The building was designed as a half-underground structure to avoid disrupting the surrounding valley's natural landscape.
The museum contains works from Lee Ufan's 'From Line' and 'From Point' painting series.
The exterior path leading to the museum features a tall steel plate sculpture that frames the view of the Seto Inland Sea.
Lee Ufan is a prominent figure in the Mono-ha (School of Things) movement, which focuses on the relationship between materials and space.
The architect, Tadao Ando, designed the building specifically to showcase the works of Lee Ufan, rather than as a general gallery.
The Lee Ufan Museum is a collaborative architectural project between minimalist artist Lee Ufan and architect Tadao Ando. The structure is semi-underground, designed to integrate with the natural topography of the Naoshima coastline. It houses a collection of Lee's paintings and sculptures spanning from the 1970s to his contemporary works. The building features Ando's signature raw concrete walls, minimalist geometry, and dramatic play of natural light. Several large-scale stone and iron installations are positioned within the outdoor grounds. The museum emphasizes the relationship between the art, the architecture, and the surrounding seascape. As of July 2026, the museum remains a central component of the Benesse Art Site Naoshima network. The interior galleries are designed to create a meditative dialogue between the visitor and the artwork.
The outdoor plaza containing the large iron and stone installations.
Visit on a sunny day to experience the way shadows and natural light shift across the concrete surfaces throughout the afternoon.
Walk the path toward the outdoor sculptures to see how the architecture frames the ocean vista.
Allow extra time to walk between this museum and the nearby Benesse House Museum or Chichu Art Museum if you are exploring the southern coast on foot.
Do not attempt to walk between the island's art sites if you have mobility issues or are visiting during the peak heat of mid-summer, as distances are greater than they appear.
Closed on Mondays, unless Monday is a national holiday, in which case it closes the following day.
Maintain a quiet, contemplative voice; photography is strictly prohibited inside the gallery spaces.
