Naoshima New Museum of Art Temporary Closure: Nov 24 – Dec 11, 2026
Naoshima New Museum of Art is closed from Tuesday, November 24 to Friday, December 11, 2026, and reopens on Saturday, December 12 at noon. The closure is for a partial exhibition change. If your trip falls inside that window, you won’t be able to go in, so it’s worth adjusting your plans now.
One thing to watch for: the first announcement said the museum would be closed through December 12. The museum has since moved the reopening to noon on December 12, so older posts (and some travel sites) show the earlier dates. This page follows the museum’s latest notice (checked October 29, 2026).
The Dates at a Glance
| Closed | Tuesday, Nov 24 – Friday, Dec 11, 2026 |
| Reopens | Saturday, Dec 12, 2026, from 12:00 noon |
| Reason | Partial exhibition change |
Finding Naoshima Note: The Naoshima Tourism Association’s page (posted September 3) still says the closure runs to December 12. The Benesse Art Site Naoshima notice is the later one and the museum’s own, so use its dates. If you only saw the tourism association’s page, you may be planning your day around a closure that’s already ended.
Reopening Day Events (Dec 12)
On reopening day, the museum has announced two events:
- 1:00 p.m. Opening remarks and exhibition introduction (Gallery 1, 1st floor)
- 2:00 p.m. Artist talk (at the museum’s &CAFE)
The notice doesn’t say whether these need a separate reservation or whether there are changes to admission that day. Check the museum’s Open Days Calendar before you go.
&CAFE Closes for Good on December 12
The museum has also announced that the &CAFE inside Naoshima New Museum of Art will close permanently on December 12, 2026. If you were planning a coffee stop with a view of Teshima from the museum, December 12 is the last day.
Other Closures to Know About
The tourism association’s notice mentions further temporary closures but doesn’t list them on the page. Benesse’s yearly maintenance notice gives the other period we can confirm for this museum:
| Facility | Closed |
|---|---|
| Naoshima New Museum of Art | Nov 24 – Dec 11, 2026 (exhibition change) |
| Naoshima New Museum of Art | Jan 12 – Jan 18, 2027 (yearly maintenance) |
| Art House Project “Kinza” | Until Jan 1, 2027 (maintenance) |
| Chichu Art Museum | Jan 12 – Mar 19, 2027 (maintenance) |
The museum’s regular closing day is Monday (open on a Monday that’s a national holiday, closed the next day). Hours are 10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., last entry 4:00 p.m. So on December 12 you’d have roughly noon to 4:00 p.m. to get in. The museum’s notice doesn’t spell out reopening-day hours, so confirm on the calendar.
Finding Naoshima Note: If you’re planning around Chichu, note that it’s closed from January 12 to March 19, 2027. Winter is a popular time to avoid crowds, but several facilities close together in January, so check each one before building an itinerary.
What to Do If Your Trip Overlaps
- Shift your dates if you can. The simplest fix is to travel before November 24 or from December 12 onward.
- Keep your Naoshima day, swap the museum. The Art House Project in Honmura, the Yayoi Kusama pumpkin and the other museums are all separate from this closure. Our Naoshima 1-day itinerary is easy to rework without this stop.
- Don’t buy a ticket for those dates. Online tickets are sold per visit, so book only for days the museum is open. For prices and how to book, see our Naoshima New Museum of Art ticket guide.
- Book your other museums early. Chichu needs advance booking, and a change of plan can leave you without a slot. See our Chichu Art Museum ticket guide.
What Will Be on Show Afterwards?
The notices only say “partial exhibition change” and don’t describe the new display. If you’re curious about the building itself, see our Naoshima New Museum of Art overview.
Where to Confirm the Latest Information
- Benesse Art Site Naoshima: closure update for the museum (Japanese)
- Benesse Art Site Naoshima Open Days Calendar
- Naoshima Tourism Association announcement (Japanese) — TEL 087-892-2299, info@naoshima.net
Information checked October 29, 2026. Closures can change, so look at the calendar again just before you travel.