HOTEL de L’ALPAGE is located in the Tateshina Highlands, one of Nagano Prefecture’s renowned highland resorts, known for its abundant natural beauty and peaceful surroundings. With the crisp, clear air characteristic of its high elevation and beautiful scenery that changes with each season, Tateshina offers a tranquil escape from everyday life, inviting guests to enjoy moments of peace and serenity.

From the fresh greenery of spring and the refreshing highland breeze of summer to the vibrant autumn foliage and the serene, snow-covered landscapes of winter, Tateshina reveals a different charm with every season. 

Enjoy a leisurely stay surrounded by nature, taking in the beauty and tranquility of the changing seasons.

Although Tateshina is best known for the beautiful natural surroundings, the area is also home to a diverse selection of art museums and cultural institutions. This makes it possible to enjoy not only the scenery, but also the art and the rich local culture. Spending time with works of art amid the clear, refreshing air of the highlands offers a peaceful opportunity to step away from everyday life.

Whether as a stop during a walk through nature or as part of a stay at the hotel, exploring the area’s museums is a wonderful way to enrich the time spent in Tateshina.

In this article, we introduce a selection of art museums that can be easily visited from HOTEL de L’ALPAGE.
Combining the beauty of the highland scenery with the inspiring art of these museums will add a special touch to the time spent in Tateshina. 

Discover and enjoy the unique charm of this region, where nature and culture exist in perfect harmony.

Tateshina Kogen Museum (About 10 minutes by car from the hotel)　

Located just a short distance from the Kitayatsugatake Ropeway base station, this is the closest museum of sculptures to HOTEL de L’ALPAGE. It offers a peaceful setting surrounded by nature, where you can relax while appreciating the artwork. Visitors can easily combine their museum visit with other activities, such as a scenic ride on the ropeway or a walk through the Tsuboniwa Nature Garden on the highlands.

With the concept “See, Touch, and Feel with Your Heart,” the museum houses and exhibits a collection centered around the major works of Torao Yazaki, a sculptor born in Chino City. Approximately 110 works, including sculptures and paintings spanning his career from his early years to his later life, are displayed throughout the museum. Through his wood carvings and bronze sculptures, visitors can appreciate his powerful, life-filled expressions alongside the delicate beauty of his forms.

As one of the museum’s unique features, some of the works can actually be touched and experienced by hand, allowing visitors to appreciate the texture of the materials and the beauty of the sculptures in a more intimate way. Surrounded by the crisp air and peaceful stillness of the highlands, take a moment to enjoy the tranquil harmony of nature and art.

The museum is closed during the winter season from November through April each year, making spring through autumn the ideal time to visit.

The front desk offers advance-purchase and discounted tickets for the Kitayatsugatake Ropeway. Please feel free to ask our staff for assistance when planning your visit.

Tateshina Teddy Bear Museum  (About 25 minutes by car from the hotel)

A wonderful destination for families with children, as well as for adults, is the Tateshina Teddy Bear Museum, nestled on the shores of Lake Shirakaba. Home to one of the world’s largest collections of teddy bears, the museum features 18 themed exhibition spaces representing 15 countries, where more than 9,000 teddy bears bring to life landscapes and stories from around the world.

Beyond the charming displays, the museum also features intricately crafted dioramas and historic antique bears, offering an impressive collection that adults will find just as captivating. With something to delight visitors of all ages, it is a wonderful place to enjoy together across generations.

The museum also offers workshops where visitors can create their own original teddy bear. The experience is particularly popular as a memorable souvenir of a trip, allowing guests to make their very own teddy bear. Once completed, the teddy bear can be taken home, making it a wonderful keepsake.

Our front desk offers discounted admission tickets to the museum. Please feel free to ask our staff if you would like to take advantage of this offer.

The area around the museum is also home to lakeside walking paths, cafés, and a variety of facilities, making it easy to enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Stop by the museum as part of a leisurely stroll around Lake Shirakaba.

Chino City Museum of Art  (About 30 minutes by car from the hotel)

Chino City Museum of Art is located within the Chino Cultural Complex and directly connected to the East Exit of JR Chino Station. The museum primarily collects and exhibits works by artists with connections to the Suwa, Yatsugatake, and Tateshina areas, making it a popular cultural destination where visitors can discover the history, culture, and art unique to the region.

The museum showcases a wide range of works, including paintings, sculptures, crafts, prints, and photography. It also hosts special exhibitions and workshops that highlight the distinctive character of the local area. As admission to the permanent exhibition is free, the museum is an inviting place to stop by for those who are new to exploring art museums.

The Chino Cultural Complex is a multi-purpose cultural facility that, in addition to the museum, houses a theater and concert hall, a library, a restaurant, and other facilities. It provides a welcoming space where visitors can experience art and local culture in an accessible and engaging setting.

Discovering a diverse range of artworks, while experiencing the region’s rich artistic and cultural heritage, it is highly recommended not only for art enthusiasts, but also for those wishing to gain a deeper appreciation of the culture and character of the Tateshina and Suwa areas.

Yatsugatake Museum of Art ― Hara Village Folk and Historical Heritage Resource Center (About 35 minutes by car from the hotel)

Nestled in Hara village, surrounded by the rich natural beauty of the Yatsugatake Mountains, the Yatsugatake Museum of Art offers visitors the opportunity to quietly immerse themselves in the art amid the forest. The museum’s distinctive architecture, designed by renowned architect Togo Murano, is another highlight. Inside, the domed ceilings and soft natural light create a serene atmosphere where visitors can appreciate not only the artworks on display but also the beauty of the architecture itself.

The museum’s collection centers on sculptures and paintings by Takashi Shimizu, a sculptor born in Hara Village, and features works created throughout his long artistic career. His dynamic sculptures and paintings, which reflect a profound appreciation of nature and humanity, are characterized by an expressive quality that combines both strength and delicacy.

Bronze sculptures are also displayed along the walking paths surrounding the museum, allowing visitors to experience art in harmony with nature as they stroll through the Yatsugatake forest at an elevation of approximately 1,350 meters. Taking in the crisp mountain air and the fresh scent of the trees while encountering the artworks offers a uniquely immersive experience that can rarely be found in an urban museum.

Throughout the year, the museum also hosts a variety of special exhibitions, offering something new to discover with each visit depending on the season and the exhibitions on display. It is an ideal place to slow down and enjoy a peaceful moment surrounded by the beauty of Yatsugatake’s nature.

With its harmonious blend of beautiful nature, distinctive architecture, and art, the Yatsugatake Museum of Art is an excellent destination for a scenic drive from the Tateshina area. Enjoy the breathtaking highland scenery along the way and take time to discover the unique culture and artistic heritage of the Yatsugatake area.

Kitazawa Museum (About 40 minutes by car from the hotel)

Located on the shores of Lake Suwa in Nagano Prefecture, this museum is one of the leading art museums in the Suwa area, featuring an extensive collection of masterpieces from the Art Nouveau movement.

The museum opened in 1983, based on the collection accumulated over many years by Toshio Kitazawa, a businessman born in Suwa City.

Its collection includes glassworks by masters such as Émile Gallé, the Daum brothers, and René Lalique, alongside works by leading figures in modern Japanese painting, including Kaii Higashiyama, Yasushi Sugiyama, and Kayo Yamaguchi. In particular, the collection of glassworks by Émile Gallé, a master of French decorative arts, and René Lalique, one of the foremost artists of the Art Deco movement, is highly regarded as one of the world’s finest collections of its kind.

From the museum’s café, there is a panoramic view of the beautiful Lake Suwa, whose scenery changes with the seasons. After exploring the exhibitions, take a moment to reflect on the art while gazing out over the lake and enjoying a leisurely pause.

With its peaceful atmosphere and beautiful views, the café is also an ideal place for those looking to relax and spend a quiet, restorative moment.

Mishaka Pond, said to have inspired “Green Echo”, one of the best-known works by Japan’s celebrated painter Kaii Higashiyama, is located approximately 20 minutes by car from the hotel. While Green Echo is not housed at the Kitazawa Museum of Art, it can be viewed at the Higashiyama Kaii Gallery of the Nagano Prefectural Art Museum. Experience more intimately the world depicted by Higashiyama, by visiting the landscape that is believed to have inspired the work and take a moment to admire the tranquil scenery of the pond, surrounded by a peaceful silence.

This calm encounter with the setting behind the artwork is sure to make the journey in Tateshina even more memorable.

Harmo Museum (About 40 minutes by car from the hotel)

Based on the concept “Art and Simplicity”, at the Harmo Museum visitors can explore a collection of Western art, particularly from France, including Henri Rousseau, Henri Matisse, Georges Rouault, Marc Chagall, and Jean-François Millet.

Reminiscent of a typical French household, HOTEL de L’ALPAGE and the Harmo Museum offer different yet complementary ways to experience the charm of French and European culture and aesthetics amid the beautiful natural surroundings of Nagano Prefecture.

After enjoying French cuisine and fine wines, why not continue the journey by experiencing French art at the museum? Discovering French culture from different perspectives can add another enriching dimension to a stay in Tateshina.

The appeal of the Harmo Museum extends beyond its collection. Surrounded by the rich natural beauty of the shores of Lake Suwa, the museum offers beautiful views of the lake and on clear days, a glimpse of Mount Fuji can also be seen in the distance.

The second-floor galleries feature large windows overlooking the lake, allowing visitors to take in the tranquil lakeside scenery while viewing the artworks. It is a wonderful place to relax and appreciate both art and nature.

Introduced earlier in this article, the Kitazawa Museum of Art is also located along the shores of Lake Suwa, just a short distance from the Harmo Museum. Visiting both museums together offers the opportunity to experience two distinctive collections, from glass art and Japanese paintings to different facets of art and culture, making the journey to Lake Suwa and Tateshina area even more enriching.

Our front desk offers discounted admission tickets for both the Kitazawa Museum of Art and the Harmo Museum. Please feel free to ask our staff if you would like to take advantage of these special rates.

The Tateshina, Yatsugatake, and Suwa areas are home not only to spectacular natural landscapes, but also to numerous art museums and cultural facilities where visitors can discover the region’s history, culture, and artistic heritage. Each destination has its own unique appeal, offering encounters with a diverse range of art, from sculpture and painting to glasswork and teddy bears.

Exploring the area’s museums amid Tateshina’s beautiful scenery, offers a peaceful opportunity to step away from the bustle of everyday life and enrich both mind and spirit. Taking time to appreciate art while surrounded by the crisp highland air and natural beauty, then returning to HOTEL de L’ALPAGE to relax and reflect on the experience, is one of the many luxurious ways to enjoy a stay in Tateshina.

The refreshing highland scenery in the morning, the ever-changing beauty of the mountains throughout the seasons, and inspiring art—Tateshina is a place where nature and culture exist in harmony.

At HOTEL de L’ALPAGE, we are happy to provide recommendations for nearby attractions, as well as seasonal walking routes and other experiences to help make your stay even more memorable. 

Unwind amid the beauty of the highlands alongside arts, and enjoy moments of tranquility at the hotel.

Our team is always pleased to help you make the most of your stay in Tateshina. We look forward to welcoming you back, time and again, to discover the ever-changing beauty of the highlands throughout the seasons.

The museums featured in this article are compiled here.
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