See it on Instagram! Recommended art museums and museums in Kanagawa Prefecture
A striking photograph, a nostalgic image, a landscape that makes you want to take your own...the feeling you get when you actually see that captivating image is truly special. Sometimes you want to travel or go on a short trip, but can't decide on a destination. While it's certainly good to decide what you want to do first and then look for a destination, it's also exciting to choose a "landscape you want to see" and then head to your destination. That's where Instagram comes in handy. This time, we'll introduce museums and art galleries that operate impressive official Instagram accounts, along with actual photos they've posted. First, enjoy the beautiful art framed within the pages on your screen, and then, once you arrive, savor it with all your senses.
Yokohama Doll Museum
First up is the Yokohama Doll Museum, located about a 3-minute walk from Motomachi-Chukagai Station on the Minatomirai Line. It's easily accessible on foot from famous Yokohama areas such as Motomachi, Chinatown, and Yamashita Park. This museum specializes in dolls, and its Instagram account showcases the dolls from around the world that are on display inside.
This museum, which has been operating since the late Showa period, houses a collection of over 10,000 items. Dolls from over 100 countries around the world, created in different eras, are gathered in one place, making it a facility that can be enjoyed by both adults and children.
From dolls brought to life by Living National Treasures to new members symbolizing modern "Cool Japan," a diverse cast of characters awaits you, ranging from traditional to avant-garde, from cute to surreal!
You can also check out information about special exhibitions and events on this Instagram account. Currently, you can take a peek at the special exhibition "The Magic of Light: Enchanting Dollhouses," which began in April.
From exquisitely crafted pieces that capture the essence of old Japan to fantastical dollhouses that seem to have jumped straight out of a picture book, you won't be able to stop scrolling through the photos! Be sure to visit in person and be amazed by the actual size.
[Yokohama Doll Museum]
Address: 18 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture 231-0023
TEL: 045-671-9361
Official website: https://www.doll-museum.jp/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yokohamadollmuseum/
Yokosuka Museum of Art
A 10-minute bus ride from Keikyu Main Line's Mahorikaigan Station towards "Kannonzaki" will take you to the Yokosuka Museum of Art, where you can enjoy a fusion of nature and art. Opened in 2007, the museum is located in the beautiful natural surroundings of Yokosuka.
What's pleasing to the eye from the outside is the magnificent contrast between the white of the building, the blue of the sky and sea, and the lush greenery.
This scenery is unique to this superb location surrounded by Kannonzaki Prefectural Park and Tokyo Bay.
The main building's special exhibition room hosts a wide variety of exhibitions, including those on modern and contemporary Japanese art. Light streams in through circular windows throughout the building, allowing visitors to enjoy the blessings of nature and the fusion of art and nature even while indoors. (The photo shown here is from the current special exhibition, "Stories Drawn with Thread.")
At the Rokuro Taniuchi Annex, you can see the works of Rokuro Taniuchi, who had his studio in Kamoi, Yokosuka. The collection of his representative works, "Shukan Shincho cover illustrations," posted here is a must-see.
A must-see is the breathtaking view from the rooftop plaza! With the scenery reflected in the glass, it's worth taking photos from any angle. After enjoying the art created by human hands, be sure to enjoy the art created by the power of nature.
[Yokosuka Museum of Art]
Address: 4-1 Kamoi, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture 239-0813
TEL: 046-845-1211
Official website: https://www.yokosuka-moa.jp/index.html
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yokosuka_moa/
Hakone is famous for its hot springs and ekiden (long-distance relay race), but it also has an artistic side with many art museums and museums. Here are three of Hakone's art museums that we will introduce in succession.
Hakone Open-Air Museum
First up is the Hakone Open-Air Museum, Japan's first open-air museum, built to take advantage of Hakone's natural beauty. You can see sculptures by artists such as Auguste Rodin and Henry Moore.
The lush garden, spanning 70,000 square meters, features approximately 120 permanent sculptures. There are also interactive art installations that children are sure to enjoy.
Among the most popular is the "Symphony Sculpture that Brings Happiness" by Gabriel Loire. You wouldn't know it from the outside, but the 18-meter-tall tower is completely surrounded by stained glass inside, and when you step inside, you are overwhelmed by a flood of colors, creating a truly fantastical atmosphere.
Some of the exhibits are interactive. This "Star Garden" is a maze. You can experience, learn about, and enjoy art.
In 1984, 15 years after the museum's opening, the Picasso exhibition showcased Picasso's works, including not only sculptures but also paintings and gold and silver objects.
On this Instagram account, we regularly showcase photographs taken by our customers, so you can enjoy a variety of photos taken from different perspectives. The day when your photo joins this collection may not be far off! When you take a photo, please post it with the hashtag #みんなの彫り (Everyone's Sculpture) or @thehakoneopenairmuseum.
[Hakone Open-Air Museum]
Address: 1121 Ninohira, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0407
TEL: 0460-82-1161
Official website: https://www.hakone-oam.or.jp/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehakoneopenairmuseum/
Hakone Glass Forest Museum
Following our introduction to the Hakone Open-Air Museum, we now present the Hakone Glass Forest. Located in Sengokuhara, Hakone, the Hakone Glass Forest Museum is Japan's first museum dedicated to Venetian glass. At the museum's workshop, visitors can create their own unique works using two types of glass: sandblasting and fusing.
In the garden, designed to resemble a European aristocratic mansion, you can enjoy both the atmosphere of the water city and a panoramic view of Owakudani at the same time. The "Corridor of Light" visible in the back right is an arch made of crystal glass, 9 meters high and approximately 10 meters long. About 160,000 crystal glass pieces sparkle in the sunlight.
This garden offers a variety of plants throughout the seasons, but in autumn, you can enjoy "pampas grass" made from crystal glass! Even red dragonflies are attracted to the sparkle of the crystal.
The indoor museums include the "Venetian Glass Museum," with its opulent interior, and the "Contemporary Glass Museum," which exhibits modern glass sculptures from the 20th century. Special exhibitions are also held from time to time.
While this facility can be enjoyed throughout all seasons, I highly recommend visiting during Christmas! During the Christmas season, large and small Christmas trees made of crystal glass sparkle and shine. These trees, named "Romeo" and "Juliet," are also lit up in the evening, creating a very romantic atmosphere.
The Hakone Glass Forest Museum will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2021. Why not visit and commemorate this anniversary year?
[Hakone Glass Forest Museum]
Address: 940-48 Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0631
TEL: 0460-86-3111
Official website: https://www.hakone-garasunomori.jp/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hakonegarasunomori/
Okada Museum of Art
Finally, let me introduce the Okada Museum of Art in Kowakidani, which opened in 2013. It's a facility where you can enjoy the beautiful nature of Kowakidani and Oriental art.
On this Instagram account, you can enjoy not only information about the facility itself, but also the surrounding nature, which changes with the seasons.
The magnificent mural of Fujin and Raijin (the gods of wind and thunder), "Kaze-Toki" (Wind and Time), painted by Kotaro Fukui, is a symbol of the Okada Museum of Art. This work, measuring 12 meters high and 30 meters wide, is made up of 640 gold-leaf panels joined together, and is even more impressive when viewed on its actual scale. You can also enjoy viewing it while relaxing in the footbath cafe, which uses 100% natural hot spring water.
The museum houses approximately 450 exhibits, primarily focusing on works from East Asia, including Japan, Korea, and China. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of art, from early modern and modern Japanese paintings to East Asian ceramics, as well as clay figurines and Buddhist statues. (This image is from the "DOKI Pottery! Clay Figurines and Bronze Artifacts Exhibition" held in 2020.)
The garden was designed with the concept of "a garden space where you can feel the blessings of nature—spring water and the vitality of trees," and the abundant greenery and water features create a quiet and pleasant space.
At the museum shop, you can purchase original Okada Museum chocolates that are so beautiful you almost don't want to eat them. This "Okada Museum Chocolate 'Waves and Mt. Fuji'" is a set of bonbon chocolates with eight different flavors.
[Okada Museum of Art]
Address: 493-1 Kowakidani, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0406
TEL: 0460-87-3931
Official website: https://www.okada-museum.com/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okada_museum/
*This post features photos originally posted on the official Instagram accounts (with permission from each facility).
Please refrain from taking photos in areas of the facility where photography is not permitted.
