Hakone Open-Air Museum (Chokoku no Mori)

The Hakone Open-Air Museum, known in Japanese as Chokoku no Mori Bijutsukan (Sculpture Forest Museum), stands on 70,000 square metres of landscaped hillside in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture. Founded in 1969, it was Japan's first open-air sculpture museum and remains one of the country's most visited art institutions. The permanent collection features over 120 sculptures by some of the 20th century's most celebrated artists — Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, Alexander Calder, Niki de Saint Phalle, Joan Miró, and numerous Japanese sculptors — displayed among manicured lawns and garden terraces with views of the surrounding Hakone hills.

The experience flows between outdoor installations and five indoor gallery buildings. The Picasso Pavilion is the museum's jewel: a purpose-built circular hall housing nearly 300 works by Pablo Picasso across ceramics, paintings, engravings, and glasswork, representing one of the world's most comprehensive Picasso collections outside Europe. The Symphonic Sculpture, an 18-metre stained-glass tower visitors can enter, catches changing light throughout the day and is among the most photographed works in the grounds. Near the entrance, a foot onsen (natural hot spring footbath) allows visitors to soak tired feet while admiring sculptures — one of the few such amenities at any museum in Japan.

Given its 70,000 sqm spread, exploring the grounds thoroughly requires 2 to 3 hours. Afternoon visits in summer may run short of time before the 17:00 closing, so morning arrival is advisable. The museum connects directly to the Chokoku-no-mori station of the Hakone Tozan Railway, one stop before Gora, making access from central Hakone straightforward. The IC card (Suica/Pasmo) is accepted at the ticket gate. English-language audio guides are available.