Utsukushigahara

Park

Prefecture

Nagano

Type

Park

N/A

0 reviews

¥1,000

Entry Fee

Restaurant Cafe

Plan a trip with Utsukushigahara

About This Destination

A highland plateau at about 2,000 metres straddling Matsumoto and Ueda, home to an open-air sculpture museum and wide mountain views.

Utsukushigahara is a highland plateau at roughly 2,000 metres in central Nagano, on the boundary between Matsumoto and Ueda cities. Its grassy uplands are used for summer cattle grazing and offer wide views toward the Northern Japan Alps on clear days. The Utsukushigahara Open-Air Museum, opened in 1981, displays around 350 modern sculptures across a 13-hectare site, along with indoor galleries and a rooftop viewing area. The plateau is usually reached by car via the Venus Line or the Utsukushigahara Skyline, about 65 minutes from the Matsumoto Interchange. A once-daily seasonal bus runs from Matsumoto during the summer Bon period, but a car is generally needed at other times. The area and museum close from mid-November to late April because of snow.

Location

Prefecture: Nagano

Address: Ueda, Nagano, Japan

Nearest Station: Matsumoto Station

Opening hours: Mon–Sun 09:00–17:00

Closed: The Utsukushigahara Open-Air Museum opens only from late April to early November (April 25 to November 3 in 2026), with no closing days during that season.

Hours note: Hours are for the Utsukushigahara Open-Air Museum, whose ticket includes the outdoor sculpture grounds. Last entry at 16:30. The plateau itself has no gate.

Hours and fees checked against the official site on 9 October 2026.

Best time to visit: Late April to early November; the plateau and museum are closed mid-November to late April

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