Pola Museum of Art

Hakone’s Pola Museum of Art is a nature and art wonder. Opened in 2002, the museum is a treasure trove of Western and Japanese art with over 10,000 pieces collected by the Pola family over decades. Imagine walking through a space where Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh hang alongside Yokoyama Taikan.

The building itself is a work of art—designed to blend into the forest, it has glass walls to let in natural light and the art feels alive. The building is mostly underground with the roof camouflaged by the forest so you feel connected to the natural world and the art inside.

Inside, you’ll find Impressionist paintings, one of the biggest in Japan. Japanese ceramics, sculptures and glass art too. A love for Western and Eastern art.

What makes the Pola Museum of Art special is that it brings together different cultures, eras and styles under one roof and keeps you connected to the Hakone landscape.