The museum was the world's first and only dedicated museum to The Little Prince.
It was established in 1999 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's birth.
The park grounds featured a statue of the Little Prince standing on his asteroid, B-612.
The closure was announced in late 2022, citing the difficulty of maintaining the aging infrastructure.
The site included a museum shop that sold exclusive Little Prince merchandise unavailable elsewhere in Japan.
The Little Prince Museum in Hakone, Japan, officially permanently closed its doors on March 31, 2023. The facility was dedicated to the life and works of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the author of the classic novella The Little Prince. It featured re-creations of 20th-century French streets, specifically capturing the atmosphere of Saint-Exupéry's childhood in Lyon. The grounds included a themed garden designed to reflect the whimsical botanical elements found in the book. Exhibits showcased personal artifacts, original manuscripts, and letters belonging to the author. Visitors could explore a dedicated chapel and a restaurant designed to evoke the spirit of Provence. The museum operated for 24 years before shutting down due to aging facilities and declining visitor numbers. The site is currently inaccessible to the public as a museum venue.
Not applicable
Since the site is permanently closed, do not attempt to travel to this location for a tour.
Check local Hakone tourism boards for information on potential repurposing of the site.
Do not include this museum in your current Hakone travel itinerary, as it no longer functions as a public attraction.
Permanently closed as of March 31, 2023.
