Dear Diary, 

This weekend was epic. Like, if my life were a TV show (which, let’s be real, it should be), today would be the season finale. I made the long, somewhat crazy trek from Tokyo to Naoshima Island, and let me tell you, it was totally worth it.

So, the day started early - painfully early. I hopped on the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station. These bullet trains are seriously the coolest; they make Amtrak look like a sad little toy train. Zipped over to Okayama and then transferred to a local train to Uno Port. The scenery shift was stark - from skyscrapers and neon lights to serene, lush greenery. From Uno Port, I took a ferry to Naoshima. The sea breeze was doing wonders for my hair and as the island got closer, I was already feeling those artsy vibes. Stepping off the ferry, I felt like I was walking into an indie film. The island has this perfect mix of old-school Japan and modern art coolness.

First stop: Chichu Art Museum. The museum was mostly underground, which sounds weird, but it was actually genius because the natural light made everything look magical and on a super hot day, it was like built in air conditioning. Next, I hit up the Benesse House Museum. This place was like a museum and a hotel had a super stylish baby. You can find anything you like here - from paintings to sculptures to installations. Walking through the galleries, I felt like I was in a really highbrow Instagram feed. Every corner is a photo op, people!

And, of course, the grand finale: Yayoi Kusama’s Yellow Pumpkin. If you haven’t seen this giant polka-dotted pumpkin, are you even living? It sat right on the pier at Miyanoura as an iconic symbol of the island. So whimsical, so striking, and so perfect against the blue sea. I may or may not have taken a million selfies with it.

So, there you have it. Naoshima Island: checked off my bucket list. The trek from Tokyo was long, but every single minute was worth it.

Until the next super long and exhausting travel day. 

Xoxo, 

Maria