Since the dawn of time, how we house, dispose and care for our dead reflects the kind of society, culture and people that lived during that specific period. While not all of us may love art, food or sports, what we all have in common is that we will all die. Cemeteries are places where people of all kinds can come together for eternity.

Visiting a cemetery is also a great chance to get outside the busy city, see some nature, be awed at artful and ornate tombstones and even check out where a famous person or two are buried. So next time you’re travelling, consider going to a cemetery and taking a quiet wander. Do be as respectful as possible. See if any signs are asking you not to take pictures, walk your dog, or speak loudly. If you see someone morning their loved one, give them their space. Otherwise, unless marked, cemeteries are open to the public and are a great, AND FREE, way to spend the day. While almost all cemeteries have their unique touch, here are some of the most beautiful cemeteries worldwide to visit.

Table Of Contents

1. #1. Chichicastenango, Guatemala
2. #2. Merry Cemetery, Săpânţa, Romania
3. #3. Waverley Cemetery, Australia
4. #4. Okunoin Cemetery, Japan
5. #5. Highgate Cemetery, London
6. #6. La Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Argentina
7. #7. Punta Arenas Cemetery, Chile
8. #8. Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles, USA
9. #9. Père Lachaise, Paris
10. #10. Bonaventure Savannah, Georgia
11. #11. Mount of Olives, Jerusalem
12. #12. Panteón de Dolores
13. #13. South Park Street Cemetery in Kolkata, India
14. #14. Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague
15. #15. Milan Monumental Cemetery, Italy
16. #16. St. Andrews Graveyard, Scotland

#1. Chichicastenango, Guatemala

Although your immediate vision of a cemetery might be dull and dreary, the Chichicastenango in Guatemala is an explosion of colour! Upon a hillside, away from the hustle and bustle of tourists, is a cemetery that celebrates the afterlife instead of shying away from it, as is the Mayan tradition. Most townspeople here are indigenous, and preserving their rituals and culture is of the utmost importance. 

Different shades on the tombs symbolize what roles each of these people played or reflect a powerful aspect of their personality. White represents purity; turquoise is reserved for mothers, and grandfathers are marked with bright yellow, representing the golden sun’s protective quality. Looking across this rainbow of tombs, you can imagine the kinds of people laid to rest here and what they mean to the living.

#2. Merry Cemetery, Săpânţa, Romania

Following along the tradition of cemeteries which are bright and cheery, we find ourselves in the Romanian Countryside. Appropriately enough this place’s name is Merry Cemetery. Unlike, Chichicastenango, Merry has become a HUGE tourist destination. People come from all over to admire the hundreds of brilliant blue crosses. Intricate carvings of scenes from the dead person’s life or portraits of the deceased mark each stone. Each gravestone is also etched with a special verse referencing a defining characteristic or story from the life of the deceased. These can be camp and cute or surprisingly honest. These verses are about womanizing, drinking, cheating and even a few choice mother-in-law jokes.

You’ll be surprised to know that the same carpenter, Stan Ioan Pătraş, carved almost all the grave markers here, starting his first in 1935. Today, over 800 of these markers stand in the cemetery. After Pătraş passed, his apprentice Dumitu Pop took over and continued creating these comedic and colourful crosses. Sometimes I think we worship the dead after their passing, so much so that they become infallible and almost inhuman. But these brutally honest carvings reflect that these people were real, just like everyone else. It somehow makes their death more tangible and relatable to strangers passing by. 

#3. Waverley Cemetery, Australia

Waverley Cemetery, atop Bronte Cliffs in Syndey, Australia, is one of the most peaceful places to rest, both for the living and the dead. Sitting across from the South Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea is this picturesque hillside cemetery. Opened in 1877, this cemetery contains some of Australia’s most stunning Victorian and Edwardian-designed tombs. Influential Australians like writer Dorothea Mackellar and poet Henry Lawson can be found here. Over 200 veterans are also laid to rest at Waverley, along with 11 Civil War soldiers who moved to Australia after the horrors they saw during the war back in the US. The cemetery was used for the film The Great Gatsby by Baz Lurhman, which doubled for a cemetery on Long Island. 

When you enter through the front gates, take a moment to study them. They are a memorial to the residents of the area who died during World War I and World War II. Looking at these tombstones is a glimpse into the masonry styles of the period. Being so far away from the rest of the world, Australians have a unique sensibility in their architecture and design. A broken telephone of elements coming from Europe, the Americas and Asia. It’s a playful combination of many styles and is unmissable for those interested in dazzling views and gorgeous designs.

#4. Okunoin Cemetery, Japan

Okunoin Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Japan, but it’s not just its size that makes it so impressive. 200,000 tombstones cover the two kilometres of lush forest that house the graves. Giant cedar trees seem to reach up to the heavens and provide an almost meditative silence for the visitors.

The tombstones throughout the cemetery are known for their distinctive carvings dedicated to the dead housed beneath. You’ll find giant coffee cups in honour of a corporation’s CEO, a pufferfish to acknowledge the chef who died cooking it and even a pile of termites in celebration of a pesticide company’s owner. It might seem strange, but the banality of life is sometimes an important thing to remember. Since the forest is left to its own devices, bright green moss has overtaken many graves. The stones now look like they are part of the forest themselves.

In the middle of the cemetery lies Kobo Daishi‘s mausoleum, the founder of Shingon Buddhism and a sacred pilgrimage spot for Buddhists worldwide. Walking inside the mausoleum, you come upon 10,000 illuminated lanterns glowing inside. Each one is in dedication to someone who has passed. It feels like a dream and not a ghastly experience like you would expect from a cemetery. Surrounded by all these lights, you feel like you can’t help but smile, thinking of each of these lights as a representation of our eternal love for each other. Life may come to an end, but your memory carries on.

#5. Highgate Cemetery, London

Wandering the Highgate Cemetery in London, filled with its high-gothic, Victorian tombstones, feels like stepping back in time. In the 1830s, church cemeteries were overflowing. They became a health hazard, so the city of London authorized the building of seven new cemeteries, the largest and most opulent being Highgate. Over the years, more than 170,000 people have been interred here, and it even houses a few famous occupants such as Karl Marx, novelist George Eliot and the parents of Charles Dickens.

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The cemetery’s landscaping has been left to nature, and the wildness provides an eerie, almost undiscovered feeling to the graveyard. Despite feeling untouched, it became a popular destination for tourists, and now the cemetery is only viewable by guided tour. During peak months, these tours require a reservation in advance, so don’t hesitate to book if you don’t want to miss it. Myths and legends regarding the cemetery are plentiful. One of the most prominent is the existence of the Highgate Vampire! The rumours were so persistent that British Psychic and Occult Society officially investigated the phenomenon. A tale the tour guides love to tell!

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#6. La Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Originally, in 1732, La Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires was a modest burial ground outside the church of Our Lady of Pilar run by the monks of the Order of the Recoletos. When the order disbanded in the 1820s, the land was given over the city and turned into a public cemetery. The wealthy population of Buenos Aires began buying up plots and began designing opulent mausoleums. Each one is trying to outdo the next. Soon, it was one of the most popular spots to be buried, and now there are over 4,691 above-ground vaults across over 5.5 hectares of land.

One of the things that makes this cemetery so magnificent is the care people took in both the design of the cemetery and the tombs. The cemetery replicated city blocks and was filled in with lush tree-lined walkways. The mausoleums are intricate marble masterpieces made in all different architectural styles, from Art Deco to Baroque. The most notable grave here is the tomb of Eva Peron, the wife of the president of Argentina who, much like Princess Diana, was adored by her people. Her enormous black granite tomb is still visited today by the people who loved her or still want to thank her for her impact on the country.

#7. Punta Arenas Cemetery, Chile

The Punta Arenas Cemetery is well known as a popular tourist attraction mainly due to its iconic Cypress Trees. Cypress trees have long been an element of classic cemeteries since, in greek mythology, the cypress tree is associated with death, the underworld and eternity. The trees in the Punta Arenas are intricately trimmed, like little fingers sticking out of the ground. They laced their way around the pathways which lead you through the delightful cemetery.

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The other iconic element that makes this place so popular is the legends surrounding it. The cemetery is actually “officially” called the Cementerio Municipal Sara Braun, named after Sara Braun, one of the richest women in Patagonia and who donated an enormous stone gateway in 1919 to the cemetery. This iconic piece of architecture is a symbol of Chilean architecture.

After she died, she said no one would ever pass through the gate again. They sealed the gate to honour her wishes, and guests must now enter through a side entrance. It is also rumoured that her body is taken out of her tomb every year on the anniversary of her death, and her family goes to brush her hair and put a fresh coat of makeup on her face. People come from all over to watch to see if the rumours are true, but alas, no one has yet to witness the event.

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#8. Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles, USA

This cemetery is the final resting place of many Hollywood legends, including Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, and Johnny Ramone. With its lush landscaping, beautiful mausoleums, and stunning views of the Hollywood Hills, Hollywood Forever is a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles.

#9. Père Lachaise, Paris

Père Lachaise Cemetery is a great example of the power of celebrity. It is one of the most picturesque cemeteries in the world and is also home to some very notable people. The cemetery is over 44 hectares and contains a staggering one million bodies! The cobblestone walkways, sophisticated mausoleums, and tree-lined paths all contribute to the overwhelming gothic beauty of this cemetery.

Over 3 million visitors walk the cemetery pathways every year, mostly to visit the famous gravestones and mausoleums that can be found within. This draw that even the dead can bring was part of the cemetery’s design. With the influx of people living (and subsequently dying) in Paris, local church graveyards began to overflow.

In the 1800s, various larger cemeteries were built on the outreaches of town. But they were seen as too far away and were not blessed by any church. Therefore, many God-fearing Catholics wouldn’t be seen dead (quite literally) being interred here. Two years after being built, only 33 people had been buried here. But the owner of the property had a plan. He organized to have the remains of Jean de La Fontaine and Molière to Père Lachaise to help increase its reputation and popularity. He immediately saw people coming from far and wide requesting to be buried alongside their favourite celebrity.

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Celebrity Graves

Today, you can see more celebrity graves, including Jim Morrison. He is one of the most popular tombs visited, and guests often leave tokens of love behind for him. The musician Chopin is also interred here, and his grave is adorned by a statue of a beautiful muse holding a lyre. Oscar Wilde‘s grave, sculpted by Jacob Epstein, is a modern piece in the shape of a Sphinx flying through the air. Its mouth, slightly pursed, was often interpreted as if it was reaching out for a kiss and leading visitors to lean in and kiss the stone. So many people were kissing the stone that they began to worry about its preservation. Now, a modern plastic barrier separates visitors from the original stone. Now, they just kiss the plastic instead.

#10. Bonaventure Savannah, Georgia

Bonaventure is best known for its iconic Southern Gothic architecture and uncannily eerie natural surroundings. Snarled oak trees with cobweb-like moss pour over all the tombstones throughout the 19th-century graveyard. The cemetery remained unknown until it was the scene on the cover of the popular novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The hauntingly beautiful sculptures atop the gravestones are one of the reasons the cemetery has had such a draw from artists, poets and writers.

The Little Gracie Watson statue is one of the most iconic images from the cemetery. Little Gracie was born in 1883 but died only 6 years later from pneumonia. At the time of her death, sculptor John Walz had just relocated to Savannah and was moved by the story. He offered to carve a sculpture of the little girl from a photograph to preserve her memory. Today, the sculpture is admired just as much as it was the day it was carved for its lifelike realism of the subject.

#11. Mount of Olives, Jerusalem

The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem is over 3,000 years old. Older than any of the others on this list by over 1,200 years. From afar, the sand-hued tombs blend in with the Kidron Valley, so much so that you might not even though it’s there. But when you walk closer, the different shapes and carvings will soon reveal themselves to you. The cemetery is the resting place of rabbis, Christian prophets, and the Israeli prime minister. People were brought from around the world to be buried in this sacred soil.

As you walk past, some tombstones are so old that nothing but a rough headstone remains. The details of who they were and when they died were all lost to time. It is said that this very valley was where Jesus once was thought to walk through the Garden of Gethsemane. Although nothing remains, imagine the lush green groves and trees that once covered this part of the country. The cemetery also provides one of the most spectacular views across Jerusalem.

#12. Panteón de Dolores

The Panteón Civil de Dolores is the largest cemetery in Mexico. You can find the cemetery inside the great Chapultepec Park in Mexico City. The cemetery was created by Juan Manuel Benfield. When his sister Dolores died in Veracruz, shortly after she had arrived from London, he needed a place to bury her. All cemeteries in Veracruz were reserved for Roman Catholics, and Benfield’s family was Anglican. As a large landowner in Mexico City, he founded a large graveyard in her name, naming it Panteón Civil de Dolores. He opened the cemetery up to all religions, and it quickly became one of the most popular burial spots in the city.

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Today there are over 700,000 people buried here. Some tombs contain multiple bodies. The cemetery is home to the “Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres” where some of the most famous citizens who contributed to Mexico’s civic, national and human values are entombed. This includes the renowned painter Diego Rivera, whose grave is somewhat of a pilgrimage site for those who come to Mexico City to explore his public works of art. Other famous graves include Tina Modotti, General Calles, Venustiano Carranza, Alfonso Reyes and Ángel del Campo. Each is designed with freedom of creation that you don’t always see worldwide.

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#13. South Park Street Cemetery in Kolkata, India

The enchanting South Park Street Cemetery in Kolkata looks like it grew up from the earth, not constructed atop it. Originally built in 1767 but closed in 1830, this old colonial cemetery has had over 300 years of overgrowth to turn its dull grey tombs into bright green monuments. South Park Street is the largest Christian cemetery outside Europe and North America. When the British came to Kolkata, they required a graveyard for their dead since they did prescribe to the local custom of burning the deceased.

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The graves are each ornate creations ranging in styles from Gothic to Indo-Saracenic. Walking beneath the tropical treetops, you’ll find a mix of obelisks, urns, and caskets. Moss grows wildly, and ferns seem to intertwine with the elaborate carvings. One of the most famous graves is of Major-General Charles Stuart. He wanted his tomb to resemble a minature Hindu temple. Despite his nationality, the general wanted to have his tomb inspired by his homeland and adopted country.

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#14. Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague

The Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague is the third oldest cemetery in Europe. Some argue it is also the largest, but counting the number of people buried here is a challenge. And that challenge is part of why the cemetery has become so famous. Consecrated in the first half of the 15th century, it was the only place where Jews could be buried in Prague. As per Jewish doctrine, graves cannot be moved. But eventually, the small graveyard ran out of space, so the dead were buried on top of each other. This has resulted in layer upon layer of stones crammed together, looking like a sea of stones. There are estimated to be over 100,000 Jews buried here. Poets, writers, and rabbis lived in Prague’s Jewish Quarter. 

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Gravestones over the Ages

There are over 12,000 remaining headstones in the cemetery. The earliest tombstones in the cemetery can be identified by their roman and gothic styles. The renaissance period stones feature lines of poetry and biblical quotes. The 16th and 17th-century tombstones were more intricately sculpted with inscriptions of the deceased’s family name, profession, or even personality trait. A bunch of grapes would have denoted that they had a full life; a pile of books was for cantors and scissors for tailors.

But the meticulous preservation of this cemetery was almost lost to history. During WWII, the Nazis took control of Prague. While they were destroying all memory of Jews worldwide, they decided not to destroy the cemetery. But this was not due to any small kindness; it was instead because they wished to include the cemetery in their “Museum of an Extinct Race .”But, by the grace of all that is good, they did not fulfil their dark plans, and because of this greed on their part, we are left with a very important piece of their history.

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#15. Milan Monumental Cemetery, Italy

Looking at the Milan Monumental Cemetery from afar, it might appear like a jumble of cluttered tombstones. But as you approach the individual monuments, you’ll begin to see that each is an artful masterpiece assembled together; this is more of an outdoor art museum than a cemetery.

Some of Italy’s wealthiest families buried their dead here over the last 150 years. A guided tour of the cemetery will take you past some of the most exquisite sculptures which sit upon the dead buried below. The most impressive ones I’m drawn to are the ones with beautiful stone women who have thrown themselves down upon the grave in eternal sorrow over the loss of their beloved. Marble tears forever fall from their eyes.

#16. St. Andrews Graveyard, Scotland

Once the site of St. Andrews Cathedral, most of this stone church has long since disappeared, destroyed by fires and storms. Despite the ravages to the building, the graveyard remains, framed by the last remaining stones of the church and the cliffside below. The graveyard was initially consecrated in the 11th and 12th centuries. Wandering the church’s shell and the graveyard surrounding it can be an eerie yet beautiful experience. There have even been graves unearthed under the floor of the chapter house. The oldest gravestones have been protected from the elements and moved inside a museum nearby. However, many of the remaining ones are still on display. Since the church was built in the medieval period, many gravestones are wonderful examples of medieval stonework.

The post 16 of the World’s Most Beautiful Cemeteries first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

However, one way in which I love to explore a city, especially for the first time, is through its works of art. Both historical and right up to the modern day. Art teaches us about the culture of the people who made it. What was important to them, what moved them, what inspired them? Even what shaped them.

For a unique perspective on Berlin’s art scene, consider a bespoke art tour with coGalleries Berlin. These tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at the city’s cultural landscape, including its trendy art scene, making them a perfect choice for art enthusiasts.

coGalleries Berlin tours combine aspects of a traditional city tour with visits to private galleries and exclusive art collections. This means your guide will be able to introduce you to all the different sights of the city while also allowing you inside otherwise nonpublic spaces like your own personal key to the city. Here, you’ll meet the real artists creating the spectacular art of today and shaping the new face of Berlin’s art world.

Your artist-in-residence will tell you all about their personal journey with their art, show you pieces both in progress and on display, and even let you get a peek into their creative process.

Often, art is very unapproachable for someone who isn’t going to galleries all too often or involved in the industry. But coGalleries aims to make art accessible; it allows you to ask questions, get to know the artists themselves and learn more about what makes the Berlin art scene so exciting and dynamic. You can find out what makes the Berlin art scene so unique compared to others worldwide. Asking questions when travelling is the best way to learn from the people who live there, and these tours truly enable you to have that unique experience.

The tours are completely customizable to each and every client. So, if you’re interested in street art or perhaps a sculpture, you can create a custom itinerary with only what’s important to you. So many tours are cookie-cutter copies of each other, and the guides are nothing more than a walking Wikipedia. These tours are one-of-a-kind and nothing like you’ll experience anywhere else. Walking down the streets of Berlin, the street art which can be seen hidden away in alleys or under bridges tells a certain story of the city and learning what each piece is referring to, especially as an outsider, really allows you to look at it from a different perspective.

There are so many different sculptures to be seen across Berlin, and these tours are a wonderful chance to learn more about the famous sculptures that line the grand thoroughfares and see the emerging sculptors making their own marks on history today.

If you’re ready to embark on a unique art adventure in Berlin, visit cogalleries.com to book your tour today. It’s the perfect way to make your next trip to Berlin truly unforgettable!

*This post was sponsored by Cogalleries, but all opinions are my own.

The post Explore Berlin’s Art Scene: The Ultimate Artistic Gallery Tour first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Sculpture is an art of the open air

Henry Moore

Table Of Contents

1. Access
   • Train
   • Car
   • Bus
2. Hours and Costs
3. History
4. Gallery Guide
   • Hercules, the Archer
   • La Pleureuse
   • Sky Hole
   • Man and Pegasus
   • Curved Space-Diamond Structure
   • High-Performance Design
   • Entering the Forest
   • Bronzes
   • Floating Sculpture 3
   • My Sky Hole
   • Eva
5. Garden of Stars
   • Personnage
   • Woods of Net
   • Wonder Space 2
   • Ossip Zadkine
   • Picasso Building
   • Le Fleur Qui Marche
   • Symphonic Sculpture
   • Interior of the Tower
   • Footbaths
   • Reclining Figure
   • Close
   • Miss Black Power
   • Mother and Child
   • The Hand of God
   • Grande Racconto
   • Space Construction
   • Sphere within Sphere
   • Sixteen Turning Sticks
   • Never-Ending Dialogue
   • Balzac
   • Gift Shop

Access

Train

Travelling on the Tozan Railway from Hakone-Yumoto station will be free if you get the Hakone Free Pass. If you choose not to get the pass, the journey will cost 400 yen ($4 USD). It takes about 30 minutes from Hakone-Yumoto to get to Chokoku No Mori station. Be sure to get a window seat for the journey since the trip is one of the most scenic rides you can have in Japan.

Car

If you are travelling by car, the museum has a large parking lot where you can leave your car while visiting the museum. Google map is a great resource for your journey, but it will end with driving down prefectural road 723 where you’ll find the museum.

Bus

If you’re coming from somewhere in Hakone, not near any of the big train stations, you can take one of the many buses over to the museum. Take the Izu-Hakone Bus to the Ninotaira Iriguchi bus stop. From here, it is only a 5-minute walk to the museum. 

Hours and Costs

The museum is open from 9:00 to 17:00, 365 days a year! Admission is 1600 yen (USD 12) or 1500 yen (USD 11) if you print out this discounted ticket pass. Just print out the discount page and present it at checkout to save 100 yen.

There are a few dozen lockers outside the museum where you can stash your bags if you have any. We had a few heavy knapsacks with us since we hadn’t checked in at our hotel when we arrived at the museum, and storing them here would have been a great way to explore the museum unencumbered. Lockers cost 400 yen and only accept coins.

History

The museum was opened in 1966 to create a space where there could be a “dialogue between nature and art.” The park is over 70,000 square meters, with over 120 works from Japanese artists and international superstars. The pieces in the gardens are select sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Gallery Guide

After you pay your admission, you’ll descend an escalator into the park’s central area. The moment you step off the escalator, you’ll see the hillside appear in front of you, marked with almost magical-looking sculptures.

Hercules, the Archer

One of the first pieces you’ll see when you descend is Hercules, the Archer by Emile-Antoine Bourdelle. Emile-Antoine Bourdelle worked as an assistant in Rodin’s studio. While many of their styles are similar, the differences are also stark. Rodin followed a strict analytical modelling technique, whereas Bourdelle wanted to modernize sculpture from its original Greek and Roman influences. The energy in this piece is so dynamic. The archer’s arm is taut, and his muscle flex as he pulls at an invisible bowstring.

La Pleureuse

Turning left from the Bourdelle, you’ll come up to the fantastical pool of water where an enormous stone head lies. This is La Pleureuse by Francois Xavier and Claude Lalanne. It was sculpted in 1986 using a huge piece of Italian trani stone. La Pleureuse means “the mourner”. She lives in the water, bright green leaves sprouting from her hair. Get up close to the statue, where you can see a teardrop descending from her cheek into the waters below. She is captivating, and her green hair against the cherry blossoms blooming behind her was a perfect composition.

Sky Hole

Behind Le, Pleureuse is one of the famous Sky Holes by Bukichi Inoue. Inoue has several pieces throughout the gardens. Each one allows the user to explore their surroundings from a different perspective. In this piece near the front, the viewer climbs through this tiny doorway into a black box and walks down the stairs into the earth itself. Once down in the depths of the box, there is a small viewing window in the darkness which allows the light to come through and where you can look outside.

Man and Pegasus

After making your way out of the Sky Hole, walk to the large open square where a tall column reaches the sky. Atop the white column is a black sculpture of a man seemingly leaping off a horse. This is Man and Pegasus by Carl Milles. Milles was a Swedish artist who loved creating daring works that integrated themselves into their environment. In this piece, the Pegasus appears to be falling, and from the height of the column, the fall is far more perilous. The man leaps off the back of the horse, only the toes of his foot still touching the Pegasus. He seems to fly forward, defying the laws of gravity. Placed against the dark forest backdrop, the man appears to fly into the clouds.

Curved Space-Diamond Structure

Walking down the ramp behind the Milles statue, we come up with the giant gemstone installation by Peter Pearce, Curved Space-Diamond Structure. There are signs all over the piece asking children to remove their shoes and that only kids can play inside. That’s right; if you have any little ones with you, they are more than just allowed to touch the piece; they can climb up inside and explore!

High-Performance Design

While adults aren’t allowed to go inside, you can still explore all the different sides of the piece from every angle. Every so often, catching a glimpse of a brightly coloured sweater or dress passing by. The structure itself was based on the shape of a diamond molecule enlarged 8 billion times. Pearce was always fascinated with natural geometries and “High-Performance Design.” Both of these themes perfectly harmonize with the gallery’s concept.

The Space-Diamond is where you can also find one of the only vending machines in the park. Selling hot tea and juice is the perfect thing to grab to warm up or cool down for the remainder of your journey.

Entering the Forest

Walk down the stairs from the Space-Diamond, and you’ll come to a rope bridge which crosses a small pond. On either side of the pond are lushes forests which seem like artworks onto themselves.

Bronzes

Nestled into the corner to the right of the bridge are several bronze statues by Francesco Messina, Yuki Shintani and Carl Milles. These works of art are all of the people and, from afar, look like little nymphs hiding amongst the trees.

Floating Sculpture 3

To the left of the bridge is Floating Sculpture 3 by Marta Pan. The floating sculptures are painted the same vermillion colours as the Tori gates in Japan. The designs move and sway in the water. Pan was inspired by dancers and their balanced movements when creating this work. In the water swim, dozens of koi fishes dance along with the movement of the kinetic sculptures.

My Sky Hole

Exiting the pond, you walk up a gentle incline, gated by another My Sky Hole by Bukichi Inoue. This is a giant glass sphere held by four thin concrete columns. Craning your head upwards towards the sphere, you can see the world reflected back at you.

Eva

Walk north towards the garden of stars, and be sure to pass by the Eva by Francesco Messina. Messina, an Italian sculptor born in 1900, is one of the most critical figurative sculptors of the 20th century. His pieces represent the “ideal woman,” unattainable in life, captured only in his art.

Garden of Stars

Further up the hill, you come upon the Garden of Stars. The Garden of Stars is a giant maze in the shape of multiple inlaid stars. From afar, it looks like nothing more than a flower bed, but on closer inspection, you can see that space between the green grass and flowers is a deep recess where you can explore. Adults can wind their way through the maze, taking time to stop and smell the roses.

Surrounding the maze is a group of statutes by Yoshitatsu Yanagihara. Yoshitatsu Yanagihara was a Japanese sculptor born in 1910. Her work centres around the “spirit of humanistic inquiry into the essence of nature and life”, another good fit for the museum’s theme.

Personnage

To the left of the Garden of Stars, you descend slightly towards Personnage by Joan Miró. Miró was a Spanish artist and one of the most well-known Surrealist sculptors. His work in Personnage explores the idea of art created from poetry. The different shapes and colours plastered onto the forms are like words that create a beautiful poem for him. 

Woods of Net

Behind the Miro is what looks like a meticulous stack of piled wood. Fittingly enough, this piece is called Woods of Net, created by Tezuka Architects. This is one of the only parts in the museum which was created by an architectural team instead of an artist. But without knowing that, you can’t tell the difference, as this piece is overwhelmingly beautiful and transcendent. The structure is made of only strips of timber, without ANY metal! 320 cubic meters of wood was used to create the structure, and over 500 different kinds of wood were used. The technique for the joints inside the pavilion was derived from thousand-year-old Japanese wooden temple designs. When you step inside, the smell of freshly cut wood still permeates the air.

Wonder Space 2

The pavilion was created specifically to hold the works of Canadian artist Toshoiko Horiuchi MacAdam. As you walk through the open gateway, you see the brightly coloured wonder that is Knitted Wonder Space 2. Horiuchi MacAdam went about hand-knitting each piece which hung from the ceiling. Horiuchi MacAdam was inspired by the works of Antoni Gaudi, who also loved incorporating nature’s undulated and curving forms, instead of straight lines and rigid geometry, in his artwork.

The piece took over 650kg of braided nylon, three months to dye, and over a year spent crocheting the textile into nets. The net is meant to symbolize the cradle of a womb. The net rocks and floats in the air like a baby would be carried inside the mother before birth. Children under a certain weight and age can crawl through the net. The net captures the slightest movement of the child and transmits it back to him like a wave. The more children play inside, the more waves you have, connecting the children in these undulating waves. Maybe one day, she will create something stable enough for adults since even the oldest among us yearn to be a child once more.

Ossip Zadkine

Up the hill from the Wood of Nets is a sculpture by Ossip Zadkine, Van Gogh Marchant à Travers Champs. One of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings inspired the statue, subsequently destroyed during WWII, of the famous artist walking through the countryside in France with his painting equipment. Van Gogh spent much of his painting career portraying the French landscape around him. It is a lovely tribute to Van Gogh, eternally walking in the outdoors he loved so much.

Picasso Building

Across the bridge, at the very top of the art gallery space, is an enormous building with the words “Picasso” written across the front. Inside this oblong pavilion are over 300 paintings, photographs, ceramics and more created by this legendary artist. Each one was donated to the museum by the artist’s daughter and provided an intimate look into the artist’s life outside his most prolific works. My favourite was the stained glass windows he created using gemmail. Gemmail is formed by fusing layers of coloured glass fragments to create a three-dimensional image. I’d never seen this kind of stained glass, which was absolutely stunning.

Le Fleur Qui Marche

Outside the Pavillion is a giant sculpture by Leger, Le Fleur qui Marche. Leger made himself a household name during the cubist period with his inventive and imaginative paintings. After WWII, he began to explore ceramics and art for public squares. Walking Flowers explores the ideas of nature and the human spirit combining into one anthropomorphic form.

Walking east from the pavilion, you walk through a few small landscape areas of the garden, which feature some small pieces of art, but the focus here is more on the beauty of the natural environment. 

Symphonic Sculpture

At the back of the grounds is a modernist cafe where you can buy treats and drinks. They often have seasonal flavours, but prices are steep, as can be expected for gallery cafes. There is also a small souvenir shop where you can purchase different items to commemorate your trip.

Across from the cafe is the most iconic structure in the museum, Symphonic Sculpture by Gabriel Loire. This 18-meter tall circular steel tower is surrounded by brightly coloured stained glass. Once you enter the tower, you ascend a narrow set of winding stairs toward a lookout.

As you walk up the stairs, take time to study the incredible glasswork surrounding you. The stained glass created by Loire is called “slab glass” because it is much thicker than the glass developed in the medieval era. The opaque glass allows for deeper colours, especially when illuminated by bright sunlight. Loire was an impressionist and used glass like Van Gogh used paints to depict the Starry Night, or Monet did with Water Lilies.

Interior of the Tower

From the top of the tower is an incredible view of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. In the springtime, you can see brightly coloured cherry blossoms colouring the treetops. And in the autumn, a blanket of reds and gold covers the skyline like a warm glow.

Footbaths

Down a small pathway from the tower are the footbaths. These footbaths are filled with warm water from the hot springs. Here you can sit on the edge of a long bench and dip your tired feet into the water. Press the up and down on the stones beneath to help give yourself a bit of a massage. If you didn’t bring a towel and needed to dry off, you could buy a small souvenir towel from the attendant for only 100 yen.

Reclining Figure

As you return to the front of the museum, you’ll pass several figures by Henry Moore. The first is Reclining Figure. Henry Moore found himself possessed by two themes throughout his work; the Mother and Child and the Reclining Figure. The reclining figure symbolized womanhood, life, survival and endurance for Moore.

Close

One of the more amusing pieces is Close by Anthony Gormley. A naked bronze cast of a human spread eagle is embedded into the ground. The grass grows around the piece, and it looks like someone has just leapt off a roof and landed on the ground below. Gormley says his work is “an attempt to materialize the place at the other side of appearance where we all live.”

Miss Black Power

The vibrant Miss Black Power by Niki de Saint Phalle is visible through the trees from many areas of the park because she is so brightly painted and enormous in size. Miss Black Power is an extension of Phalle’s significant themes in her work; the role of women in society and social change.

Mother and Child

Mother and Child: Block Seat, once more by Henry Moore, brings to life his modern reinvention of the everlasting image of the Madonna and Child.

The Hand of God

The Hand of God by Carl Milles was one of the last works this incredible artist ever created. Looking up into the forest, we can see an enormous human hand balancing a naked human form on his thumb and forefinger. The standing man looks to be gazing at the sky like he is watching or listening to something far off in the distance. The is something about this piece being so closely connected to the artist’s death, which makes it all the more poignant. 

Grande Racconto

Grande Racconto by Giuliano Vangi depicts one man’s journey into the future. He is represented twice in the piece. On one side, you see him overcome with anxiety. As you walk around the sculpture, you see trees take shape out of the stone. On the opposite side, you can see the same man bursting forth into the future, free of fear and ready to face a new day. Perhaps with a better connection to the natural world and the peace that can be found there, you can better face the realities of the human world.

Space Construction

This south side of the garden features more interpretive and modern-looking sculptures. Intersecting Space Construction by Ryoji Goto comprises hundreds of tiny human figures. Each one is in a leaping position, connected to the ones above, below and on either side. The sculpture is meant to symbolize the beauty made through the human connection.

Sphere within Sphere

Sphere Within Sphere by Arnaldo Pomodoro is one of the more famous designs in the gallery. There are other spheres he made in multiple locations all over the world. From afar, it looks like a golden orb with cracks, but as you come closer, you can see that the cracks reveal layers of other spheres inside. Like a Russian nesting doll. A world inside a world inside a world. A commentary perhaps on the introspective nature of humans themselves.

Sixteen Turning Sticks

Sixteen Turning Sticks by Takamichi Ito is a piece that relies on movement and encapsulates your attention. In a sea of silence, this one draws your eye in immediately. Inspired by a window display he created in 1960 when he was a designer, Ito said, “When I decorated the show window with a mobile that danced in the wind, many people stopped to look…People gathered in front of the window, both adults and children, genuinely enjoying the movements of the mobile. After that, I was invited to try and create works in the art world too, and after participating in an exhibition of outdoor sculptures and winning a prize, I became active not only in design but also in the pure art world.”

Never-Ending Dialogue

High in the sky spins a bright vermillion-coloured abstracted bird. This is Never-Ending Dialogue by Susumu Shingu. Shing u’s sculptures are kinetic works of geometry which move with the wind and transform from simple shapes into a moving performances.

Balzac

Balzac by Auguste Rodin is one of the last figures to see before making your way to the exit. Rodin is one of the most astounding sculptors of his generation, or any generation. Balzac was created as a memorial to the French novelist Honoré Balzac. When the statue was first unveiled, people were horrified. It not only looked nothing like the writer but had a ghastly expression. Rodin didn’t want it to be a faithful representation of the man himself, so many others had already done that. He wanted it to express the writer’s persona and the deep and sometimes.

Gift Shop

When you are ready to leave, head towards the exit, heading up another escalator leading to the gift shop. There are many cute gifts reflecting many artists and objects seen inside, but to me, there is something far more interesting opposite the Gift Shop.

Japan does love their Gachapon machines. If you’ve never seen or heard of one, Gachapon is a capsule toy machine dispensing random items from a given set. They all cost different amounts, and you’ll often find unique ones in places like this. Here you have 12 machines, each dedicated to art history. Some dispense buttons with images of the various artworks from the museum on them, and others have a famous painting on coasters or even tiny pieces of framed art! My kind of souvenir and something you’d never find outside of Japan!

I will be the first to admit that modern art has never been my favourite thing. But here, in this incredibly serene and astonishing environment, the works of art took on a new life. I was better able to appreciate their beauty and understand the stories they were telling. They seemed to speak to me here, under the cherry blossoms and among the tree. Don’t miss it on your next visit to Hakone!

The post Ultimate Guide to the Hakone Open Air Museum [UPDATED 2023] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.