Day 12 - Nourishing the spirit and body

Thank you all for your lovely comments! I've fixed the photos, so if you were wondering why a cat had no head or why Huay was suddenly gone from a group photo, it should all be a-ok. Some people have been asking questions about traveling in Japan, and I've decided to put together a post with links and travel tips to Japan after we get back. We all agree that, although it's helpful to know the language, it's not necessary. A positive attitude and a smile go a long way in Japan!

I woke up the next morning at 5 am to a beautiful sunrise. I did the unthinkable and woke Rob up to share in the view. He was a bit grumpy at first but then appreciated my bad manners.






There are so many moths on Naoshima that we lost count.



When we went down for the morning, we had to wait for our funicular to come back to our station.


We caught a glimpse of the rocks surrounding our night time soak.


We spent the first part of the morning exploring the outdoor art pieces around Benessee House.




Our favorite outdoor art piece was the Pumpkin.




We took a quick detour into the Park portion of the hotel to catch bus into town. More art was to be found where ever you turn.



In the small town was a project called “Art House”. There are four structures that have been remodeled to be pieces of art. We were only allowed to visit three, and only could take photos of one, so here are some shots to give you an idea of what the art was like.









We ate a hearty lunch in town of curry rice and beef with cucumbers.



The next stop was the Chichu Art Museum, where again we weren’t allowed to take photos. I won’t go into detail about the exhibits, but all I can say is its other name should be “Art Amusement Park”. The funny part of the museum was that all of the employees wore these white jumpsuit-ish outfits. That combined with the novel way of viewing the art made it feel like we were in a museum set 100 years in the future. Definitely a unique and wonderful experience.

I decided to get Mama a 90 minute massage at the hotel spa for a late mother’s day gift, and of course I had to go along. This was an indulgence that we will never forget. One of the many things I love about Japan is the level of service you receive. The employees at the spa were the most kind, solicitous people I’ve ever dealt with. On top of the excellent service, there is no tipping in Japan, so we were free to enjoy everything without feeling obligated to tip a certain amount. Sheer heaven! We gushed about it so much Rob and Huay went at the end of the day themselves.

While Mama and I were being pampered, Rob and Huay explored the rest of the outdoor art on the island.






Naoshima was our vacation from our vacation, full of beauty, peace, and relaxation. All of the employees were super friendly and accomdating. They recognized us each day and were very helpful in dealing with all of a questions. Definitely a place we would all recommend.

Next – East, West, Relatives are the best!