Hakone Open Air Museum is an open air museum in Hakone, a mountainous town known for its hot spring resorts. Open air museums are my favorite type of museum–it feels like an outdoor adventure and makes you get your steps in. We stayed for 3-4 hours before checking in to our onsen ryokan, Yama no Chaya, also in Hakone.
I really, really loved this place! It was so much fun, and it was a lovely break from bustling Tokyo. It was a great way to spend a late morning looking at sculptures, many of which are interactive, immersed within nature and surrounded by the mountains in Hakone. I felt like a little kid again here with all of the fun things they had going on.
I have so many favorite things here. One being the easy-to-use and well-designed lockers to store personal items, which is everywhere in Japan including train stations. And finally, the museum had a footbath. We soaked our feet in hot water with fresh oranges bobbing around in the water. Hygiene and cleanliness is a huge thing here.
There is so much more to say, but it wouldn’t be so fun if I gave away everything. I just recommend this place so much. Some of our best memories in Japan were here. I think it’s the little things that I love so much about Japan.
Hakone Open Air Museum
Japan, 〒250-0493 Kanagawa Prefecture, Ashigarashimo District, 箱根町二ノ平1121
www.japan-gude.com/e/e5208.html
Also has a few souvenir and gift shops and restaurants.
