The arrival of autumn has us thinking of Pumpkin, Yayoi Kusama’s iconic sculpture on Naoshima, an island in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea that’s one of our favorite destinations in Asia for contemporary art and architecture.

The collection of museums and artworks set among the island landscapes and known as Benesse Art Site Naoshima provide many opportunities for memorable photographs. However, the quintessential Naoshima image is of Pumpkin, a sculpture of an enormous yellow pumpkin speckled with rows of black dots. Created by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama in 1994, the giant gourd sits at the end of a pier near Benesse House, a Tadao Ando-designed art museum and hotel complex.

A visit to Naoshima is a highlight of several of our private Japan tours, including Journey Through Japan and Contemporary Art of Japan. A stay on the island can also be added to any of our in-depth Japan tours. Contact an Artisans of Leisure Japan travel expert to begin planning.