A Quick Guide to Okayama's Art Island, Okayama, Japan

Just a few kilometers off the coast of Okayama, lies a small island called Inujima. It’s the only inhabited island in the prefecture, with a population of just 47. It’s so small, in fact, that there are no buses or trains. With an area of 0.54 sq km (0.21 sq mi), everything is within walking distance. You won’t even find a grocery store or konbini. And yet, it’s a popular destination, drawing thousands of visitors every year.

Inujima is one of three “art islands” managed by the Benesse Art Site Naoshima, along with Noashima and Teshima. It’s also the only Okayama island in the Setouchi Triennale (the rest are in Kagawa), a contemporary art festival held on the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. But how did Inujima go from a former industrial site to a contemporary art destination? Here’s a quick guide.

The name Inujima literally translates to, “Dog Island,” which is said to have come from a canine-shaped stone on the neighbouring island of Inunoshima. And while dogs don’t feature in its history, stone certainly does.

Inujima used to be a thriving quarry. The island was widely known for producing high-quality granite, which was used in the construction of many major projects around Japan, including the stone walls of Okayama castle. In 1909, Inujima also became the site of a copper refinery. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).