Explore the Hakone Venetian Glass Museum: Japan's Enchanting Glass Forest
Located close to Mount Fuji, Hakone is one of Japan's premier tourist destinations, renowned for its hot springs and natural beauty. Accessible by train from Tokyo in approximately 1-2 hours, it's easily reachable and popular as a day-trip destination.
The Gora area in particular is chosen by many travelers as a place where you can simultaneously enjoy seasonal landscapes and art. The surrounding area is home to unique museums and art galleries, offering a distinctive experience where nature and art harmonize.
Today, we'd like to introduce the "Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest)," which has gained popularity for its fantastical atmosphere and delicate glass art.
Table of Contents
-Why is the Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest) Called a Premier Tourist Destination?
-3 Must-See Artworks at Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest), Carefully Selected by a Museum Enthusiast
-3 Selected Museums and Museums to Visit Together with Hakone Venetian Glass Museum Recommended for Art Museum Lovers
Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest) - A Venetian Glass Specialty Museum in Hakone
The Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest) is a unique museum unlike any other, where you can simultaneously experience Venetian art and Japanese natural beauty while remaining in Japan.
The museum displays numerous Venetian glass pieces created from the 16th century to the present day, drawing visitors into a world of brilliant and delicate glass artistry.
The museum features Venice-style courtyards and water mills, and the space that integrates with Japan's seasonal landscapes provides fresh emotions that cannot be experienced in the authentic location.
This museum, where European beauty intersects with Japanese culture, is a spot that those interested in art and culture should definitely visit.
Why is the Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest) Called a Premier Tourist Destination?
Display of Approximately 100 Precious Venetian Glass Artworks
Source:Official website
At the Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest), you can appreciate approximately 100 precious glass artworks created in Venice. The collection ranges from Renaissance period pieces of the 16th century to works revived in the 19th-20th centuries, allowing visitors to sense the evolution of techniques and designs across different eras.
The highlights include delicate lace patterns, vibrant colored glass combinations, and intricate craftsmanship. I found myself losing track of time as I gazed at each piece, feeling the individuality and emotions of the craftsmen of that time.
Photography is permitted inside the museum, so please capture your favorite pieces and preserve them as memories.
Collaboration of Japanese Plant Life with European-style Gardens and Architecture
Source:Official website
The Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest) offers abundant charm not only inside the building but also in its exterior and gardens.
The garden, where European mansion-style architecture harmonizes with distinctly Japanese nature such as seasonal flowers and bamboo groves, presents a unique sight that can only be seen here. The autumn foliage and spring greenery are particularly beautiful, and the ability to enjoy different seasonal landscapes is an attractive feature.
The grounds feature crystal glass arches, where various expressions of glass can be observed depending on the day's weather and wind direction.
Additionally, glass artwork exhibitions themed around seasonal plants such as cherry blossoms, wisteria flowers, and hydrangeas are held. Please pay attention to these special exhibitions that can only be seen at specific times.
Glass Craft Workshops for Hands-on Experience
Source:Official website
The Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest) hosts glass craft workshops that anyone can easily enjoy.
I tried "fusing," and the process of combining colorful glass parts to create my own unique keychain was so interesting that I became completely absorbed in it.
The experience menu also includes "sandblasting," where sand is blown onto glass to carve patterns. Even beginners and children can enjoy safely with careful support from staff.
Both activities can be completed within an hour, which is a pleasant feature. Why not stop by during your sightseeing to create a one-of-a-kind artwork?
Adjacent Café and Restaurant for Elegant Moments
Source:Official website
The Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest) has an adjacent café and restaurant with a calm atmosphere surrounded by glass art.
Large glass windows offer views of the garden landscape, allowing you to leisurely enjoy meals and tea while bathed in natural light.
I particularly recommend the fruit tea made with plenty of seasonal fruits. After enjoying it as tea, you can savor the fruit with fresh cream as dessert, making it a luxurious item that's delicious in two ways from one cup.
Additionally, live performances by domestic and international artists are held daily, and spending time with beautiful music as background creates a special experience unique to this place.
3 Must-See Artworks at Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest), Carefully Selected by a Museum Enthusiast
Here, as someone whose hobby is visiting museums, I will introduce three carefully selected artworks that particularly moved me at the Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest).
Goblet and Lid Enameled with Flower Pattern
Source:Official website
The "Goblet and lid enameled with flower pattern" is one of the representative masterpieces of the Renaissance period, created in Venice around 1500.
On deep blue glass, flower patterns painted in red, white, green, and blue enamel emerge beautifully, and the addition of gold decoration further enhances its magnificence. When I actually viewed this piece, I was amazed by the intricate expression that seemed impossible for glass, and I couldn't take my eyes off it for quite some time.
The vertical ribbed pattern on the stem and the chalice-like form are also distinctive features, giving off a somewhat sacred atmosphere.
The background story of how it was once owned by Italian nobility and later inherited by the Rothschild family in Germany made me feel the weight of its long history.
Lace Glass
Source:Official website
The "Goblet and lid in filigrana a retorti" is an 18th-century creation characterized by delicate beauty, where white lace patterns softly emerge on thin transparent glass.
When I first saw it, I thought the patterns were drawn afterward, but I was surprised to learn about the intricate technique of actually twisting milky white glass around transparent glass rods.
This artwork changes its expression depending on how light hits it and the viewing angle, allowing you to discover new charms each time you look at it.
Please come and experience firsthand the delicacy and beauty of lace glass that was beloved by European nobility of that era.
Cup Swaying in the Wind
Source:Official website
The "Cup swaying in the wind," created in 1895, is characterized by its elongated stem inspired by plant stems and the ultra-thin base that supports it.
Due to its extremely delicate structure, it was considered impossible with the technology of that time and amazed many craftsmen and experts. In fact, only a very few of the completed glasses could stand on their own.
When I learned this background, I was moved by the passion and perseverance of the creator who continued to challenge themselves through repeated prototypes.
When you imagine the invisible efforts and trial-and-error behind this beautiful artwork, the presence of this glass feels even more profound.
November to January is absolutely the Best Time to Visit Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest)!
Source:Official website
If you're planning to visit the Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest), November through January is the most recommended time. During winter, the clear air makes the inherent transparency and brilliance of glass stand out even more.
My particular recommendation during this period is the crystal glass Christmas trees that can only be seen at this time. Two glass trees, each about 10 meters tall, are displayed, and the entire garden is wrapped in winter decoration.
During the day, they shine colorfully illuminated by sunlight, and at night, they transform into a fantastical atmosphere with lighting. I visited during both time periods, and each had different charms that made me gaze at them for extended periods.
Access to Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest)
・Address: 940-48 Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
・Access: From Hakone-Yumoto Station, take the Hakone Tozan Bus (bound for Togendai) and get off at "Hyoseki, Garasu-no-Mori-mae" bus stop (immediately upon alighting).
・Operating Hours: 10:00-17:30
・Phone Number: 0460-86-3111
・Official Website: https://www.hakone-garasunomori.jp
3 Selected Museums and Museums to Visit Together with Hakone Venetian Glass Museum Recommended for Art Museum Lovers
Here, we introduce three museums that you would want to visit together with the Hakone Venetian Glass Museum (Glass Forest) for those who want to deepen their art experience in Hakone.
The Hakone Open-Air Museum
The Hakone Open-Air Museum is Japan's first outdoor museum that opened in 1969, with approximately 120 sculptural works displayed in its vast gardens.
The attractive point is that you can enjoy art alongside the scenery of the four seasons in an open space where nature and art merge.
What particularly left an impression on me was the tower-shaped work "Symphony Sculpture of Happiness" decorated with stained glass. When you enter inside the tower, you are enveloped in a 360-degree world of vivid light and can experience a fantastical moment.
This museum, where you can enjoy nature and art together, has many spots that make you want to take photos. Please enjoy strolling around with a camera in hand.
〈Facility Information〉
・Address: 1121 Ninotaira, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
・Opening hours: 9:00~17:00
・Closed days: None
・Phone number: 0460-82-1161
・Official website: https://www.hakone-oam.or.jp/
Pola Museum of Art
Source:Official website
Pola Museum of Art is located within the nature-rich national park in the Sengokuhara area and is a museum designed with the theme of "coexistence of nature and art." The characteristic feature is that most of the building is embedded underground, blending into the surrounding landscape.
Inside the museum, you can appreciate diverse works including masterpieces of Impressionism by Monet, Renoir, and Picasso, as well as Japanese paintings and glass crafts.
What particularly left an impression on me was the Nature Trail I walked after finishing viewing the exhibitions. Sculptural works are displayed throughout the course, and by walking through nature while enjoying art, both my body and mind felt refreshed.
〈Facility Information〉
・Address: 1285 Kozukayama, Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
・Opening hours: 9:00~17:00
・Closed days: None (However, may be closed during exhibition change periods)
・Phone number: 0460-84-2111
・Official website: https://www.polamuseum.or.jp/
Hakone Okada Museum of Art
Source:Official website
Okada Museum of Art in Kowakudani, Hakone is a museum specializing in East Asian art where you can enjoy traditional art from Japan, China, and Korea all at once.
In the spacious interior, over 450 items including Japanese folding screens, Buddhist statues, and ceramics are displayed, allowing for quiet contemplation.
What I particularly recommend is the giant mural "Wind/Time" depicting the wind and thunder gods, and the foot bath café in front of it. The experience of gazing at art while soaking in hot springs had a luxury that you can hardly taste elsewhere.
This is a place I would definitely like those who want to quietly face art to visit.
〈Facility Information〉
・Address: 493-1 Kowakudani, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
・Opening hours: 9:00~17:00
・Closed days: December 31st, January 1st, exhibition change periods
・Phone number: 0460-87-3931
・Official website: https://www.okada-museum.com/
