Hakone Open-Air Museum

The Basics

The Open-Air Museum is a must-see during any visit to Hakone, a picturesque town in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, southwest of Tokyo. Art aficionados will love it, but so will travelers with a wide range of interests, as the park is spacious, well-tended, and full of fun photo opportunities. Travelers usually visit while touring the Hakone area on a day or overnight trip from Tokyo.

Things to Know Before You Go

• There are indoor exhibition areas too, which make a nice refuge when the weather is bad.

• The on-site café offers good views of the gardens.

• Advance ticket reservations are recommended to save time, but this can only be done within Japan.

• This is a good destination for kids, as there is lots of open space and a Children’s Pavilion.

How to Get There

The most direct route to the museum from Tokyo via public transit is to take the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Odawara. From there, take the Odakyu Line to Hakone Yumoto Station, then take the Hakone Tozan Railway to Chokoku-no-Mori Station. From there, the museum is a short walk.

When to Get There

The museum is open from 9am until 5pm year-round. Last entry is a half-hour before closing, and you should aim to spend at least an hour here. In winter there could be snow, but that makes the outdoor park all the more photo-worthy.

Explore Hakone

Hakone is very popular with Japanese tourists, and for good reason, as there are a number of easy outdoor activities to enjoy. One of the best things to do in the town is to take the Hakone Ropeway up to Owakudani. On a clear day, there are spectacular views of Mount Fuji.

Ways to explore

You can buy admission tickets for Hakone Open-Air Museum online to save yourself from lining up on the day; the attraction is wildly popular among culture lovers, so it’s worth booking ahead. The museum is often featured on day trips from Tokyo, which typically combine it with a visit to Mt. Fuji, the volcanic Owakudani Valley, and the Hakone Shrine, which perches peacefully on the banks of Lake Ashi. Private, customizable tours of Hakone typically include round-trip transportation from Tokyo and allow you to tailor the itinerary.

Accessibility

While wheelchairs are available for loan from the museum, the uneven ground and stairs around the museum can make exploring some areas challenging. Accessible restrooms are available.

Age limits

None; there are some hands-on installations where kids can play and climb within the structures.

What to pack

Bring a waterproof jacket for the outdoor sections of the museum, which is open rain or shine. Bring coins for lockers, which are returned after use.

What to wear

Wear sneakers or other comfortable footwear, as you’ll cover a lot of ground on foot.

Not allowed

Strollers and mobility scooters inside the museum, photography within indoor exhibition spaces, touching artworks, eating and drinking outside designated areas, sketching, pets, bringing toys into the museum

Amenities

Café, restaurant, gift shop, restrooms, information center, coin-operated lockers, baby-changing facilities

Address

Hakone Open-Air Museum is southeast of Tokyo, within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in the town of Hakone. While you can reach it by public transportation, tours with round-trip transportation are the quickest and most convenient option.

Driving

Take the Tomei Expressway from Tokyo, then exit at Atsugi IC; continue on the Odawara–Atsugi Road (Seishō Bypass) toward Odawara, and exit onto National Route 1. At Miyanoshita Crossing, turn left, and take Prefectural Road 723 toward Gora, following signs to the museum. Free on-site parking is available for visitors.

Public transportation

The most direct route to the museum from Tokyo via public transit is to take the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Odawara. From there, take the Odakyu Line to Hakone Yumoto, then the Hakone Tozan Railway to Chokoku-no-Mori Station.

Best times to visit

The museum is open from 9am to 5pm year-round. The last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Aim to spend at least one hour here.

Best days to visit

The sprawling size of the sculpture gardens means crowds are dispersed, so even weekends feel less busy than many Tokyo attractions.

Best months to visit

Visit in the fall, when the foliage within the museum grounds turns red, yellow, and orange.

Special events

Hakone hosts various festivals in summer (June through August), with spectacular fireworks displays in celebration of the Hakone Daimonji Fire Festival.