Pola Museum of Art

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About Pola Museum of Art

The Pola Museum of Art (Pola Bijutsukan) is in Sengokuhara, northern Hakone, set in a beech and maple forest. It houses a collection assembled over decades by a cosmetics businessman—about 10,000 items—and opened in the early 2000s.

The glass-and-concrete building was mostly built below ground level so it would not exceed the height of the trees and would preserve the forest; the site also needed to withstand earthquakes. Natural light comes through the roof and glass walls, and the galleries open onto the woods.

The collection is strong in Western painting from the 19th and early 20th centuries, with works by Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Picasso and other Impressionist and modern artists, and in Western-style Japanese painting. There is also Eastern ceramics, glass, and a collection of toiletry and cosmetic objects from various eras. Temporary exhibitions change throughout the year and mix the permanent collection with contemporary works.

Outside, a forest trail with wooden walkways is about 1 km long and features sculptures along the way, with signs about local plants and birds. The museum has a café and a restaurant with views of the trees.