Art and nature converge at new gallery near Tokyo

SAITAMA, Japan -- A new art museum north of Tokyo is aiming to break away from the "white-box" aesthetics that dominate many modern galleries, hoping that its large windows and other features will connect visitors to the nearby forest while offering the chance to view works in a more natural -- and variable -- light.

Drawing inspiration from northern Europe's "nature-immersive" galleries, Hyper Museum Hanno opened its doors on March 1 in Saitama prefecture's Metsa destination, which incorporates a village designed to embrace Nordic lifestyles as well as a theme park based on the popular Moomin characters.