Point of interest
Utsukushigahara Open Air Museum
4 locals recommend
Location
2085-70 Takeshikamihoniri
Ueda, Nagano
Tips from locals
Utsukushigahara means beautiful fields. Rising 2,000 meters above central Nagano , this highland has long captured the imaginations of the people below. In summer, over 200 varieties of wildflowers come into bloom. Stunning sculptures Walk through the gates, and you'll be greeted by a four-meter bronze thumb rising from the lawn. Nearby, a decapitated angel spreads her wings. Legless, headless zebra torsos bound up a hill. Colossal abstracts of twisting metal. A vermillion helicopter and dragonfly hybrid. See these and more on this beautiful mountainside. A conversation with contemporary art 350 of these outdoor sculptures occupy 40,000 meters of one of Utsukushigahara Highlands' most scenic spots. This museum without walls wants you to "enjoy the conversation with contemporary art amid the great beauty" of nature. Established in 1981 at the height of Japanese economic dominance during the Bubble Era, it remains a fascinating testament to the heady spaces Japan found itself in at the time. Wander the grounds, admire the stunning view of the Alps and the summer profusion of flowers, and wonder what hyperreality you've stepped into. Museum facilities The museum's scarlet roofed main building has gallery and event spaces, a restaurant, a shopping area, and a kids' sculpture playroom.
Utsukushigahara means beautiful fields. Rising 2,000 meters above central Nagano , this highland has long captured the imaginations of the people below. In summer, over 200 varieties of wildflowers come into bloom. Stunning sculptures Walk through the gates, and you'll be greeted by a four-meter br…