Benesse House Beach

The four main hotel structures are cleverly conceptualised to showcase both the beauty of the island and the artwork within, and the understated medley of concrete, glass and wood is an ideal backdrop for the vivid pieces that dot every room and hallway. The Oval and Park buildings each have an intimate lounge, and the latter hosts the sea-facing Terrace restaurant, which serves delicious French-inspired cuisine. Filled with the most original art, the Museum building also has a kaiseki restaurant featuring fresh Setouchi seafood.

Each featuring an original work of art, the rooms are scattered across all four buildings. Most of the rooms share traits like floor-to-ceiling windows, light wooden furnishings, a muted, elegant colour palette, and spectacular views. Accessed by a monorail, the Oval sits hight on a hilltop, whilst Beach is a few steps away from the shore. In Park and Museum, the rooms boast balconies overlooking art-dotted lawns and views across the sea to the mountains of Shikoku. The largest suites also have a spacious lounge and dining area.

The entire island has become an outdoor gallery of sorts with artwork found amongst the shrines, rice fields and traditional wooden homes. The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle to see the island's highlights and it's definitely worth exploring - that is when you're not admiring the art back at Benesse House, of course. You can also enjoy relaxing treatments in the spa, which use ingredients from the island like wild rosemary and sea salt. And don't forget about the beach...