Okada Museum of Art
岡田美術館
A large-scale museum standing on a hilltop in Kowakidani, centered on ancient Japanese and East Asian art. It displays a permanent collection of about 450 masterpieces spanning a wide range of periods and fields, from Jomon-period earthenware to early modern and modern Japanese paintings and Chinese and Korean ceramics and Buddhist statues. The vast mural "Wind and Time," 12 meters tall and 30 meters wide, decorating the front exterior wall, is breathtaking in scale, and a foot bath fed by natural spring water sits at its base. A roughly 15,000-square-meter strolling Japanese garden is another highlight, letting visitors enjoy both art appreciation and a garden stroll — one of Hakone's leading museums.
The giant mural and foot bath
Decorating the museum's front facade, "Wind and Time" is a massive mural of the wind and thunder gods, painted across 640 gold-leaf panels spanning 12 by 30 meters. A free foot bath (free for museum visitors) sits at the base of the mural, offering the unique experience of appreciating art while soaking your feet.
Masterpieces of the Rinpa school, including Ogata Korin
The second floor houses Ogata Korin's large six-panel folding screen "Chrysanthemums," while the fourth floor displays "Cranes and Pine Trees in Snow," the work that inspired the museum's founding — part of a rich collection of Japanese paintings including Rinpa-school masterpieces.
A strolling Japanese garden
Spread across about 15,000 square meters, the garden is designed in the strolling style, making the most of Hakone's natural terrain, and can be enjoyed through every season. Admission to the garden alone is also available.
Seasonal Highlights
🌸 Spring (Mar-May)
A season when the garden's fresh greenery is beautiful.
🍁 Autumn (Sep-Nov)
Visitors can enjoy the garden's autumn foliage together with the foot bath.
❄️ Winter (Dec-Feb)
Visitors can warm up in the foot bath while appreciating the art.
Visit Tips
- Suggested duration
- About 90-150 minutes including the museum and garden
- Crowd levels
- The parking lot and galleries tend to be crowded on weekends and holidays
- Best time to visit
- Weekday mornings offer a relatively relaxed viewing experience
| Address | 493-1 Kowakidani, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30). Open year-round except during exhibition changes |
| Admission | General/university students ¥2,800, elementary/junior high/high school students ¥1,800 (garden admission an additional ¥300; foot bath free for museum visitors) |
| Official Website | Visit official website |
Access
- 20 min walk from Hakone-Yumoto Station (About 20 minutes by Hakone Tozan Bus or Izu Hakone Bus, get off at "Kowakien," then a short walk)