Star Prince Museum

About

The Museum of The Little Prince opened in 1999 in Sengokuhara, Hakone, as part of a project marking the centenary of the birth of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of The Little Prince. Through photographs, letters, and personal belongings it presented the author's life and work, and its recreated southern-French streetscape and gardens made it a beloved Hakone attraction. However, citing a pandemic-driven drop in visitors and aging buildings, the operator announced its closure in October 2022, and the museum closed for good on March 31, 2023, ending a history of more than two decades. As it can no longer be visited, travelers planning a Hakone itinerary should take note.