Photo/Illutration Designed by Tadao Ando, the Valley Gallery displays works by Yayoi Kusama and Tsuyoshi Ozawa in Naoshima, Kagawa Prefecture, on March 12. (Akari Kamiya)

NAOSHIMA, Kagawa Prefecture--Art lovers from across Japan are expected to soon start flocking to this island in western Japan that is fast building a reputation for its stylish art facilities.

Two new art facilities opened on March 12. One is the Valley Gallery designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando. The other is the Hiroshi Sugimoto Gallery: Time Corridors. Both were set up by Benesse Holdings Inc., a company based in Okayama city that focuses on education.

Works on display at the Valley Gallery include renowned conceptual artist Yayoi Kusama’s “Narcissus Garden,” an installation project initially submitted to the Venice Biennale in 1966. It now boasts a total of 1,700 gleaming metal spheres inside and outside the venue.

Tsuyoshi Ozawa’s “Slag Buddha 88” features 88 Buddhist statues fashioned from slag generated from the disposal process of industrial waste on the neighboring island of Teshima in Tonosho town.

The Time Corridors gallery showcases 30 works by Sugimoto, including the Glass Tea House Mondian, a transparent cube-like enclosure for visitors to sit in, as well as a series of photo works and a table made of semi-petrified cedar.

Visitors can enjoy light refreshments in a cafe overlooking the glass tea house.

“The tearoom looks fantastical at night and refreshing during the day,” said Megumi Obayashi, 42, who came from Ayagawa, also in the prefecture.

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The Glass Tea House Mondrian has been shown in Venice, Versailles and Kyoto. Naoshima island is its final location. (Akari Kamiya)

“Our hope is that visitors come face-to-face with nature and time through artworks that inspire them to think about something and gain new realizations,” said Ryoji Kasahara, 53, who oversees art-related activities involving Benesse and its partner on Naoshima.

The Valley Gallery is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tickets are priced at 1,300 yen ($11), and also provide access to the Benesse House Museum.

The Time Corridors gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission is 1,500 yen (reservations required).

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