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- Hakone Glass Forest Museum (箱根ガラスの森博物馆) -
Located in Sengokuhara, Hakone, surrounded by lush greenery, the Hakone Glass Forest Museum is Japan's first museum dedicated to showcasing Venetian glass. The museum houses approximately 1,000 works, with about 100 pieces carefully selected for regular exhibition based on specific themes.
The exhibits span multiple eras and styles: with Venetian glass from the golden age of the 15th and 16th centuries at its core, extending to ancient glass from before the Common Era, decorative glass inherited and revived by the Salviati workshops in the 19th century, and even modern glass art that emerged in the 20th century, showcasing the subtle evolution of craftsmanship and aesthetics.
Stepping out of the exhibition hall, you can admire the interplay of light and shadow created by crystal glass vines, seasonal flowers, and glass installations in the garden overlooking Owakudani. The hall's café features live music, allowing you to extend your leisure time after art appreciation. There are also glass workshops and boutiques offering more to explore (some experiences require additional payment; please refer to on-site announcements for details).
Spanning the bridge leading from the garden to the entrance of the Venice Glass Museum, the "Corridor of Light," a crystal glass archway approximately 9 meters high and 10 meters long, is composed of about 160,000 crystal glass pieces. Swaying in the breeze that blows through Hakone, it displays ever-changing expressions of light and shadow. Every autumn, when the maple leaves turn red, it shines with an exceptionally dazzling brilliance under the interplay of sunlight and wind.
The Venice Glass Museum brings together the pinnacle of craftsmanship, showcasing the ultimate in beauty. Its collection comprises approximately 1,000 works, encompassing masterpieces from the Golden Age of Venetian glass in the 15th and 16th centuries, ancient glass from over 2,000 years ago, decorative glass revived in the 19th century by figures such as Salviati, and 20th-century glass art. Special exhibitions are held throughout the year, each featuring approximately 100 carefully selected treasures, inviting you to immerse yourself in the delicate and elegant brilliance of glass.
Strolling through the garden of the Hakone Glass Forest Museum, you can admire a variety of roses, from classic roses cultivated in the West to modern varieties native to Japan, all vying for attention and blooming in vibrant colors.
Every year in late spring and early summer, pale purple wisteria blossoms in the mountains of Hakone, a flower beloved by the Japanese since ancient times. Faraway Florence, Italy, also boasts famous wisteria displays, said to have been introduced to Europe from China by Marco Polo. The Hakone Glass Forest Museum's garden features 77,000 crystal glass beads (1.4 cm in diameter) strung together in 770 clusters to create a "Crystal Glass Wisteria," shimmering in the early summer breeze and dappled sunlight. Its appearance changes with the weather and time of day, offering a moment to savor.