Written by Aarohi Narain
European decorative glass meets yuletide joy at the Hakone Glass Forest.
What happens?
This is no ordinary Christmas tree — it’s a 10-meter-tall installation composed of 150,000 crystal glass pieces. By day, it catches the light, and after dark, it glows against the silhouette of the Hakone hills.
Approximately 500 lanterns and candles will be lit from late afternoon across the museum grounds.
Inside, the shop leans into the season with Christmas-themed glass goods and horse-themed ornaments for the 2026 zodiac. Two hands-on glass workshops will also be held during the period. You can try sandblasting to carve your own design into glass, or fusing, where small pieces are melted into simple accessories.
Schedule
The crystal Christmas tree will remain on display through Monday, January 12. There will be extended lighting hours until 6:30 p.m. from Saturday, December 20, through Wednesday, December 24. On those same five days, the museum will stay open until 6:30 p.m., with last entry at 6 p.m.
Tickets
Admission is ¥1,800 for adults, ¥1,300 for university and high school students, and ¥600 for elementary and junior high school students.
How to get there
The easiest way to get to the venue is to take the highway bus (Shinjuku-Gotemba/Hakone) and get off at the Hakone Glass Forest stop. The journey takes around two hours.
Otherwise, first make your way to Hakone-Yumoto Station. From there, take the bus (T-Togendai) and get off at Hakone Glass Forest stop (around 30 minutes).
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.Add to Calendar
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Adults:
At the door: ¥1,800
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Children:
At the door: ¥600
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Students:
At the door: ¥1,300
