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When you step into the lush greenery of Sengokuhara in Hakone, you are greeted by a scene that seems to unfold like a street corner in medieval Venice. Crossing a wooden bridge over a stream, a sparkling crystal glass arch rises before your eyes, shining in seven colors as it catches the sunlight. This arch stands approximately 9 meters high and stretches about 10 meters in length, with around 160,000 pieces of crystal glass swaying in the wind, inviting visitors into a fantastical world. (hakone.or.jp)
As you proceed through the garden, flowers of each season bloom in profusion, interspersed with objects made of crystal glass. In early summer, hydrangeas expressed with about 15,000 colorful pieces of crystal glass shimmer in seven colors under the sunlight. In autumn, crystal glass pampas grass modeled after the pampas grass of Sengokuhara sparkles with about 25,000 glass blossoms, swaying in the autumn breeze. (hakone.or.jp)
Upon entering the museum, masterpieces of Venetian glass that fascinated European royalty and aristocrats from the 15th to the 18th centuries are on display. The delicate and graceful glass works convey the outstanding skill and passion of the craftsmen, touching our hearts across the ages. (hakone-garasunomori.jp)
In addition, the Contemporary Glass Museum exhibits innovative modern Venetian glass, which was revived and given new life in the late 19th century. The collection, which evokes the infinite possibilities of glass, allows visitors to enjoy a world of beauty where tradition and innovation are beautifully fused. (hakone-garasunomori.jp)
At the café-restaurant “Café Terrazza Ukai” inside the museum, you can enjoy pasta made with seasonal ingredients and original sweets while gazing out at the lush garden. Furthermore, live performances by artists active in Japan and abroad are held daily, enchanting visitors with the combination of food and music. (hakone-garasunomori.jp)
At the hands-on workshop, you can try your hand at making original glass art using techniques such as fusing, which involves melting and joining glass, or sandblasting, which involves carving patterns by spraying sand. Why not take on the challenge to create a memorable souvenir of your trip? (hakone-garasunomori.jp)
In this place where the beauty of Hakone’s nature and Venetian glass are fused, why not fully enjoy the harmony of art and nature and let your thoughts drift to the distant era of Venice?