Why You Have to Visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum

Last Updated on November 27, 2025 by Charlotte

The ourdoor sculpture garden at the Hakone Open Air Museum

Imagine a verdant valley surrounded by misty mountains, where a giant bronze bull shares space with oversized fried eggs, and Pablo Picasso’s art works are housed just steps away from a glass tower clad in stained glass every color of the rainbow. This is the Hakone Open Air Museum, and it is the kind of place that makes you question why we ever decided art should be trapped behind glass cases in sterile white galleries. Opened in 1969 as Japan’s first outdoor sculpture museum, the Hakone Open-Air Museum has spent over five decades proving that the marriage between nature and art is transformative. If you’re the type of person who loves Picasso, who feels more alive outdoors than indoors, or who believes that art should make you feel something, the Hakone Open Air Museum is 100% worth it for you.

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What Makes the Hakone Open-Air Museum So Cool

Most museums feel like sacred spaces where you tiptoe around, speaking in hushed tones and keeping a respectful distance from the art. The Hakone Open-Air Museum flips this entire concept on its head.

Inside the stained glass tower in the sculpture garden

Stained glass tower at the Hakone Open Air Museum

This place doesn’t ask you to “get” the art—it simply invites you to feel something. Maybe awe, curiosity, or just the quiet joy of being surrounded by light, color, and the gentle stillness of the mountains.

A Seamless Dance Between Art and Nature

At the Hakone Open Air Museum, there are over 120 artworks from the 19th and 20th centuries scattered across terraces and throughout gardens, some standing boldly in the open, and others are tucked away like little surprises just waiting to be found.

A silver arch at the Hakone Open Air Museum

But what makes this place truly magical is how the art doesn’t compete with nature. In the gardens, the sculptures stand against backdrops of autumn leaves and mountain peaks, their meaning and perception shifting with the light and seasons.

The outdoor sculpture park at the Hakone Open Air Museum

The way natural surroundings reflect on each piece can completely change its interpretation, encouraging you to observe works from various angles throughout the day.

Art in Motion

Forget everything you know about museum etiquette. At the Hakone Open Air Museum, you’ll find yourself climbing through a giant hammock made of colorful, interconnected hand-knit nets inside a wooden dome, ascending a fantastic 18-meter-high stained glass tower, or posing like you’re surfing on a giant fried egg sculpture.

A stained glass tower with a spiral staircase at the Hakone Open Air Museum

I learned this firsthand when I struck my best surfing pose on one of those playful, larger-than-life medama yaki (fried eggs, sunny side up) and struck up a conversation with a Japanese tourist who was laughing at my antics and who offered to take my picture.

The sunny side up egg statues at the Hakone Open Air Museum

As it turned out, this random Japanese man had lived in Hawaii, a few houses away from me, for several years before moving back to Japan??

A traveler pretending to surf on a giant fried egg at the Hakone Open Air Museum

Of all the sculpture parks in all the world, we had to meet on top of a fried egg in Hakone. Talk about a small world!

Discoveries Around Every Corner

One thing I absolutely loved is that the museum’s design encourages wandering and wonder. Narrow winding paths lead you from one surprise to the next.

A reflective orb at the Hakone Open Air Museum

In the gardens, sculptures play with light, sound, and even water. “La Pleureuse” (“The crying woman”) features a large woman’s head that weeps tears into a reflecting pool, covered with cascading locks made from leaves and vines.

This statue was inspired by the myth of Narcissus, and shows an angel mourning a reflection that disappears as her tears fall. Or you might stumble upon Antony Gormley’s “Close III,” an iron figure sprawled face-down in the grass, a piece that somehow manages to be both melancholy and oddly relatable.

Nevertheless, throughout the grounds, you can see the incredible craftsmanship that has gone into each installation, from the hand-broken glass fragments creating rainbow light in the tower to the intricate metalwork.

The statue 'Rupture' by Atsushi Imoto at the Hakone Open Air Museum

This metal sculpture, ‘Rupture’ by Atsushi Imoto kinda freaked me out, but the artistry was super impressive.

I Like It, Picasso

Just when you think you’ve experienced everything this place has to offer, you discover that nestled among the outdoor sculptures sits one of the world’s largest collections of Pablo Picasso in the entire world. What makes this collection particularly special is its breadth.

While most people associate Picasso with his famous cubist paintings, the collection features ceramic works purchased from Maya Picasso (Picasso’s daughter), along with sculptures, paintings, and precious metal objects.

I never would have expected to find this much Picasso at a random museum in the mountains in Japan, but that makes it all the more special.

How to Visit the Hakone Open Air Museum

If you visit just one museum in Hakone, make it this one. Set in a wide valley surrounded by mountains, the Hakone Open Air Museum features massive sculptures, playful installations, and a stained-glass tower you can climb. It’s a perfect blend of culture and landscape, and it’s even a favorite even among people who don’t usually enjoy museums.

How To Get There

The museum is incredibly accessible, especially if you’re already in Hakone. Take the Hakone Tozan Railway to Chokoku-no-Mori Station (it is around a 30 minutes ride from Hakone-Yumoto Station, covered by the Hakone Free Pass), then it’s just a 2-minute walk to the museum entrance. If you’re staying in Gora, the museum is a 10-15 minute walk from Gora Station Japan Guide. The walk itself is pleasant, winding through Hakone’s forested hills.

Hours and Admission

The museum is open every day from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (last entry 4:30 pm). Tickets can be purchased both in person or online in advance.

Tickets

¥1,800 per adult (online)
¥2,000 per adult (same day)
A discount is available with the Hakone Free Pass
Offical Website

Museum Facilities & Accessibility

Cafe

The museum café offers simple but satisfying meals with views of the sculptures and mountains. It’s the perfect spot to warm up with a latte and reflect on what you’ve seen. I was pretty hungry after exploring all afternoon, so I got an early dinner here before heading back to my hotel.

Foot Bath

One of the most delightful surprises is the Forest footbath, where you can relax to rest your feet. The footbath is fed using spring water, and there is even seating available for wheelchair users. You can bring a small towel or buy one from the museum for ¥100 to dry your feet afterward.

Gift Shop

The gift shop near the entrance has unique art-inspired souvenirs that actually feel worth buying. I purchsed Christmas presents for all of my family.

Coin Lockers

Free coin lockers are available for luggage, which is incredibly helpful if you’re visiting between train connections.

Accessibility & Family-Friendly Features

Strollers are available free of charge at the Main Gallery and New Gallery Information Desk, and there’s an infant nursing room available. The museum is surprisingly accessible given its outdoor nature, with paved paths connecting most major installations.

Lastly, kids will absolutely love this place. The “Woods of Net” interactive installation is only for children aged 12 and under, and there are several other hands-on artworks especially designed for children. Unlike traditional museums, where kids get restless, this place encourages exploration and play.

How Long To Spend at the Hakone Open Air Museum

I spent around 3 hours here, including my snack at the cafe. Much to my regret, I arrived around 2 PM. Had I known just how cool this was beforehand, I would have tried to arrive earlier! So now you know 🙂

Was the Hakone Open Air Museum Worth Visiting?

100% yes! If you visit just one museum in Hakone, or honestly, just one museum in Japan, make it this one. Because where else can you experience world-class art, natural beauty, playful wonder, and quiet contemplation all in the same afternoon? Where else does a museum not only show you art, but invite you to become part of it? In a region famous for hot springs, lake cruises, and volcanic valleys, it might seem surprising that an art museum would steal the show.

Ready to Plan Your Trip to Hakone?

Check out more in our Hakone series:

Hakone Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go | From when to visit and how to get there to what to pack, this practical guide has all the essential info to make your trip easy and stress-free.
Hakone Stole My Heart: The Perfect 3 Day Itinerary | See how I structured our time across three days—including when to ride the ropeway, where to eat, and how to fit in museums and onsens without rushing.
Where to Stay in Hakone: Best Areas & Hotels for Every Budget | Whether you want a lakeside view, a mountain onsen, or a hotel close to the train station, this guide breaks down the best areas to stay (with picks from $ to $$$).