Hakone Glass Forest Museum | Museum where you can easily enjoy the feeling of Europe (Kanagawa)　★★☆

What is Hakone Glass Forest Museum?

The "Hakone Glass Forest Museum" in Kanagawa Prefecture is a museum with the motif of "Venice," the water capital of Italy.

You can enjoy the European scenery that you can't imagine in Japan, and there are plenty of glass experience workshops and restaurants.

This time, I would like to introduce the "Hakone Glass Forest Museum" that you definitely want to visit when you go to Hakone.

What is Venetian glass?

Speaking of Venice, the gondola that floats in the waterway is famous, but it is also known as the city of glass.

Around the 13th century, the Republic of Venice, who thought, "If you monopolize the technology of glass crafts, you can make a lot of money in Europe," forced the glassmakers of that time to relocate to Murano Island in Venice. (Since fire is used for glass production, it also had the purpose of preventing fires in the city.)

It was a very strict condition that "those who escaped from the island are guilty of death", but the workshop that made the wonderful glass work was given a large prize, so the craftsmen compete with each other and can be said to be the best glass in the world It has developed into a city.

Also produced the "Hall of Mirrors" at the Palace of Versailles

Venetian artisans also created the famous Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in France.

At that time, only they could make a mirror that had a mirror on the left wall and looked so beautiful.

By the way, at this time, the French glass company "Saint-Gobain" inherited the technology from the Venetian craftsmen.
We will be a glass maker competing for the top share in the world with "Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. (AGC)" in Japan.

High technology

Venice's technological prowess is tremendous, and even works made in the 17th century are at a level that would be convincing if they were told that they were "modern works."

It is the same in every industry that if you gather geniuses in one place, you can stimulate each other and make better things.

Many glass works are exhibited at the Hakone Glass Forest Museum, and the quality of the collection is one of the best in Japan.

To the museum

Let's enter the Hakone Glass Forest Museum.

From the entrance, it is European style, and a lion is placed like a guardian dog.

As an aside, the guardian dog was made by the lion when it was introduced to Japan.
It is true that guardian dogs are not ordinary dogs, but their necks are fluffy.

Corridor of Light (Hikari no Kairou)

Once inside the park, you will find Venice, the city of water.

The first thing that catches the eye is the 16m-high arch "Corridor of Light" made of about 9 crystal glasses.

It is swaying in the wind and glittering, and it is very beautiful.

Chifure's work

This white mojamoja is the "Palazzo Ducale Chandelier" by American glass artist Dale Cifure.

The Hakone Glass Forest Museum was created in commemoration of the sister museum tie-up with the Murano Glass Museum in Venice.

You might ask, "Why American works at the museum in Venice?", But Chifure is a writer who has been strongly influenced by his experience studying abroad in Venice.

Mallards living in a museum

Many mallards live in the garden of the museum.

It seems that mallards that came from other places have settled down instead of being managed by the facility.

This mallard was taking a nap.

I didn't seem to be very cautious, probably because I was too accustomed to people.

Venetian Glass Museum

The Venetian Glass Museum in the park is reminiscent of a European palace.

Even if you are told, "I went to the XX Palace in Italy!", It is a space that you would normally believe.

Venetian glass is on display in the room.

This goblet is a work from around 1500 and comes from the hands of Italian aristocrats and the Rothschilds.

I'm deeply moved that it has been exhibited in Japan after 500 years.

It is an octopus work with charming eyes.

Lustreware (a technique that makes the surface look like a glittering rainbow) is used on the legs, which is an interesting work.

It is a type of candle stand that you do not want to meet in the middle of the night.

The eerie smile makes what you have in your hand look like a knife.

Museum of Contemporary Glass

The works of contemporary artists are exhibited at the "Contemporary Glass Museum".

Giuseppe Baroviere

Giuseppe Baroviere from Venice released the "Glass in the Wind" in 1895.

As the title suggests, it is made to move swayingly when the wind actually blows.

As expected, the exhibits are housed in a case, so they are not affected by the wind, but you can check the images on a nearby monitor.

Livio Seguzo

This is also the work of the authentic Venetian glass artist Livio Seguzo.

I'm not sure what's going on, but it's fantastic.

Dale Chihuly

Following the white mojamoja exhibited outdoors, this is also Chifure's work.

He never gave up on making even if he lost his left eye in an accident or one arm got stuck, and he still continues to make instructions to the staff.

Inspired by Japanese ikebana, Chifure is announcing the "Ikebana Series," which looks like a vase.

The vase and flowers are fused to make it look like a carnivorous plant.

About lunch in the park

The Hakone Glass Forest Museum has a cafe restaurant where you can eat pasta and sweets.

However, it is often crowded, so I think you will have to wait a long time unless it is just after the opening.

Authentic live Canzone music can be heard normally even outside the restaurant. (As of April 2021, 4, the performance has been canceled due to the influence of Corona)

Light meals are also sold in the kitchen car in the park, and it is recommended because there is almost no need to line up.

I bought a guy called "Sfogliatella" whose name is hard to remember.

It was an Italian-born pie dough-like baked confectionery, and the level was usually high.

Time required and congestion

The staying time is roughly 2 hours, and if you want to eat, you need that much time.

The site is large and crowded, so there is no place that is so crowded.

Many people pass through glass works, for better or for worse, so you can appreciate them slowly.

Business hours, prices, and great discounts

The ticket price will be 100 yen off if you show the link below.

Discount page: Official website

A set ticket with the "Little Prince Museum" near the Hakone Glass Forest Museum is recommended as it will be about 500 yen cheaper.

Access

It is best to go by Hakone Tozan Bus from Hakone Yumoto Station in terms of time.

You can also use the Hakone Freepass, which is economical.

Hakone Freepass: Official Website

Map

Finally

The Hakone Glass Forest Museum is so beautiful that you almost forget that you are in Japan.

The quality of the glass collection is also very high, making it a spectacular facility.

It is recommended as one of the top tourist facilities in Hakone, so please visit it when you go to Hakone.