The Pola Museum sits in a beech forest above Miyanoshita and houses the private art collection of the Pola Cosmetics group — an unexpected combination that works remarkably well. The collection focuses on late 19th and early 20th century Western art, particularly French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism (Monet, Renoir, Picasso, Cézanne), alongside a strong Japanese oil painting collection from the Meiji and Taisho periods.
The building, designed by Nikken Sekkei and opened in 2002, is partly buried into the hillside to minimise visual impact on the forest. Natural light is handled carefully. The permanent collection is strong and the temporary exhibitions are well chosen.
Access from Hakone-Yumoto is by bus (around 30 minutes); the museum runs shuttle buses from Gōra Station on request.