Hakone Open Air Museum was the first of its kind in Japan and today it remains one of the most popular due to its harmonious balance of art and nature. And in this time of the Coronavirus outbreak, it is probably one of the safer museums to visit with so much of it being outdoors. The Museum is most known for its outdoor sculptures, but it also has a number of indoor museums with paintings, prints, ceramics and sculptures. One of the indoor museums houses their Picasso collection, which has more than 300 items.
Hakone Open Air Museum
What I love about this museum is that it is great for children, even toddlers. Below are some photos of the activities available to children;
Inside the “Symphonic Sculpture” Climbing inside the “Curved Space” Hanging out in the “Woods of Nets” The climbing space and swings in the “Woods of Nets” Life size maze
The “Garden of Stars” is a life-size maze for all ages. You can watch from the top or go down into the maze and try it for yourself.
The “Woods of Nets” is a fun space for kids of all ages. The floor beneath the swings and the climbing maze of the nets is padded. There are low down entrances into the climbing maze, that even toddlers can climb into.
The “Curved Space – Diamond Structure” is another type of climbing space. Smaller children would need to be accompanied by older children or adults.
The “Symphonic Sculpture” is a tower in the centre of the museum. There are great views of the surrounding landscape from the top of the tower.
Something I haven’t seen myself yet, as I believe it was only added recently, is the “Ki To Ki” space. It is a rest area with wood logs (indoors) that you can use for break time. Food / drink is okay. And there are ports for charging phones, free wifi too.
In the summer they have the “Angel Mist Garden” to help you cool down. Although, generally Hakone is cooler than other areas in the kanto plain anyway.
Other facilities
They loan out baby strollers and wheelchairs for free, subject to availability of course. They also have free lockers, for storing small items of luggage, available. There is a foot spa located beside the Gallery Cafe and Shop. There are two restaurants as well as two cafes. We ate in the “Bella Foresta” restaurant, which is an all-you-can-eat buffet style restaurant. There wasn’t a huge selection, but it was big enough to have something for everyone. There are at least six male and female bathrooms throughout the museum and three multi user toilets which have baby changing facilities.
Hakone Open Air Information
Hours: The museum is open all year round from 9 am to 5 pm, last entry at 4.30 pm. However, in 2020, due to the Coronavirus the museum closed to the public during the period of the State of Emergency. It reopened on June 8th.
Cost: Children up to five years old can enter for free. For up to date entrance fees for older children and adults, please see their website.
Access
Whenever we go we access the museum by car and it was well sign posted and easy to find. The parking at that time was 500円 for the day. The museum is a two minute walk from Chokoku no Mori station on the Hakone Tozan Line. There is also a bus that goes from JR Odawara Station or Odakyu Hakone Yumoto Station to Ninotaira Iriguchi Station which is a five minute walk from the museum.
Address and contact details
Ninotaira, Hakone-Town, Kanagawa-Prefecture, 250-0493 Japan
Tel: 0460-82-1161 Fax: 0460-82-1169
Restaurant and shop information: 0460-82-1141
Great post! My MIL lives up in Hakone and I am dying to visit the open air museum!
What a great place to have family in Japan!! Lots to do in Hakone and it’s usually cooler than most of Kanto during the summer!!