One of the greatest opportunities to visit the Seto Inland Sea is from now through Oct. 31. During this time, the Setouchi International Art Festival beckons you to discover up to six islands in Kagawa Prefecture and one in Okayama Prefecture.

This art festival has a little something for everyone — art lovers and art haters alike (hey, I don't like to discriminate). I recently visited Ogijima, one of the islands imbued with art to host the festival. It's impressive just how much art can help to save an island and its culture. Ogijima (man-tree island) is the 40th island I've visited in the Inland Sea, and I'd have to rank it as one of the best for first-time visitors to the Seto Naikai.

Unlike Shodoshima, where with a population of over 30,000 people you can forget you're even on an island, Ogijima is typical of the smaller islands in the Seto Naikai with populations of "200 or so." It is just 4.7 km in circumference with a mountain in the middle. The picturesque cluster of houses creeps up the side of the mountain like a high tide.