Overview
The setting does the work: Moore, Bourdelle, Miró and Niki de Saint Phalle stand against a valley that changes with the season, and the collection is arranged so that each piece has a view rather than a neighbour. The Picasso pavilion was assembled with the help of his daughter Maya and is strongest in ceramics, which is the part of his output most museums under-represent. A stained-glass tower can be climbed from inside, and there is a free foot bath fed by hot spring water at the far end.
Highlights
Allow two hours and walk the loop downhill; the ticket also gets a discount on the Hakone Freepass. The children’s play sculptures are meant to be climbed on, by children. Rain is not a reason to skip it — the valley in low cloud is better than the valley in sun, and the indoor pavilions are the natural shelter.