Karuizawa Picturebook Museum
A Journey Through the History and Imagination of Picture Books
Opened in July 1990, the Karuizawa Picturebook Museum is dedicated to the history and culture of picture books from Europe and North America. The museum occupies approximately 15,000 square meters, with several exhibition buildings, a picturebook library, and event spaces scattered throughout the forest.
Rather than feeling like a conventional indoor museum, the complex encourages visitors to walk through the woodland from one building to another, discovering exhibitions and quiet corners along the way.
Exhibition Buildings and Facilities
Exhibition Building 1 houses collections including the Shinichi Yoshida Library and introduces the historical and cultural value of picture books.
Exhibition Building 2 hosts seasonal special exhibitions, presenting different aspects of picturebook culture through changing themes and displays.
Exhibition Building 3 provides additional exhibition space and expands the museum’s range of presentations.
The Picturebook Library offers a large selection of books that visitors can browse freely. It is a particularly welcoming space for families, allowing children and adults to sit down and enjoy picture books together.
Mori no Ie, or “Forest House,” serves as a conference and event space where workshops and other programs are held.
The museum also includes a picturebook shop and the café Ruhe, making it easy to take a break during a walk through the grounds.
Architecture in Harmony with the Forest
The buildings were designed by the architectural firm Ruisei Keikaku Shitsu, with careful attention paid to their relationship with the surrounding landscape. The architecture blends naturally into the woodland, allowing the experience of the museum to continue seamlessly between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Picturesque Garden
A Natural Garden That Looks Like a Painting
At the center of the Karuizawa Picturebook Museum is the Picturesque Garden, a natural-style garden designed in 2010 by renowned British garden designer Paul Smither.
The garden uses plants in arrangements that feel close to their natural growing environments rather than creating a formal, highly structured landscape. Seasonal flowers, trees, and changing colors give the garden a different character throughout the year.
Walking through the garden provides a peaceful way to enjoy Karuizawa’s highland nature while taking a break between museum exhibitions.
Erz Toy Museum of Karuizawa
The Traditional Wooden Toy Culture of Germany
Opened in April 1998, the Erz Toy Museum of Karuizawa introduces the traditional wooden toy culture of the Erz Mountains region of Germany. The museum has a close relationship with the Erzgebirge Toy Museum in the town of Seiffen, Germany, with the two institutions serving as sister museums.
The museum building was also designed by the architectural firm Ruisei Keikaku Shitsu, continuing the Forest of MUSE’s philosophy of integrating architecture with the surrounding natural environment.
Leben – The Main Exhibition Building
The main exhibition facility, Leben, is divided into several exhibition spaces introducing the history and craftsmanship of traditional Erzgebirge toys.
Exhibition Room A displays traditional toys such as nutcrackers and Christmas pyramids. Visitors can also see a recreation of a traditional toy workshop and learn how wooden toys were made.
Exhibition Room B explores the historical development of toys from the Erzgebirge region, particularly the traditions of Seiffen.
Exhibition Room C presents works by contemporary master craftsmen as well as rotating special exhibitions, showing how traditional wooden toy craftsmanship continues to evolve today.
Café, Museum Shop, and Lifestyle Store
The museum includes the café Ruhe, where visitors can relax with light refreshments, and the shop Baum, which offers wooden toys and other souvenirs.
Blüte Forest Lifestyle Shop is another popular stop, offering carefully selected products inspired by a comfortable and enjoyable way of living.
Visiting Forest of MUSE Karuizawa
Opening Hours
The facilities are generally open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. From December through January, opening hours are shortened to 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The complex is closed from mid-January through February. During the main operating season, it is generally closed on Tuesdays, although it remains open throughout the Golden Week holiday period and from July through September.
Access
From Naka-Karuizawa Station on the Shinano Railway, take the local community bus for approximately 10 minutes and get off at Shiozawa Lake, followed by a walk of about 2 minutes. Alternatively, get off at Fukakoshi Park and walk for approximately 8 minutes.
From Karuizawa Station, served by the Hokuriku Shinkansen and Shinano Railway, a seasonal Karuizawa Museum and Sightseeing Circulation Bus takes approximately 20 minutes to the Forest of MUSE stop.
Nearby Attractions
Forest of MUSE Karuizawa is surrounded by other cultural and recreational attractions, making it easy to create a full day of sightseeing.
Nearby Karuizawa Taliesin includes the Karuizawa Kogen Bunko literary museum, the Koko Fukasawa Museum of Wildflowers, and the Peynet Museum. Together, these attractions offer a broad introduction to the literature and art associated with Karuizawa.
Fukakoshi Park is also nearby and features sports facilities and a botanical garden. By combining Forest of MUSE with these neighboring attractions, visitors can enjoy a relaxing day surrounded by nature, art, literature, and recreation.
A Cultural Forest for All Ages
Forest of MUSE Karuizawa offers a distinctive way to experience Karuizawa. Instead of simply moving from one indoor exhibition to another, visitors can walk through the forest, discover picture books and traditional toys, enjoy a natural garden, and take time to relax in cafés and shops.
For families with children, the picturebook museum and wooden toys provide an especially enjoyable experience, while adults can appreciate the history, craftsmanship, garden design, and architecture. It is a peaceful cultural destination where the imagination of picture books, the warmth of handmade toys, and the beauty of Karuizawa’s forest come together.