Lalique Museum, Hakone

The Lalique Museum in Hakone offers an unexpectedly serene encounter with the jewellery and glasswork of René Lalique, one of Art Nouveau's most celebrated craftsmen. Tucked into the forested landscape of Kanagawa's mountain resort town, the collection spans decorative glass, jewellery, and automotive mascots: a breadth that rewards unhurried looking. With over 1,700 visitor reviews and a 4.2-star rating, it holds a quietly devoted following among those who make the detour.

When to go

The museum opens daily at 9:00 AM and closes at 4:00 PM, so arriving early gives you the calmest experience before coach-tour groups filter through mid-morning. Hakone's autumn foliage season draws larger crowds to the region generally, while weekday mornings in spring or late winter tend to be the most peaceful time to linger with the glass.

“It is a must! They have a huge collection of 1,500 pieces crafted by R. Lalique! They are beautiful!!! The atmosphere there is peaceful. No pictures allowed and we bought their book. Their restaurant serves very good European food (excellent beef) that locals go specially for having lunch.”— J Ltt, Google review