Island
Megijima is a small island located just 20 minutes by ferry from Takamatsu. For residents of Takamatsu, it is often used as a beach getaway and the ferries in the middle of summer often have dozens of students looking to get away from the city and enjoy the beach. All of these students tend to skip the art and head straight to the beach making it less of an annoyance within the town itself. Most of the art is located within walking distance of the ferry port but there are a couple of artworks located a distance by bus.
Megijima Port Building
Getting to the Island
Megijima is serviced by Meon and Meon 2, identical ships that ply the waters between Takamatsu’s central city port, Megijima, and Ogijima. All ships run from Takamatsu to Megijima, and then on to Ogijima, before returning to Takamatsu via Megijima. Usually only one ship runs between the islands, but in August, both ships are running every day with the extra sailing going to Megijima only due to the number of beach goers.
Cost
- 370 yen each way (round trip tickets available but provide no discounts)
Timetable
Ferries depart every 2 hours starting at 8:00 from Takamatsu. The last ferries depart Takamatsu after 18:00, but there are no return ferries after that. Return ferries depart every 2 hours from 7:20 with the last sailing at 17:20.
From August 1~20, an extra sailing to Megijima is added with sailings every 2 hours departing Takamatsu from 9:10. The last return ferry to Takamatsu departs Megijima at 18:10.
Please check the ferry schedule for precise times.
Getting around the Island
A bus service connects Megi Port with the Ogre Caves at the top of the island. Buses are timed with the arrival of the main ferries and runs 5 times a day. For those going to the Ogre caves, you only get 35 minutes to enjoy the caves and the surrounding area before the return bus departs.
Cost
- 600 yen round trip (100 yen discount for Setouchi Passport holders)
- Note: The bus does make a stop during the Triennale near “Terrace Winds” on the return trip to the port.
Bicycles and electric bicycles are available to rent but they are not very convenient to get up the hill to the Ogre Caves. Consider them if you wish to go to Nishiura as well as the Ogre Caves, but you may have to push the bicycle up the hill if it runs out of electricity. Regular bicycles will have to be pushed up the hill.
Cost
- Electric Bicycle: 700 yen for 4 hours
- Regular Bicycle: 300 yen per day
Walking to the Ogre Caves and Nishiura is possible but I highly recommend against it, especially in summer. If you plan to spend an entire day on Megijima, you can definitely enjoy the countryside a lot more if you walk everywhere.
Artwork on Megijima
Most of the art is around Megi Port and you can easily walk to all of the artwork, with the exception of the art at the Ogre Caves at the top of the island.
Ogre Caves
Including the Ogre Caves, you can see all of the artwork within 4 hours. If you generally don’t need a lot of time to appreciate the art, it can be as fast as 3 hours, but if you need a lot of time to enjoy the art, you may need 5 or even 6 hours.
Seagulls Parking Lot
When you disembark from the ferry, you can easily enjoy the art around the port. I recommend you head left in a clockwise direction to see the art. Most people will head in a counter clockwise direction.
- 2016 Megijima Setouchi Triennale Art (HinoMaple)
- Megijima Art Guide (Official Setouchi Site – English)
- Megijima Art Guide (Official Setouchi Site – Japanese)
- Setouchi Triennale 2016 on Megijima (Setouchi Explorer)
- Megijima’s Oni Cave During the Setouchi Triennale 2016 (Setouchi Explorer)
Eating on Megijima
I personally found the food options on Megijima to be lacking. The most popular place to eat is at Megi Port. The port building has a small canteen style restaurant with typical home style foods from Japan. If you want something nicer, Restaurant Iara at “The Presence of Absence” is nice but the food appears expensive for what it is. Near the main beach area, north of the port, there are a few small restaurants and in the summer a beach shop. You can get food and drinks but prices are designed for beach goers so beware of the prices. For the 2019 Setouchi Triennale, “Little Shops on the Island” series appears to have more food options and EAT&ART TARO will also be having an exhibit on the island.
Restaurant Iara
Information
This is part of a series on each of the main islands of the Setouchi Triennale. All information is correct for 2019 but subject to change. Information should be similar for the future, but be aware that the information is very likely to change.
All information has been created in consultation with David Billa of Setouchi Explorer and his Setouchi Triennale 2019 General Information guide.