Hakone is for Art Lovers
Hakone is a haven for any culture vultures out there due to its large collection of fantastic art museums and galleries. Ranging from contemporary art to traditional art, sculptures to paintings, glass to ceramics, there is something to entice all art lovers out there! Not only does Hakone showcase Japanese artists, but it also showcases a variety of international talent as well. We have created this page to provide you with an overview of the top museums to visit duting your stay in Hakone so that you can make the most of your trip as an art lover! On this page you will find the following information :
— How to Spend 48 Hours in Japan’s Mountainous Region
— 20 Best Things to Do Around Hakone
— Where to Stay When Visiting Hakone
— Book With Us! Nagano’s No.1 Tour & Charter Operator
WHERE IS HAKONE?
Hakone is a popular ‘onsen’ (hot spring) area lying around 90km to the south-west of Tokyo. Known for its wide range of accommodation options – including lots of traditional guesthouses with their own hot springs – along with plenty of great restaurants, museums, galleries and other attractions, Hakone attracts lots of visitors given its close proximity to the capital. Part of the larger area of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, visitors to the area can often enjoy some of the best views of Mount Fuji to the west with the months of October and November being a particularly popular time of year given Hakone’s beautiful autumn colours. For information on how to get there, see our ‘How To Get To Hakone’ page.
HAKONE IS FOR ART LOVERS
Hakone really is a great destination for all things art! It is known for its beautiful natural landscapes and Onsen (hot springs), but it is also home to several renowned art museums, galleries and even outdoor installations. So if you’re coming to Japan to enjoy art in many forms, make sure Hakone is on your travel list. Here are some of our top picks in Hakone!
1 / Pola Art Museum / All Year Round
The Pola Museum of Art is a great place to go for those looking for classic and contemporary art nit just from Japanese artists, but from artists around the world. The museum is known for its impressive collection that includes works by Monet, Renoir and Taikan Yokoyama. The diverse collection includes all manner of art, and it is the sculptures that make it a stand out experience. The Pola Art Museum is nestled amongst a dense forest, and has a beautiful and serene nature walk through its grounds where visitors can enjoy yet more amazing outdoor installations.
2 / Hakone Open Air Museum / All Year Round
The Hakone Open Air Museum is home to a wonderful collection of sculptures on display in the open air. With the art being surrounded by mountains and greenery, this makes for a special art experience like no other! The museum also has indoor galleries featuring works by famous artists such as Picasso. So even if you’re caught out with bad weather, you can still enjoy what this museum has to offer.
3 / Okada Museum of Art / All Year Round
The Okada Museum of Art is a stunning addition to the art scene in Hakone. Having opened in, it is one of the newer and more plush museums. The museum houses a vast collection of Japanese, Korean and Chinese art, heavily featuring ceramics and pottery in the collection. Each of the five floors showcases some of the most beautiful artworks, and visitors can also enjoy traditional Japanese art such as Ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) and Nihonga (Japanese paintings). The museum is even home to a great collection of Buddhist art and a wonderful open air foot bath which visitors can enjoy as part of their admission.
4 / Ashinoko Narukawa Art Museum / All Year Round
The Narakawa Art Museum is perfect for those wanting to fully immerse themselves in just Nihonga (Japanese style painting). The Museum offers a unique private collection spanning decades from an impressive portfolio of Japanese artists. They even have a small collection of traditional Noh theatre masks on display. As Hakone is also known for its amazing views of Mount Fuji on clear days, there is even some art where Fuji makes an appearance. After enjoying the two floors of artworks, visitors can relax in the cafe and lounge area to enjoy impressive panoramic views of Lake Ashinoko and the surrounding mountains.
5 / Hakone Venetian Glass Museum / All Year Round
The Venetian Glass Museum is a unique museum dedicated to just glass art. The collection is a gorgeous sight with beautiful sculptures, glassware and trinkets hailing from Italy all housed within a Venetian and fairy tale inspired building. Visitors can be mesmerised by the intricate chandeliers, vases, perfume bottles and sculptures. The collection does a fantastic job at allowing visitors to appreciate the mastery behind glassblowing which has been expertly developed in Venice over centuries. The star of the show however are the impressive sculptures in the gorgeous garden of the Museum. If it is a sunny day, visitors can enjoy the light bouncing off the glass and sparkling bright in the sunshine. For art lovers wanting a more immersive experience, we recommend booking a place on the Museum’s glassblowing and glass engraving workshops!
HOW TO SPEND 48 HOURS IN JAPAN’S MOUNTAINOUS REGION
The mountainous landscape of Hakone is home to some amazing scenery and attractions. Most famous as being an Onsen (Hot Spring) resort area, for its nature, and an abundance of Museums, you can have a well balanced stay of relaxation, culture and being active. Two days is a perfect amount of time to spend in Hakone, do some exploring and see most of what Hakone can offer. To help you navigate the tricky question of how you should spend your short time wisely in Hakone, we have an itinerary suitable for a 48 hour stay. Check out our ’Two Days in Hakone’ page for more information. We hope this page will give you the inspiration you need! Many of the places we have included in this itinerary will offer great views of Mount Fuji on clear and fair weather days, but if you want more information on where to see Mount Fuji in Hakone then check out our ’Where to See Mount Fuji in Hakone’ page.
20 BEST THINGS TO DO AROUND HAKONE
Readily accessible from Tokyo using the trains, Hakone offers visitors lots of reasons to visit. Most famously, Hakone is known of its numerous guesthouses including many ‘ryokan’ (traditional guesthouses), many of which have their own hot springs and offer international visitors the chance to enjoy the total comfort and relaxation of Japanese service. A popular getaway destination for Tokyoites, Hakone is home to many excellent galleries, museums, onsen, restaurants and of course, known for its outstanding views of Mount Fuji. Check out our ‘20 Best Things to do in and Around Hakone’ page for inspiration and information for planning your Hakone trip!
WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING HAKONE
When booking your accommodation in Hakone, it’s important to do your research and choose a hotel or guesthouse in an area that suits your needs. Most international visitors will travel to and from Hakone by train, making the area around Hakone-Yumoto Station a convenient and popular choice with a good range of accommodation options. Outside the central town, Gora is another popular accommodation area accessible by car or using the Hakone Tozan Railway. Nearby Sengokuhara has a good range of hotels and restaurants however is harder to reach using public transport while the hotels of Ashinoko are distant from the main accommodation and dining areas. Our ‘Best Places to Stay in Hakone’ page has lots of information to help you choose the right for you including accommodation listings.
HOW TO GET TO HAKONE
Hakone-Yumoto Station is the gateway to the Hakone area and readily accessible using trains services from Tokyo and beyond. For information on how to get there, see our ‘How to Get to Hakone’ page.
BOOK WITH US! NAGANO’S NO.1 TOUR & CHARTER OPERATOR
Japan offers many, many reasons to visit. Operating all year round, we are Nagano’s No.1-rated tour and charter operator, offering a range of services including group tours, private tours and charters. We can arrange transport including a private vehicle and driver, to transport you to, from and between any destination in our service areas in Japan. If you want to plan a trip to travel to Hakone from Tokyo or Nagano, simply contact us to enquire about our charter services.
Our drivers and vehicles are fully certified, allowing us to transport you to and from your preferred destinations in combination with any activity that suits your schedule.
We can arrange both private tours with an English-speaking guide or a private charter, including a private vehicle and driver but without a guide. We’d love to be part of your adventure in Japan and help you discover even more!
Why choose us?
Awarded a 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for our 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour – recognised as one of the Top 10 Experiences in Japan – we have the local knowledge and experience to help you get the most out of your time in Nagano and Japan.
Got a question about visiting Japan? Contact us and let’s get planning together!
