Naoshima, a small island in Japan’s Seto Inner Sea, has been attracting travelers from around the world for years. It is here that Benesse House was established – a place that defies simple categories. It is not just a hotel, nor is it an ordinary museum. It’s a project that combines architecture, art and natural spaces into a cohesive, unique whole.
Benesse House – the only such place in the world
Benesse House was established in 1992 as part of the Benesse Art Site Naoshima, a venture to create a living island of art. Behind the vision of billionaire and collector Soichiro Fukutake was Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando. The result of this collaboration is a facility where the visitor doesn’t so much stay overnight as immerse himself in art and architecture.
Two Michelin Keys stars – a distinction for exceptional places
In 2024, the Michelin Guide introduced a new category for rating hotels – Michelin Keys. These are awards given not for luxury as traditionally understood, but for the uniqueness of the stay experience. Benesse House has received two Michelin Keys. This signifies an “exceptional stay,” available only to a small group of hotels in the world.
The justification points out that Benesse House provides something that can’t be found anywhere else – the opportunity to stay overnight in a museum space and interact with art in an almost intimate setting. Here, instead of running from exhibition to exhibition, one can experience a quiet encounter with the works of masters such as Jackson Pollock or James Turrell.
Benesse House. Four faces of one place
Benesse House consists of four buildings, each offering a different way to experience art and contact with nature.
- Museum – the rooms are located inside the museum, and guests sleep surrounded by original works of art.
- Oval – the most architecturally spectacular, with an oval open roof and a water courtyard set into a green hill.
- Park – the most hotel-like space, with a restaurant and stores, but still surrounded by sculptures and paintings.
- Beach – a building on the seashore, where wood architecture opens up to the landscape and the peaceful rhythm of the island.
Each of them is a separate story. But together they form a multi-layered story about man’s relationship with art and nature.
The luxury of silence and reflection
In a world where luxury is often associated with glamour, Benesse House offers something quite different. Therefore, here reigns the luxury of silence, concentration and contemplation. Bright interiors, simple forms and opening to the view of the sea allow you to feel harmony. Art is not an add-on here. She co-creates the space. On the other hand, accommodation becomes part of the artistic experience.
Restaurants and spas complete the package, but the most important part of your stay is just spending time among the works and spaces designed by Tadao Ando.
Benesse House – more than a hotel
The Michelin Keys distinction confirms that Benesse House is one of the most extraordinary places in the world. It is not just a hotel, it is not just a museum. It is a space where art, architecture and nature meet. Therefore, the trip becomes a spiritual and aesthetic experience.
Naoshima today attracts thousands of visitors, but Benesse House remains its heart. It proves that a hotel can be more than an overnight stay – it can be a work of art in itself.
