The 10 Best Restaurants On Naoshima Island

Naoshima is often referred to as Japan's 'art island' due to its many galleries, museums and art installations, including its famous pumpkin sculptures by one of the country's best-known artists, Yayoi Kusama. This essential pit-stop for anyone interested in art can be found floating in the Seto Inland Sea, reached by ferry from either Okayama to the north, or Kagawa to the south. 

Restaurants are also in ample supply here, offering everything from fresh seafood and house-roasted coffee to artisan gelato and even vegan Japanese. Find these suggestions and more in our round-up of Naoshima Island's best restaurants.  

The dining room at Terrace Restaurant offers some of the best views on Naoshima, courtesy of its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean. This provides the perfect perch for enjoying its elegant, French-inspired dinners, though they also do a lunch and breakfast. Like many of the island's restaurants, there's a real push toward local produce, particularly seafood: be it the scallop ravioli with seaweed beurre blanc, sautéed flounder and sea bream, or marinated butterfish with Japanese lime jelly (oh la la). We'd also like to give a shout-out to the cafe, bar, and other eateries found onsite at Benesse House (the famous art museum/luxury hotel to which Terrace Restaurant belongs). 

A father-and-son duo is slinging some of the area's best seafood from chill spot New Olympia, just a short walk from the waters of Miyanoura Port. Honouring Naoshima's abundant seafood (Spanish mackerel, amberjack, and rainbow salmon to name but a few) is their MO, and you'll find it taking centre stage in their sushi, sashimi, and other dishes. The only downside is that it's only open for dinner, meaning that reservations are a must. 

Everything at Perma is exceptional, which is fortunate indeed given that this is an omakase restaurant (meaning there's no set menu—rather, your meal is left entirely in the hands of the chef to curate). What you can expect is beautifully-plated contemporary Japanese cuisine showcasing local vegetables and seafood from the Seto Inland Sea. Examples of past dishes include grape and tomato ceviche, squid and kumquat sushi, and chocolate daifuku with amazake ice cream; while ramen also makes a regular appearance (expect out-the-gate flavours like clam miso, lotus root dandan, and chicken and shrimp). Perma continues to impress by offering a vegetarian version of its menu, along with a solid selection of natural wines.   

Step behind the blue-curtained facade of this historic townhouse and into a homely dining room where it may surprise you to learn that the food is predominantly vegan. Expect unpretentious, home cooked-style dishes packed full of flavour and local goodies (there's even a blackboard that tells you which prefecture each ingredient comes from). Fan favourites include the organic enzyme brown rice sets and goziru miso soup. A slice of rice flour cake laced with bamboo charcoal and rum and raisin is the perfect (and perfectly wholesome) treat to finish on. 

If you're looking for Western-style cuisine, REGALO is where you'll find it. This teeny-tiny trattoria is serving up tasty plates of pasta, homemade focaccia, steak and other Italian favourites, handcrafted with local ingredients (case in point: the seafood carpaccio, featuring goodies harvested from the surrounding Seto Inland Sea). However, it's the dessert that's really caught our attention: the pumpkin cheesecake in particular, whose dotted top pays homage to Naoshima's famous spotted pumpkin sculptures, by legendary artist Yayoi Kusama. REGALO  is closed on select Fridays and Saturdays, so be sure to plan your trip accordingly. 

Just as every British village needs a pub, so every Japanese village needs an izakaya. Enter Yayoda, a spot beloved by all with a reputation for great seafood. The simmered fish is a perennial favourite, as is the sashimi—there's even sea snails and turtle hand, for those who want to take a deeper dive into the whole seafood vibe. In true izakaya fashion, you'll also have a solid choice of Japanese beers and other boozy bevvies.   

For one of the island's most unique dining experiences, head along to Chikurin. This izakaya is a one-man operation, where said man is a spritely 76 years old with a cheeky persona to match who takes your order, cooks it, then does the dishes once the last crumb has inevitably disappeared. Simple food done well is the order of the day here—think sashimi, fried chicken, simmered fish, and oden (a type of Japanese hot pot), enjoyed to a soundtrack of the owner's favourite jazz, and against a backdrop of his wife's handmade stained glass. We recommend grabbing a beer and a seat at the counter, where you can chat and watch this hospo powerhouse do his thing.

Coffee is the fuel on which many-a-traveller runs, so gas up with the island's best brews at Francoile—a cute, family-run coffee roastery that doubles as a guesthouse. Pick your poison (whether that's an espresso tonic, flat white, or even an affogato), all made from premium hand-dripped, house-roasted coffee. A menu of light meals and cheeky treats to complement your cuppa are also on offer—think tarts, gateaux, and even a banana cake set. Unfortunately, this spot is closed on Mondays and Fridays so if you want to visit, you'll need to again plan accordingly. P.S. To stay overnight here is actually quite affordable and better yet, includes breakfast.

You don't have to go far to find the island's best icy treats—Naoshima Gelato is located near the ferry terminal at Miyanoura Port. Choose from chocolate, matcha, and milk-flavoured creations, or fruity concoctions in all the colours of the rainbow (pineapple, watermelon, peach, grape... the list goes on). There's even a selection of vegan sorbets, along with coffees and sodas. Chuck in some beaut seaside views, and you have yourself a very warm (or should we say cool?) welcome to Naoshima. 

We absolutely adore Cafe Salon Naka-Oku, where delicious, home cooked-style food is served inside a tastefully renovated farmhouse. The omurice (an omelette served on rice) with homemade tomato sauce is a fan favourite (and rightfully so—it's fluffier than a cloud and almost as big!), which you can enjoy as part of a set menu with homemade potato salad and olive cider (you drooling yet?). They've also been known to do a spotted pumpkin cheesecake, so best jump on that too if you can. Alternatively, swing by for a cup of original-brew coffee during the day, or a cheeky cocktail in the evening. 

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