Is the Hakone open air museum closed?

The Hakone Open-Air Museum is Japan's first open-air museum, opened in 1969 in Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture. It holds collections of artworks by Picasso, Henry Moore, Taro Okamoto, Yasuo Mizui, Churyo Sato, Susumu Shingu, and many others, featuring over a thousand sculptures and works of art.



As of February 2026, the Hakone Open-Air Museum is open and operating on its standard schedule. While the museum occasionally closes specific galleries for maintenance or "installation changes"—particularly the Picasso Pavilion, which underwent a major renovation a few years ago—the sprawling outdoor sculpture park remains accessible to the public year-round. The museum is famous for its 120+ sculptures set against the stunning backdrop of the Hakone mountains and its interactive "Symphonic Sculpture" tower. In 2026, it remains a "must-visit" on the Hakone Round Course. Standard hours are typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is a "pro tip" to check their official website the morning of your visit for any temporary "weather-related" closures, as heavy snow or extreme fog in the mountains can occasionally lead to the outdoor sections being restricted for safety. Otherwise, the museum's "hot spring foot bath" and world-class art collection await visitors just as they have since 1969.

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Getting there and around. The Hakone Open Air Museum is a few steps from Chokoku No Mori Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway (30 minutes, 460 yen from Hakone-Yumoto, covered by the Hakone Free Pass), the last station before the terminal station of Gora. From Gora, the museum is a 10-15 minute walk.

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As for private tour, visiting both in a day is possible with a hired car. But even with a car, it's not so recommended for the above reason. One day for Mt. Fuji and one day for Hakone is recommended to appreciate the area fully.

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Fuji is viewable for almost the entire drive when travelling from south to north. The Hakone Skyline runs for 14km and can be covered in about 30 minutes. The views from the top of Mt. Kintoki of Mt.

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You can take a train from Hakone to Fuji via Hakone-Yumoto and Odawara in around 1h 25m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Hakone to Fuji via Tomei Gotemba in around 2h 13m.

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The one-way fare starts from ¥3600 for unreserved seating, but with a Japan Rail Pass you need only to pay ¥320 for the Hakone-Tozan line - easily done with a Suica or PASMO card (Limited Express trains require an extra ¥200 surcharge). With a good connection, the trip takes one hour.

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It connects Sounzan Station (at the terminus of the Hakone Tozan Cablecar) with Togendai Station (at the shore of Lake Ashinoko) and stops at Owakudani and Ubako stations on the way. The ropeway is fully covered by the Hakone Free Pass. The ropeway's gondolas depart every minute and fit around ten people each.

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Make the most of a day out in the mountain town of Hakone, only 1.5 hours from Tokyo, with our Hakone Day Trip Itinerary. We've included a second day extension for those who want to stay overnight and explore the area further. When it comes to day trips, Hakone is one of the top choices for most visitors to Japan.

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