🗺️ Okada Museum of Art岡田美術館

The Okada Museum of Art opened in 2013 in the Kowakudani Onsen area. The museum is built on the site of the former ryokan "Kaikatei," which was established during the Meiji era for Western visitors. It has a total of five floors and an exhibition area of about 5,000 square meters, making it the largest museum in Hakone. Inside, the museum showcases works from the Rimpa school, including pieces by Tawaraya Sōtatsu and Ogata Kōrin, as well as ukiyo-e prints by Kitagawa Utamaro and Katsushika Hokusai, and modern Japanese paintings by artists such as Hishida Shunsō and Yokoyama Taikan. Additionally, it features ceramics from Japan, China, and Korea, as well as Buddhist art from Japan, with approximately 450 pieces of Eastern art on display at any given time. The expansive garden, covering about 15,000 square meters, is another attraction of the museum. Visitors can enjoy various flowers such as mountain azaleas, peonies, and hydrangeas that change with the seasons. After appreciating the art, it is recommended to take a stroll. At the entrance of the garden stands the charming dining facility "Kaikatei," which has been renovated from a Showa-era building. Here, guests can enjoy a peaceful dining experience while listening to the sounds of koi swimming in the pond and the waterfall. Additionally, there is a foot bath café within the museum area that uses 100% natural hot spring water. Visitors can relax while sipping tea and admire the large mural "Wind and Thunder Gods" by Fukui Eitarō. The museum shop offers a variety of original products themed around the collection, including notepads, transparent folders, and hand towels, making them perfect souvenirs to bring home.

The museum showcases approximately 450 pieces of art from Japan, China, and Korea at all times. Visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers, experience a forest bath, and admire the autumn leaves, making the expansive Japanese garden one of its attractions. It is also recommended to take a break at the foot bath café located within the museum.