Benesse House invites guests staying on December 31 to enjoy a series of special events to celebrate the transition from 2025 to 2026 in Naoshima style.

New Year's Eve Highlights / Wednesday, December 31st, 2025

■ Welcome Drinks
Settle into the evening with a glass of complimentary welcome drinks.
□Time｜4:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
　Location｜Museum Cafe (For guests staying at the Museum)
　　　　　　 Park Lounge (For guests staying at Park or Beach)
□Time｜3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
　Location｜Oval Lounge (For guests staying at the Oval)


■ Lounge Bar Open
Indulge in carefully curated beverages at the Park Lounge Bar, offering a relaxed ambiance to enjoy the night.
Time｜5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. (last order 10:30 p.m.)
Location ｜Park Lounge


■ Toshikoshi Soba Service (New Year's Eve soba noodle service)
Mark the passing of the year with traditional soba noodles, symbolizing longevity and prosperity.
Time｜10:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Location｜Park Hall

New Year's Day Experiences / Thursday, January 1st, 2026

■ First Sunrise Viewing
Advance reservation required / Limited to 50 guests / Cancelled in case of rain
Embrace the dawn of the new year with a breathtaking 360-degree view from the Oval rooftop.
Time｜6:50 a.m. - 7:35 a.m.
Location｜Oval rooftop (transportation provided via hotel bus)
Warm drinks will be served.
Shuttle Bus Schedule
• Museum guests: Depart 6:53a.m. / Return approx. 7:30a.m.
• Park & Beach guests: Depart 6:50a.m. / Return approx. 7:35a.m.


■ New Year's Sake (O-toso) Service
Toast to the new year with otoso, a celebratory spiced sake traditionally enjoyed during New Year's breakfast.
Time｜7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Venue: Terrace Restaurant (Sparkling wine) / Museum Restaurant "Issen" (O-toso sake)
Available to guests with breakfast reservations


■ Hatsumode (New Year Shrine Visit) Tour
Advance reservation required / Limited to 50 guests
Time｜9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Location｜Honmura Area, Naoshima (via hotel shuttle bus)

Visit Hachiman Shrine, the guardian shrine of Naoshima, and Go'o Shrine designed by Hiroshi Sugimoto.
Note: Hachiman Shrine requires climbing approximately 100 stone steps.

Shuttle Schedule
• Depart: Museum 9:00a.m. → Benesse House Park 9:03a.m. → Town Parking near Art House Project Minamidera 9:08a.m.
• Return: Depart 9:52a.m. → Park 9:57a.m. → Benesse House Museum 10:00a.m.
* Return time may vary depending on conditions


■ Ring of Fire - Solar Yang & Lunar Weerasethakul
Advance reservation required / Limited to 17 guests
Time: 10:00a.m. - 10:35a.m.
Meeting: Please gather by 10:00. Wait in the lounge until the program begins.
This special daytime viewing features the usually nighttime program "Ring of Fire - Solar Yang & Lunar Weerasethakul Lunar."
*Children between the ages of 0-5 are not allowed in the exhibition due to the nature of the work.

Shuttle Access
• Hatsumode participants will be guided by staff after the tour.
• Non-participants: Guest-only shuttle bus: Benesse House Museum 9:30a.m.→ Park 9:33a.m. → Honmura Port 9:38a.m.
• Return: Shuttle bus provided


■ Sweet Sake (Amazake) & Commemorative Photo Service
Time: 11:00a.m. - 12:30p.m.
Venue: Park Lounge Start the new year with a commemorative photo with family or friends.
* Photos will be taken with an instant camera and handed to you on the spot (one photo per group).


■Cai Guo-Qiang Cultural Melting Bath: Project for Naoshima Footbath Experience
Time: 1:10p.m. - 2:20p.m.
Venue: Cultural Melting Bath
Enjoy a one-day-only footbath experience based on feng shui, located at the most energetically powerful seaside spot in Naoshima.
Please check for any time changes upon check-in.
For more details, click here.

Shuttle Schedule
• Depart: Benesse House Park 12:57p.m. → Benesse House Museum 1:00p.m. → Cultural Melting Bath 1:01p.m. (extra stop)
• Return: Cultural Melting Bath 2:26p.m. (extra stop) → Benesse House Museum 2:29p.m. → Benesse House Park 2:32p.m.