Hakone Open-Air Museum
Hakone, Kanagawa, Japan
Hakone Open-Air Museum, which opened in 1969 as Japan's first open-air museum, invites you to encounter sculpture within a living landscape. Perched in the hilly terrain…
What it's like here
Hakone Open-Air Museum, which opened in 1969 as Japan's first open-air museum, invites you to encounter sculpture within a living landscape. Perched in the hilly terrain of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, the museum treats the contours of the earth itself as part of the artistic experience. Over a thousand artworks are distributed across outdoor grounds and five indoor galleries, creating a journey where you move between open air and sheltered spaces, between monumental bronze figures and delicate indoor collections. The setting—with streams, ponds, and mountain horizons—means that sculptures interact with changing light and seasons, and the paths that connect them rise and fall naturally through the terrain. This is a place where contemporary and modern art lives alongside nature rather than in isolation from it, and where walking becomes part of how you encounter the work.
Highlights
- The Picasso Pavilion, displaying around 300 works by the Spanish artist
- Gabriel Loire's Symphonic Sculpture, a stained-glass structure shaped by shifting light throughout the day
- Monumental pieces by Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, Constantin Brâncuși, and Émile-Antoine Bourdelle positioned across the outdoor grounds
- Interactive sculptures designed for children and naturally fed onsen footbaths where you can soak tired feet
- The landscape itself—designed by sculptor Bukichi Inoue to make the terrain part of the artwork, with views across Hakone's hilly contours
Good to know
The museum is open year-round from 9:00 to 17:00, with last admission 30 minutes before closing. The grounds are substantially hilly, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Facilities include wheelchair and stroller loans, benches throughout, an English rental audio guide, multiple dining options, and umbrella rental. Coin lockers, nursing room, and accessible toilets are available. Parking is on-site.
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Questions people ask
How many artworks are in the collection?
The museum holds over 1,000 pieces on display, with a total collection spanning more than 2,000 works across outdoor grounds and indoor galleries.
What artists are represented here?
The collection includes works by Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, Auguste Rodin, Constantin Brâncuși, Gabriel Loire, Barbara Hepworth, Émile-Antoine Bourdelle, Carl Milles, Taro Okamoto, Niki de Saint Phalle, and many others.
Is there more than just outdoor sculpture?
Yes. The museum combines a substantial sculpture park with five indoor exhibition galleries, including the Picasso Pavilion and the stained-glass Symphonic Sculpture, allowing you to move between outdoor and sheltered viewing experiences.
Are there facilities for children?
The museum offers outdoor interactive sculptures designed for children, and provides stroller loans if needed.
Attributes & facilities
Experience
Accessibility
Last verified: August 12, 2026