Overview
The Pola Museum of Art is a striking modernist building by architect Hiroshi Nikaidō, elegantly embedded into a forested hillside in the Sengokuhara highlands. Its collection of approximately 10,000 works spans Western Impressionism, Japanese art, and cosmetics-related artifacts.
Highlights
- Impressionist Collection: Major works by Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, and Van Gogh form the core Western collection, rivaling Tokyo's major museums.
- Architecture: The building floats amid beech and himeshara trees, with transparent facades blurring the line between gallery and forest.
- Forest Promenade: A 670-meter nature walk through the surrounding Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park forest connects to the museum entrance.
History
Opened in 2002 to house the private collection of Suzuki Tsuneshi, the second president of cosmetics company Pola. Construction took nine years and required excavating deep into the hillside to minimize visual impact on the protected forest.
Visitor Tips
- Forest Walk: Arrive via the forest promenade for the most atmospheric approach, especially beautiful in autumn foliage.
- Café: The museum café overlooking the forest canopy is one of Hakone's most serene lunch spots.
- Duration: 1.5–2 hours.