Naoshima, Kagawa

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Naoshima (直島町, Naoshima-chō^?) is an island town administratively part of Kagawa District, Kagawa, Japan located in the Seto Inland Sea. As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 3,583 and a density of 251.97 persons per km². The total area is 14.22 km².

The island is known for its many contemporary art museums. For example, the Chichu Art Museum [1] (literally, "in the earth") houses a number of site-specific installations by James Turrell, Walter De Maria and paintings by Claude Monet. Designed by Tadao Ando, it is located on one of the highest points of the island, and various exhibits and facets of the museum's architecture take advantage of its commanding view. Another contemporary museum (and hotel) is Benesse House, also by Ando.

The museums and the beauty of the island itself draw many tourists. Naoshima's economy is supported by tourism. It is also supported by Mitsubishi Materials, loosely affiliated with other Japanese companies with the Mitsubishi name. Naoshima has been the site of massive mining by Mitsubishi, and the corporation has in turn subsidized the island's museums, public schools, and other projects.