Another of Hakone’s engaging art spaces, the POLA Museum of Art houses around 9500 works acquired by the former head of the Pola cosmetics group, Tsuneshi Suzaki including notable artworks by Cezanne, Monet, Picasso and Renoir along with contemporary sculpture and paintings.

Exhibitions include both Western and Japanese artists, including around 160 ‘nihonga’ (Japanese) paintings, with a focus on works from the second-half of the 20^th century. The museum itself embodies striking architecture, set beautifully within its natural setting of a surrounding beech forest. The majority of the museum is built into the ground, allowing the overall structure to sit serenely within the landscape. A 670 metre walking trail allows visitors to move through the forest and along the way enjoy views of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

Open daily, the museum has irregular closing days so best to refer to their website for current dates of operation to avoid being disappointed.