A photo that catches your eye, a photo that gives you a nostalgic feeling, a landscape that makes you want to take a photo yourself...The feeling you get when you actually see a photo that captivates you is even greater. When you want to go on a trip or just go out, but you can't decide where to go. Of course, it's good to decide what you want to do and then look for a destination, but it's also more exciting to choose the scenery you want to see and then head to your destination. In such cases, Instagram can be of great help. This time, we will be introducing art galleries and museums that operate official Instagram accounts that are spectacular to see, along with actual photos posted. Why not enjoy the beautiful art in the frame first with your eyes through the screen, and then once you arrive at the site, enjoy it with all your five senses?
"Yokohama Doll's House"
The first place we would like to introduce to you is Yokohama Doll's House, which is located about a 3-minute walk from Motomachi-Chukagai Station on the Minato Mirai Line. It can be accessed on foot from Yokohama's famous areas such as Motomachi, Chinatown, and Yamashita Park. At this Instagram page, which is a museum specializing in dolls, you can see the dolls from all over the world displayed inside the museum.
This museum, which has been in existence since the late Showa period, has a collection of over 10,000 items. Dolls created in different eras from over 100 countries around the world 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-day "Cool Japan." From traditional to avant-garde, cute to surreal, you'll be greeted by unique faces!
You can also check out information on special exhibitions and projects on this Instagram page. Currently, you can take a peek at the special exhibition ``The Magic of Light: Enchanted Dollhouse,'' which began displaying in April.
You can't stop scrolling through the photos, from elaborate dollhouses that look like they've been cut out of the good old Japanese scenery, to fantastical dollhouses that look like they're straight out of a picture book! Please visit us and be amazed at the actual size.
[Yokohama Doll's House]
Address: 18 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0023
TEL: 045-671-9361
Official website: https://www.doll-museum.jp/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yokohamadollmuseum/
"Yokosuka Museum of Art"
10 minutes on the bus bound for Kannonzaki from Umahori Kaigan Station on the Keikyu Main Line. We would like to introduce you to the Yokosuka Museum of Art, where you can enjoy the fusion of nature and art. Our museum, which opened in 2007, is a facility blessed with the natural beauty of Yokosuka.
What is pleasing to the eye from the exterior is the stunning contrast between the white of the building, the blue of the sky and sea, and the rich greenery.
It is a scenery unique to the perfect location surrounded by Kannonzaki Prefectural Park and Tokyo Bay.
The main building's special exhibition room holds a wide variety of special exhibitions, including modern and contemporary Japanese art. Light streams in from round windows throughout the building, allowing you to enjoy the blessings of nature and the fusion of art and nature even when you're indoors. (This photo is from the exhibition "Stories Painted with Threads" currently on display.)
At the annex Rokuro Taniuchi Museum, you can see the works of Rokuro Taniuchi, who has a studio in Kamoi, Yokosuka. A must-see is the collection of his masterpiece ``Weekly Shincho cover art'' posted here.
What you can't miss is the spectacular view from the rooftop plaza! The scenery reflected on the glass makes it worth taking photos from any angle. After enjoying art created by human hands, be sure to enjoy 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 relay races, but it also has an artistic side, with many art galleries and museums. From here, we will introduce three museums in Hakone 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.
Approximately 120 sculptures are permanently exhibited in the lush garden, which stretches over 70,000 square meters. There are also interactive art pieces that children will love.
One of the most popular is Gabriel Roard's "Symphony Sculpture Calling Happiness." You can't tell from the outside, but the inside of the 18m tall tower is surrounded by stained glass, and when you step inside, you're greeted by a flood of colors, creating a truly magical experience.
Some of the exhibits are hands-on. This "Star Garden" is a maze. You can touch, learn, and enjoy art.
At the Picasso Exhibition, which opened in 1984, 15 years after the museum opened, you can see not only sculptures but also paintings, gold and silver objects, and other works by Picasso.
On this Instagram page, we are constantly introducing works taken by our customers, so you can enjoy a variety of photos taken from different perspectives. It may not be long before your piece is included in this collection! If you take a photo, please post it using the hashtag #MinnanoSculpture or @thehakoneopenairmuseum.
[Hakone Open-Air Museum]
Address: 1121 Ninohira, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 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 "Sculpture Forest", we will introduce "Glass Forest". The Hakone Glass Forest Museum is located in Hakone Sengokuhara and is Japan's first art museum specializing in Venetian glass. At the experience workshop within the facility, you can create your own works using two types of glass: sandblasting and fusing.
In the garden, which is modeled after the mansion of a European aristocrat, you can enjoy the atmosphere of a water city and the panoramic view of Owakudani at the same time. The ``Corridor of Light'' visible in the back right is an arch made of crystal glass that is 9 meters high and approximately 10 meters long. Approximately 160,000 crystal glasses shine in the sunlight.
In this garden, you can enjoy seasonal plants, and in the fall, you can enjoy "pampas grass" made of crystal glass! Red dragonflies are also attracted to the sparkle of crystals.
The indoor museums include the ``Venetian Glass Museum,'' which has a gorgeous interior, and the ``Modern Glass Museum,'' which exhibits modern glass sculptures from the 20th century. Special exhibitions are also held from time to time.
This facility can be enjoyed throughout all seasons, but we recommend it during Christmas! During Christmas, large and small Christmas trees made of crystal glass emit sparkling light. These trees, named ``Romeo'' and ``Juliet,'' are illuminated in the evening, making them very romantic.
Hakone Glass Forest Museum will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2021. Why not come and visit us to commemorate this anniversary year?
[Hakone Glass Forest Museum]
Address: 940-48 Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0631
TEL: 0460-86-3111
Official website: https://www.hakone-garasunomori.jp/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hakonegarasunomori/
"Okada Art Museum"
The last place we would like to introduce is the Okada Art Museum in Kowakudani, which was opened in 2013. This is a facility where you can enjoy the beautiful nature of Kowakudani and Oriental art.
On this Instagram page, you can enjoy not only information about the facility, but also the seasonal nature of the surrounding area.
The large mural of the gods of wind and thunder, ``Kaze Toki,'' painted by Kotaro Fukui, can be said to be a symbol of the Okada Museum of Art. This work, which measures 12 meters in length and 30 meters in width, is made up of 640 gold panels connected together, and is even more impressive when seen on its actual scale. You can also enjoy the footbath cafe with 100% natural hot spring water.
Inside the museum, you can see about 450 exhibits, mainly works from the East, including Japan, Korea, and China. It is a facility where you can enjoy a wide variety of works, from early modern and modern Japanese paintings to Oriental ceramics, as well as clay figurines and Buddhist statues. (This is a photo of the "DOKI Earthenware! Earthenware and Bronzeware Exhibition" held in 2020.)
The garden was designed with the concept of ``a garden space where you can feel the blessings of nature through the vitality of spring water and trees,'' and the rich greenery and waterscape create a quiet and comfortable space.
At the museum shop, you can purchase Okada Art Museum's original chocolates, which are so beautiful that it would be a shame to eat them. This ``Okada Museum Chocolate ``Nami to Fuji'' is a bonbon chocolate that you can enjoy in 8 different flavors.
[Okada Art Museum]
Address: 493-1 Kowakudani, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0406
TEL: 0460-87-3931
Official website: https://www.okada-museum.com/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okada_museum/
*This time, we have republished photos posted on the official Instagram (with permission from each facility).
Please refrain from taking pictures in areas where photography is not permitted within the facility.
