Art & Architecture of Japan: Osaka, Naoshima, Kanazawa & Kyoto

Discover modern art galleries and historic temples on a journey through the heart of Japan.

Cutting-edge designs intertwine with ancient cultural heritage in Naoshima and Kyoto, from contemporary masterworks to traditional teahouses and ancient Zen temples. In Naoshima, take a guided tour of world-renowned museums, including the Ando Museum, Teshima Art Museum, and the Benesse House museum, where international artists integrate natural surroundings into the architectural foundation. In Kanazawa, marvel at samurai-era architecture and explore reconstructed battlegrounds with a tour of the Kanazawa Castle, then clear your mind with a meditative experience at the innovative D.T. Suzuki Museum. Wander through atmospheric bamboo groves, and meander into traditional shops in Kyoto.

Highlights

Visit Naoshima’s world-renowned art sites: Explore Chichu Art Museum, the Naoshima Museum of Art, and the Benesse House Museum, where architecture and nature frame powerful contemporary works.
Guided visit to the Teshima Art Museum: Experience one of Japan’s most poetic spaces, where water, light, and architecture merge in a meditative installation unlike any other.
Curated encounters with Kyoto’s historic and living traditions: Stroll through the atmospheric lanes of Gion.
Contemporary art immersion at the 21st Century Museum in Kanazawa: Discover cutting-edge works in a visionary space designed to foster open dialogue between art and viewer.
Visit to Katsura Imperial Villa, a masterpiece of Japanese architecture: Explore this refined villa and its gardens, admired worldwide for their spatial harmony and aesthetic restraint.
Architectural pilgrimage to the Garden of Fine Arts Kyoto: Witness iconic Western artworks displayed in an innovative open-air water garden by Tadao Ando.
Art Collaboration Kyoto Art Fair: Engage with Japan’s vibrant contemporary art scene during a curated international fair that bridges traditional Kyoto craftsmanship with global artistic innovation.

Lecturer

Christopher Noey

Lecturer

Christopher Noey is an art historian, author, and an Emmy award-winning producer of films on art and culture. He holds both a bachelors and masters degree in art history. At The Metropolitan Museum of Art, he created video installations for a diverse array of exhibitions including Jerusalem 1000-1400: Every People Under Heaven, and he was series director of the innovative online features 82nd & Fifth and The Artist Project, in which he interviewed 120 contemporary artists on how they are inspired by The Met and its collections. An expert in Asian and Islamic art, Mr. Noey has taught at Williams College and at the City College of New York. In the Connections episode “Tennessee,” he talks about his childhood state and the unusual places it pops up in The Met.

Accommodations