Tokyo Day Trip Idea for Solo Travelers and Families: Hakone Open-Air Museum
An Outdoor Art Museum for Families and Art Lovers in Hakone, Japan
Another museum on my Hakone wishlist is the Hakone Open-Air Museum. It was one of the highlights of my trip to Japan this time. This visit was also done during typhoon season. While it was not raining yet when I visited this open-air museum, the weather was overcast and humid all day.
If I were to visit this museum in the future, I would go first thing in the morning. I imagine the air and ambiance would be even better in the morning.
This open-air museum is also kid-friendly. All pathways and stairs are nicely paved with minimal uneven ground. Some artworks invite visitors' participation, one being dedicated to children. This museum is a good destination for a family trip.
After the ticketing lobby, visitors are directed down an escalator and then a dimly lit tunnel. At the end of the tunnel is the main museum space. Upon exiting this dark tunnel, visitors are greeted by nature and outdoor sculpture. It is quite literally a “light at the end of the tunnel” experience.
The Picasso Pavillion, Indoor Art Galleries and Interactive Installations for Kids
The Picasso Pavillion is a small, 2-floor gallery in the art park. The gallery showcases a variety of Picasso's work, emphasizing his ceramics work.
Based on the list of past exhibitions on the website, the exhibition in this gallery changes only every few years. During this visit, the exhibition was about the different themes and patterns in Picasso’s work throughout his career. The exhibition layout is not strictly chronological. Visitors are free to wander across different groups of artworks.
Besides the Picasso Pavillion, there are 3 other indoor galleries in the vicinity: the "Main Gallery", the "Multi-hall Gallery" and the smaller "Art Hall". These galleries are mostly for seasonal exhibitions only.
A Peaceful, Enriching Experience Where Art and Nature Intertwined.
Designed by architect and sculptor Bukichi Inoue, the highlight of this open-air museum is the vast sculpture garden. The garden itself is quite large and has multiple levels, visitors are required to trek up a bit of stairs to get the full experience.
The garden is located up on a hill overlooking 2 valleys, serving some very dramatic backdrops to these sculptures. Scattered around the garden are small ponds, some of which feature sculptures that are meant to interact with water.
A Cafe with a Relaxing Foot Bath to End the Visit.
In the middle of the garden is a cafe with glass facade. the Interior of the cafe is designed such that visitors can still enjoy the outdoor experience from within the cafe. most seating are arranged facing outward.
Right next to the cafe is an outdoor foot bath area. This foot bath area faces the expanse of the valley beyond the garden. It is quite a sight, very relaxing, especially when paired with the local fruit juices from the cafe. Towels and lockers are also provided as part of the foot bath
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