Pola Museum of Art, Hakone, Japan

This is a peaceful modern art museum in the forest of Hakone. We were lucky enough to see Picasso's paintings from his Blue Period on display (no photography allowed). It was the first time I saw Picasso's works from this period. They were soft and quiet, different from his world-famous Cubist style. We drove there and there is a parking lot attached to the museum. The museum is surrounded by forests and you have to drive a long way from the entrance. The exterior of the museum is made of glass. I later learned that it was designed with the concept of "letting Hakone's nature and art coexist." There is a forest trail around the museum with art installations along the trail. I really like the harmonious feeling of being surrounded by nature and art. If you go there, be sure to take some time to stroll in the woods. The restaurant on the first floor of the museum will offer limited-time themed menus based on special exhibitions held in the museum. There is a cafe downstairs where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery while dining in front of the large glass windows. But we had other trips that we hadn’t sat down to experience. Hakone's hot springs are very famous. It is recommended to arrange a night's stay. After soaking in the hot springs, it is quite enjoyable to walk to the art museum early in the morning. The hotel we stayed in this time is a bit far from the art museum in the direction of Kowakudani. The nearest hot spring accommodation is Sengokuhara, which you may consider if you want to go there.