Utsukushi-ga-hara Open-Air Museum, Open-air art museum in Ueda, Japan
Utsukushi-ga-hara Open-Air Museum is an outdoor sculpture site in the mountains near Ueda. More than 350 works spread across meadows, forest paths and open highland areas covering over 100,000 square meters.
The museum opened in June 1981 on a highland plateau to display contemporary sculptures in nature. Indoor spaces and new works were added over the years, gradually expanding the grounds.
The site combines outdoor sculptures with indoor galleries showing works from Japan and other countries. Visitors walk through meadows and wooded sections where artworks stand among trees or on open ground.
The museum sits at about 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) elevation and opens from late April to early November. Expect cooler weather and bring warmer clothing when exploring the outdoor areas.
Part of the collection remains visible even in winter when snow covers the highland plateau and changes the shapes of the sculptures. Some works are large enough that their outlines stay recognizable through thick layers of snow.
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