feels stolen—then hands you the sea as a reward.
Museum in Japan.
Featured in Tadao Ando's definitive monograph, Tadao Ando: Complete Works 1975–Today.
Visitor Guide
Buy tickets online (it’s cheaper) and plan around the last admission: the museum’s strongest moment is the descent down the skylit stair, and you don’t want to rush it because your ferry is looming.
At the top of the main stair under the skylight (shoot straight down the void), late morning when the light is strong but not blown out; outside, the approach path just before the entrance works best around golden hour.
Yes. Hours are typically 10:00–16:30 (last admission 16:00), closed Mondays (open on national-holiday Mondays, then closed the following day). Admission is JPY 1,500 online / JPY 1,700 on site; free for children 15 and under.
It’s Ando’s Naoshima decade distilled: one floor above ground, two below—architecture as excavation, where the ‘facade’ is really the landscape cut.
1–2 hours
Design & Structure
Designed as topography-first: earthworks set the spatial hierarchy, then the museum is organized around a vertical light well/stair that acts like a geometric spine. Coordination is BIM-heavy because below-grade galleries demand ruthless control of waterproofing, tolerances, and daylight penetration.
Exposed concrete for the galleries; black plaster and pebble/stone elements outside to blend with Honmura’s vernacular cues—an Ando move that’s more contextual than it first appears.
Below-grade construction does the heavy lifting: retaining walls, hydrostatic pressure, and vibration control so galleries stay stable while the building feels effortless.
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Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Piccadilly Gardens
Kaminoge Station
Clark Art Institute
Shikoku Mura
Onomichi City Museum of Art
Nearby in Naoshima
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Naoshima New Museum of Art?+
Naoshima New Museum of Art was designed by Tadao Ando. It is located in Naoshima, Japan.
Where is Naoshima New Museum of Art located?+
Naoshima New Museum of Art is located in Naoshima, Japan. Its coordinates are 34.4581°, 133.9987°.
Can I visit Naoshima New Museum of Art?+
Naoshima New Museum of Art is a real building in Naoshima that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.