Karuizawa is a place rich in greenery and cultural inspiration. Ehon in the Forest, a museum of Children's picture books which opened in July 1990 by lake Shiozawa facing Mt. Asama fits right into a place like Karuizawa. Based on the idea "conversation with nature", the museum consists of a collection of picture books of fairytales from the woods, many which were written by the Grimm brothers as well as others especially on fairies of the woods. Original art works from these picture books are also on display, and a fine collection of famous original picture books from Europe and the United States is there to give visitors a feeling of the 300 year history of the world of picture books. The very first picture book we encounter during our childhood is like an "asset of the mind". Karuizawa Museum of Picture Books was established in the hope that the world of picture books, full of imagination, will be passed on to the next generation and that they become the source of new culture and creation.         Erzgebirge is the mountainous region in Germany near the border to Czech. Formerly, this area prospered in the mining industry, but minerals become fewer, therefore the mining was stopped. As a result, people started to make toys using wood from the forests nearby. That was about 300 years ago. They produced various kinds of wooden toys such as a Nutcracker and a Smoker. The toys are made with all of their hearts and they are very artistic with many details. So now, wooden toys from Erzgebirge have become popular and have spread to many countries. Our museum Opened in April, 1998, as an affiliated of ERZGEBIRGISCHES SPIELZEUGMUSEUM SEIFFEN and we have collected toys from Erzgebirge for display and sale. It has been said that the scenery of Karuizawa looks like Germany. We hope you will enjoy the culture and the atmosphere of Germany.   All right 2005 muse in the forest