How to Visit Inujima from Naoshima: Ferries, Fares & Timing
Inujima is the quietest of the three main Setouchi art islands, and that’s exactly why visiting it takes a bit more planning than hopping over to Teshima.
There’s only one boat route, it runs just three times a day, and — this is the part most guides skip — the ferry schedule is tied directly to whether the museum happens to be open that day. Here’s everything you need to actually get there and back.
The Short Answer: One Boat, Three Round Trips a Day, and It Follows the Museum’s Calendar
You’ll reach Inujima on a single high-speed boat route from Naoshima’s Miyanoura Port, via a stop at Teshima’s Ieura Port. There are only three departures a day, and — importantly — the boat doesn’t run on days when Inujima’s art museum is closed.
That means your first planning step isn’t the ferry timetable at all; it’s checking whether Inujima is even open on the day you want to go.
Step 1: Take the High-Speed Boat from Miyanoura Port
Timetable (Naoshima ⇄ Inujima via Teshima)
| Direction | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|
| Naoshima → Inujima | 09:20 | 10:15 |
| Naoshima → Inujima | 12:10 | 13:05 |
| Naoshima → Inujima | 14:50 | 15:42 |
| Inujima → Naoshima | 10:25 | 11:17 |
| Inujima → Naoshima | 13:10 | 14:02 |
| Inujima → Naoshima | 15:47 | 16:39 |
The full journey (Naoshima to Inujima via Teshima) takes just under an hour — about 22 minutes to Teshima, then another 25 minutes on to Inujima. These times shift from year to year, so confirm the current timetable on the Shikoku Kisen website before you lock in your day plan.
Fares
| Route | Adult (one-way) | Child, 6–12 (one-way) |
|---|---|---|
| Naoshima ⇄ Teshima | ¥820 | ¥410 |
| Teshima ⇄ Inujima | ¥820 | ¥410 |
| Naoshima ⇄ Inujima (through-fare) | ¥2,450 | ¥1,230 |
Buying the through-ticket from Naoshima straight to Inujima is cheaper than paying for both legs separately, so ask for the through-fare at the ticket window if that’s your plan.
Do You Need to Change Boats at Teshima?
No — it’s the same boat for the whole journey, so you can stay seated through the stop at Ieura Port. One catch worth knowing: if you’re holding a Naoshima–Inujima through-ticket and you get off at Teshima to explore, you can’t use the remaining leg of that ticket later — it’s designed for a single continuous trip, not a stopover.
When Inujima Is Actually Open (and When the Boat Doesn’t Run)
This is the part that catches people out, and it’s worth reading closely before you plan around Inujima.
March–November: Closed Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
During the main season, the Inujima Seirensho Art Museum and the Art House Project are both closed Tuesday through Thursday (they do open on national holidays that fall on those days).
Since the ferry to Inujima only runs on days the museum is open, this closure directly determines your travel days too — realistically, you’re looking at Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, or a national holiday.
December–February: Fully Closed, No Ferry to Inujima
From December 1 through the end of February, Inujima’s art facilities close entirely for the winter.
As a direct result, the high-speed boat doesn’t extend to Inujima at all during this period — it only runs the Naoshima–Teshima leg (Monday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and national holidays). If you’re visiting Naoshima in winter, Inujima simply isn’t reachable by this route until March.
What to See on Inujima: Seirensho Art Museum & Art House Project
A single combined ticket (¥2,300 on-site, ¥2,100 if booked online in advance) covers both the Seirensho Art Museum — a contemporary art space built into the ruins of a former copper refinery — and the Art House Project, a scattering of small installations woven into the island’s village.
Both are open 9:00/10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with last entry at 4:00 p.m. Visitors 15 and under get in free.
Sample Day-Trip Itinerary from Naoshima
- 09:20 – Depart Miyanoura Port, Naoshima
- 10:15 -Arrive Inujima; visit the Seirensho Art Museum
- 12:00–14:00 -Explore the Art House Project and grab lunch in the village
- 15:47–Depart Inujima for the return trip
- 16:39–Arrive back at Naoshima’s Miyanoura Port
This gives you roughly five and a half hours on the island — comfortable enough to see both the museum and the Art House Project without rushing.
Practical Tips: Coin Lockers, Missing the Last Boat, Combining with Teshima
- Traveling light matters more here than elsewhere. If you’re carrying luggage you don’t want to haul around Inujima, drop it off before you leave Naoshima — see our guide to coin lockers and luggage storage at Miyanoura Port.
- Missing the 15:47 return boat is a real risk to plan for, since it’s the last sailing of the day and the next one isn’t until the following operating day. If you do get stranded, our Naoshima water taxi guide covers pricing and booking for a private charter back.
- Thinking about doing Inujima and Teshima in the same trip? Because this route already stops at Teshima’s Ieura Port, it’s worth reading our guide to visiting Naoshima and Teshima in one day before you decide how to split your time across all three islands.
FAQ
- Can I visit Inujima from Naoshima in winter?
-
Not by this ferry route. Inujima’s art facilities close completely from December through the end of February, and the boat doesn’t run out to Inujima during that window — it only covers the Naoshima–Teshima leg.
- How many ferries run to Inujima each day?
-
Three round trips, departing Naoshima at 09:20, 12:10, and 14:50 (subject to change — always confirm on the Shikoku Kisen site before your trip).
- Do I need to book tickets for Inujima in advance?
-
Booking the museum ticket online in advance saves ¥200 (¥2,100 vs. ¥2,300) and is worth doing, but the ferry itself is typically bought at the terminal on the day.
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