Hakone Yosegi-zaiku Honma Mokkojo / Honma Yosegi Art Museum

Hakone Yosegi-zaiku Honma Mokkojo / Honma Yosegi Art Museum is a museum and workshop specializing in Hakone's traditional woodcrafts "Yosegi-zaiku" and "wood mosaic." From the desire to prevent the dispersal of historic works and create a hub for passing techniques to the next generation, it exhibits works collected over many years by traditional craftsman Noboru Honma.

Inside the museum, you can feel the depth of woodcraft — the beauty of Yosegi patterns born from combining diverse woods including broadleaf trees harvested from the Hakone mountains, and painterly works using the advanced technique of wood mosaic. In addition to valuable works from the Edo to early Showa periods, you can also enjoy new expressions by contemporary artists.

At the Yosegi shop on the first floor, the lineup includes solid wood small item cases, secret boxes, square trays, trays, coasters, accessories, and other Hakone Yosegi-zaiku that's easy to incorporate into daily life. Original and limited items made at the adjacent workshop are also carried — perfect as travel souvenirs and gifts.

In the popular Yosegi-zaiku experience class, you can assemble hexagonal coasters featuring traditional patterns with your own hands. It's of course used as a venue for school trips and experiential learning, but also well-received for creating travel memories among adults — you can take the completed coasters home and use them in daily life.

Access is near Hakone Yumoto Station and Iriuda Station — an easy location to stop by during Hakone sightseeing. As a highlight of Hakone tourism and as "a place where you can fully savor Japanese woodcraft," it draws attention from woodcraft and craft fans both at home and abroad.

A specialty Yosegi-zaiku museum to encounter in Hakone Yumoto

Honma Yosegi Art Museum is a specialty museum for Hakone Yosegi-zaiku in the Hakone Yumoto area. Centered on valuable Yosegi works and wood mosaics from the Edo period to the early Showa period, it displays around 200 pieces at a time from a collection of about 500 — conveying the deep worldview of traditional craft.

A Yosegi-zaiku and wood mosaic collection gathered by a traditional craftsman

At the core of this museum is the collection of Yosegi-zaiku and wood mosaic works gathered over many years by the museum director and traditional craftsman Noboru Honma. From historic masterpieces to contemporary examples, you can closely appreciate the world woven by intricate marquetry patterns and the expressions of wood grain.

A "view + buy + make" space with attached workshop, shop, and experience class

On the first floor of the museum, there is an attached Yosegi workshop and shop, with a Yosegi-zaiku experience class in a separate room. While feeling the atmosphere of the workshop where artisans actually work, you can purchase original small boxes and trays, or experience making hexagonal solid wood coasters — touching Yosegi-zaiku with all five senses.

Seasonal exhibits and one-of-a-kind pieces that become travel memories

Exhibitions inside the museum change theme according to the season — with three-dimensional works unique to Yosegi-zaiku appearing for occasions such as the Seven Lucky Gods at New Year, and Hina dolls for Doll's Day. The shop carries many limited and original products, chosen as Hakone souvenirs and special gifts.