The Complete Guide to the Setouchi Triennale 2025: Everything You Need to Know, from Essential Info to How to Get Around!

The Setouchi Triennale’s theme is “Restoration of the Sea.” The islands of the Seto Inland Sea were once places of free and prosperous living, but as Japan modernized, they became little more than transit routes. As depopulation and aging advanced, the islands gradually lost their original strength and appeal.
“Restoration of the Sea” is an effort to reclaim the value of these islands by revitalizing local communities through the power of art.
Many of the works exhibited at the Setouchi Triennale are created against the backdrop of that theme, as well as the islands’ history and culture.
To enjoy the festival more deeply, it’s also worth knowing what kind of place the Seto Inland Sea is.

There are two types of Artwork Viewing Passports. Both let one person view each open artwork and facility once on the Setouchi Triennale 2025 event days.
However, some artworks and facilities, such as the Chichu Art Museum and Teshima Art Museum, require an additional admission fee.
Admission is free for children ages 15 and under, and you can also pick up a stamp rally “Kids Passport” at information centers and other locations to enjoy artwork-hopping.

There are three ways to buy the Artwork Viewing Passport.
The most recommended way is to buy the digital passport via the official Setouchi Triennale app.

The official app not only lets you buy a passport, but also receive congestion and emergency updates for the Setouchi Triennale.
It supports not only Japanese, but also English, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), and Korean, making it easy for international visitors to use.

This area is both a gateway to Shikoku and the gateway to the Setouchi Triennale’s venues.
It’s located in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture’s central city. From Takamatsu Port, you can access Naoshima, Teshima, Megijima, Ogijima, Shodoshima, and Oshima directly.
In addition, artworks are scattered around the Takamatsu Port area, as well as Yashima and Shikoku Mura.
At Yashima, surrounded by sea and trees, nine artists have created mostly animal-themed sculptures that you can enjoy even outside the festival dates.

The “Uno Port Area” stretches across Tamano City at the southern tip of Okayama Prefecture. Uno Port is the gateway from Honshu to the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
From Uno Port, you can access Takamatsu, Naoshima, and Teshima directly.
Artworks are also displayed around Uno Port and in the Tai area, connected by the “Triennale Shuttle Bus.”
Many works can be enjoyed even outside the festival, including pieces by artist Teppei Kaneuji and the “JR Uno-Minato Line Art Project,” designed to make travel time on the JR Uno-Minato Line more enjoyable.

Naoshima floats between Kagawa and Okayama. It covers Approx. 8 km² and has a population of around 3,000.
It’s especially famous among the Seto Inland Sea islands and is known as a “holy land” of contemporary art.
Even outside the Setouchi Triennale, you can encounter art at many spots, including Yayoi Kusama’s “Red Pumpkin” and ANDO MUSEUM, which exhibits materials on architect Tadao Ando’s work and initiatives on Naoshima.
In spring 2025, the Naoshima New Museum of Art also opened, showcasing contemporary art.

Teshima, located east of Naoshima, is an island of Approx. 14.5 km² with a population of around 700.
The terraced rice fields on the island’s north side, built with stone walls, are an important place passed down by local residents.
Water that springs from the foot of Mt. Dan in the center of the island nourishes those terraces.
However, the island suffered environmental pollution and reputational damage from an illegal industrial waste dumping incident, but the terraced fields were restored following the opening of the Teshima Art Museum.
Teshima is gradually reclaiming its original identity as an island rich in water and nature.
Symbolizing that is the Teshima Art Museum, where works using architecture and water are exhibited.
There are also many works you can enjoy outside the festival dates, such as “Place for Sea Dreamers,” chairs where you can gaze out at the multi-island scenery.

Megijima is an island floating offshore from Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, with an area of Approx. 2.5 km² and a population of around 100.
In 1914, a cave was discovered at the summit of Mt. Washigamine, and after a theory was announced that Megijima was the “Onigashima” (Ogre Island) from the Momotaro legend, it began drawing many visitors.
The cave is open to the public as “Onigashima Great Cave,” featuring displays imagining how the ogres lived, plus art such as Kagawa’s traditional craft “onigawara” (ogre roof tiles) and cave wall paintings.

Ogijima lies about 1 km north of Megijima. It’s an island of Approx. 1 km² with a population of around 130.
In the island’s southwest, a hillside village forms a distinctive landscape.
Within the village, narrow paths and stairways crisscross like a maze, and cars can barely enter.
The unpainted stone lighthouse, standing Approx. 14 m tall, is rare nationwide and has even appeared in films.

Shodoshima is the largest venue area in the Setouchi Triennale, with an area of Approx. 153 km². It also has a relatively large population for an island, with around 26,000 residents.
With beautiful natural scenery and island-specific culture and industries, it’s also a popular travel destination.
Shodoshima is dotted with stunning viewpoints such as Kankakei Gorge, one of Japan’s three most beautiful gorges, and Angel Road, a sandbar path that appears from the sea only during low tide twice a day.
It also offers diverse attractions as a tourist destination, including traditional performing arts like Shodoshima Rural Kabuki, passed down for Approx. 300 years, and local foods featuring soy sauce, olives, and hand-stretched somen noodles.
Even outside the festival dates, you can see many artworks such as “Beauty at the Poles—An Endless Circle—,” inspired by Japanese lanterns, and the metal sculpture “Again …,” expressing Shodoshima’s nature-rich landscape.

Oshima is a small island of Approx. 0.62 km² floating just east of Ogijima and Megijima.
In 1909, the National Sanatorium Oshima Seishoen was established to house Hansen’s disease patients, and residents were forcibly isolated there until 1969.
Even afterward, discrimination and prejudice continued, and former patients who had no choice but to give up reintegrating into society still live at the sanatorium.
Since the first edition, the Setouchi Triennale has continued efforts to share accurate knowledge about Hansen’s disease and convey Oshima’s history.
There are also many works you can view outside the festival, such as “Blue Sky Aquarium,” which transforms buildings once used by residents into a pop-up picture book inspired by Oshima’s history.

Inujima is the only inhabited island in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture. It’s a small island of 0.54 km² with around 30 residents.
Stone quarrying flourished in the 1600s, and the island prospered after a refinery was built in 1909. But the refinery closed after just 10 years, and the population rapidly declined.
The refinery ruins have been preserved as a “modern industrial heritage” site and are used as a museum.

The Great Seto Bridge connects Okayama on Honshu with Kagawa on Shikoku. It’s the collective name for six bridges spanning 9.4 km across the strait.
Different bridge types—including suspension bridges, cable-stayed bridges, and truss bridges—line up in a row, and as a combined road-and-rail bridge, it’s among the largest in the world.
The area at the Kagawa-side base of the Great Seto Bridge is called the “Great Seto Bridge Area,” where a variety of artworks are displayed.
Since many works can also be viewed after the festival, enjoy them together with the breathtaking scenery of the bridge and the Seto Inland Sea islands.

Only in the Summer Season, the following two areas are added as venues.

Both are coastal areas in Kagawa Prefecture, and you can reach them within 1 hour from JR Takamatsu Station by limited express train.
Here’s a quick introduction to some works in each area.

Only in the Fall Season, the following five areas are added as venues.

All are located in western Kagawa Prefecture and the western Seto Inland Sea.
Here are a few works exhibited in the areas above.

On Day 1, depart from Takamatsu Port—your gateway to the Seto Inland Sea—and take a ferry to Shodoshima.
Enjoy Shodoshima’s artworks and popular sightseeing spots.

On Day 2, tour areas where Teshima artworks are displayed.
Since you’ll stay overnight in Takamatsu City, the plan returns to Takamatsu Port via Shodoshima from Teshima.
Please plan with plenty of buffer time so you don’t miss your ferry.

On Day 3, tour Naoshima’s works from the morning until 2:00pm, then finish your trip by viewing works in the Uno Port Area, which is open until 7:00pm.

If you’re visiting multiple Setouchi Triennale venues, we recommend basing yourself in Takamatsu City, which has Takamatsu Port with direct access to islands that serve as venues in all seasons.
You can also reach the Shido–Tsuda Area, added only in the Summer Season, within 1 hour from Takamatsu Station by train.
It’s also easy to access Marugame Port, Tadotsu Port, and Suda Port in Kagawa Prefecture, which provide access to the western Seto Inland Sea islands that serve as Fall Season venues.
In addition, Takamatsu City offers strong public transportation, plus plenty of shopping and dining, so you can enjoy food and shopping too.
The city also has many accommodations, making it easier to book than staying on the venue islands—another reason we recommend it.
It’s also a great perk that you can easily visit other sightseeing spots around Shikoku along with the Setouchi Triennale.
If you’re unsure where to stay or want to see many venues, stay in Takamatsu City, especially near Takamatsu Port.

Since most venues are islands in the Seto Inland Sea, the main transportation will be ferries and high-speed boats.
Some routes have only a few departures per day, so check timetables and plan your itinerary in advance.
When taking boats, it’s also important to carry enough cash. Many operators accept cash only for tickets, and on the venue islands, there are few places that accept credit cards.
There are hardly any ATMs on islands other than Shodoshima and Naoshima, so keep track of your cash balance so you can buy tickets for your return trip.
Some routes get crowded during the festival, so especially in busy time slots like mornings and evenings, arrive at the port with plenty of time to spare.

The official Setouchi Triennale website and app publish a calendar showing which dates are likely to be crowded, as well as a map showing real-time congestion.
If your schedule is flexible, avoid crowded dates and tour the venues at a more relaxed pace.
When visiting the Setouchi Triennale, be sure to use the congestion forecast calendar and congestion status map.

Since the venue areas are communities where residents live their daily lives, please keep the following etiquette in mind.

Some islands have very few convenience stores, kiosks, or vending machines, so be sure to prepare drinks before you cross over.
Also, please look up restaurants on the venue islands in advance and plan where you’ll eat.
To be safe in case you can’t get into a restaurant, it’s also reassuring to bring a light snack.

Kagawa Prefecture is home to Takamatsu Port, the Setouchi Triennale’s mother port.
It’s known as “Udon Prefecture,” ranking No. 1 in Japan for both udon production and consumption, so you should definitely try Sanuki udon.
Of course, that’s not all Kagawa has to offer.
With spots offering spectacular Seto Inland Sea views, plus historic buildings and gardens, it’s a great place to enjoy Japan’s beautiful scenery and traditional culture.
If you want to learn more about Kagawa’s charms and popular sightseeing spots, please also refer to the article below.

Okayama Prefecture, home to Uno Port, offers access to many venue islands, just like Takamatsu Port.
Okayama is packed with places where you can feel Japan’s history and culture, including Japanese gardens, old townscapes, castles, and shrines and temples.
There are also many items you can only get in Okayama, such as Bizen ware and denim made by Japanese artisans.
Why not visit some of Okayama’s popular sightseeing spots before or after stopping by Uno Port?

Hiroshima, which borders Okayama and is accessible in under 1 hour by Shinkansen, is another appealing destination.
It’s home to two UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites—the Atomic Bomb Dome and Itsukushima Shrine—offering a chance to feel its unique history, along with spectacular Seto Inland Sea views.
Hiroshima is also known for its wide range of local cuisine.
You’ll find Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki with different ingredients and preparation from Osaka, anago-meshi (rice cooked in dashi topped with grilled conger eel), and oyster dishes that make the most of rich umami and thick, meaty texture.
Use the article below, which introduces popular sightseeing spots and dining options, and add Hiroshima to your trip.

A sightseeing pass that lets you choose and use three items from eligible facilities, including admission tickets to attractions, day-use bathing tickets for hot springs, 1-day bus passes, and coupons for cafés and shops.
In 2025, a set is also sold that includes a passport granting one-time viewing of all participating works at “Setouchi Triennale 2025,” held across ports and islands in Okayama and Kagawa.

A sightseeing pass usable at a wide range of eligible facilities, including admission tickets and discount coupons for attractions like Orizuru Tower with panoramic city views, as well as gift certificates usable at a gourmet building filled with okonomiyaki shops, commercial facilities, and large electronics retailers.
It also includes a one-way cruise ferry ticket between Hiroshima Port and Kure Port, a discount coupon for high-speed boats to Miyajima, a 1-day pass for share bicycles within Hiroshima City, and a discount coupon for car rentals near Hiroshima Station.