[Kobe City] “Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum” recommended for those who like shrines, temples, castles, tea rooms, and wooden architecture

• Table of Contents
• What is Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum?
• The main building is a modern Japanese-style architecture.
• Exhibition facility divided into seven corners
• Museum shop and experience events are also recommended.
• Let's go with a great value bus ticket! How to access Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum
• basic information

What is Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum?

There are museums to visit, see, and marvel at their wonders. Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum is one of them.

Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum was founded in 1984 (Showa 59). The construction industry underwent a period of major change during the period of high economic growth following the war, with wooden buildings replaced by reinforced concrete, and houses transformed into prefabricated houses and condominiums.

The carpentry tools that have continued to support Japan's uniquely progressive wooden architecture were used until they wore out and disappeared, and newer tools were mechanized and electric and were on the verge of disappearing.

59 tools (cultural properties designated by Kyoto City) dedicated by Iwajiro Sakata, a carpenter who built Momoyama Tenmangu Shrine in Fushimi, Kyoto, when the shrine building was completed between 1841 and 1865. It is rare that a complete set of tools owned by one carpenter remains.

The Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum was opened to collect these ancient tools and excellent tools as ethnic heritage, and to convey the spirit of craftsmen and toolsmiths to future generations through research and exhibition. The work was done by Takenaka Corporation, one of Japan's leading super general contractors (currently run by Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum, a public interest incorporated foundation).

Entrance to Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum

Takenaka Corporation was founded in 1610 (Keicho 15). It is said that it began when a former vassal of Oda Nobunaga was involved in the construction of shrines and temples in Nagoya. In the Meiji era, the company decided to focus on modern architecture and moved to Kobe, where it established its headquarters. Later, the head office was moved to Osaka, and at that time the head office and president's residence were located at the current location of the Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum.

When it first opened, it was located in Chuo Ward, Kobe City (near Sorakuen), but due to its 30th anniversary, it became too small and the facilities were aging, so in 2014, some of the buildings (front gate and rest area) were closed. The building was relocated and reopened, leaving only the rooms (renovated) and tea room.

The building has one floor above ground and two floors underground, so from the outside it looks like a mansion surrounded by walls and greenery. A small information board will guide you.

The main building is a modern Japanese-style architecture.

Pass through the grand gate of the mansion ruins and walk through the garden to the main building. Automatic doors are made of wood. If you look closely at the surface of the wood, you'll see that it has a ``naguri'' finish, which leaves scratches from using a chouna (a tool for carving wood that dates back to the days before planes). Once inside, the reception counter is made of wood, and the walls are made of white plaster instead of cloth. The ceiling in the lobby is also made of wood, and the large glass windows offer a panoramic view of the garden.

The Japanese beauty that wood brings is enough to satisfy you, but that alone is a waste at Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum. For those who are interested in architecture, there are many things to see in the building itself, which was built using the techniques of modern architecture, such as ``Where are the pillars?'' and ``How is the air conditioning?''

Lobby with high ceiling. A special exhibition was being held on the day of the interview.

Although the lobby is sometimes used for special exhibitions and other events, it is usually a place where visitors can relax while looking out at the outside, and is equipped with chairs made by woodworkers. It's also an interesting space for those interested in wooden furniture.

big mud wall

The large earthen wall that runs from the first floor of the staircase to the second basement floor is also a must-see. The clay walls are finished by carving with a trowel. Since the clay walls had to be finished when they were semi-dry, many craftsmen would have to complete the work at the same time if the wall was this large. Despite the work being done by many people, the seamless, uniform finish shows the high level of craftsmanship (plastering).

Although the building is filled with a lot of technology, there are no instructions for it. I can feel the essence of the designers and craftsmen in the way they show off their skills in the simplest of things.

Exhibition facility divided into seven corners

The exhibit has seven corners, but you can enjoy it no matter where you look. There are few explanation panels, but there is a system where you can listen to the explanation by reading a two-dimensional code with your smartphone, and a touch panel information display terminal, so you can enjoy detailed explanations as if you were watching a video or playing a game. (Many explanations are available in four languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean)

The main exhibit, which expresses what the Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum wants to convey, is the most eye-catching.

This is a full-size model of the pillars and roof of Toshodaiji Temple Kondo (a national treasure) in Nara. The height is approximately 7m. At the site, you can only see it from below, but here you can see it up close, from the side and diagonally behind.

It's so complicated that I don't know how to assemble it, with almost no nails (nails are used to support the roof).

This was built about 1300 years ago. How things were made in an era when tools and equipment were not as developed as they are today, and what people called master carpenters were thinking and how they carried out their work, etc., can be found on ``A Journey Through History.'' It is explained in sections such as "Learning from the master carpenter" and "Tools and handiwork."

The master carpenter's words (the actual voice of temple carpenter Tsuneichi Nishioka (1908-1995) still remains and can be heard)

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In the early Edo period carpenter's technical book "Shomei", it is written that he was ``a master of the five intentions and worked tirelessly day and night''. Below is a replica of a carpenter's textbook.

There are many exhibits that make you feel the weight of the words left behind by our ancestors.

It is especially recommended for people who are interested in shrines, temples, and castle architecture, as you can see the differences in the tools used in different eras. There is no doubt that future viewing points will have more breadth and depth.

Notes by Tsuneichi Nishioka, a shrine carpenter who was in charge of rebuilding the main hall and west tower, which was the beginning of the restoration of the Yakushiji temple.

You can see that the kayaoi (the tree lying in the foreground of the photo) is warped. The rafters (multiple trees under thatch) have a parallelogram-like cross section as they move toward the ends according to the curve.

The ``Shine of Master Craftsmen'' corner displays the works of master craftsmen who have created tools.

Mr. Chiyozuru Korehide (1874-1957) was called the pinnacle of tool blacksmithing.

Among them, Chiyozuru Korehide, who was famous as the pinnacle of tool blacksmiths, was born in the Meiji era and passed away in 1955, and it is said that there is no craftsman who can surpass him. Recognizing that each handmade carpenter's tool is special, he began to inscribe and name his work. The spirit of the unparalleled blacksmith is reflected in the works that sword fans will also be interested in. The anecdote with the carpenter Edo Kuma is a touching one.

Some people might say, ``If it's about saws or hardware, Miki is the one.'' Of course, the works of Miki's craftsmen are also on display.

For those interested in tea rooms, we recommend the tea room skeleton model in the ``Japanese Traditional Beauty'' corner. This is a replica of the actual tea room "Saan" (Important Cultural Property) of Daitokuji Gyokurin-in Temple in Kyoto, with only the pillars, beams, and bamboo structures. Please see the skills of Sukiya carpenters that you cannot understand even in real life.

You can touch and check how the logs are put together.

By the way, there is a tea room building with three rooms in the courtyard on the premises, which is open to the public for a limited time in spring and autumn. The three-tatami room named "Ikki-an" is a copy of "Mino-an" at the famous Daitokuji Gyokurin-in temple, which is also a skeleton model of the tea room inside the museum, and the seven-tatami hall is from the Omotesenke family. It is a valuable copy of the original Sotakusai Seven Tatami Room.

There is an open field on the other side of the fence, leading to the tea room building.

In addition, the ``Travel Around the World'' corner exhibits comparisons with carpentry tools from China and Europe, and the ``Using Wood'' corner introduces traditional wisdom for making the most of the bounty of the forest. There are also exhibits where you can experience the scent of wood.

The average length of stay is 1 to 2 hours, but if you have even the slightest interest, 2 hours may not be enough.

Perhaps for this reason, you can enter the Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum as many times as you like on the same day. You can go out for lunch. However, it is a pity that there are not many restaurants nearby. You can eat and drink in the rest room, so it might be a good idea to bring a packed lunch with you. There are vending machines and coffee machines.

A rest room in a renovated building from around 1970. The chimney from the boiler room remains

Inside the break room. Wood is used abundantly. The desk and chairs are the work of a woodworker.

Museum shop and experience events are also recommended.

You can enjoy fireworks over the small mountain from the bicycle parking lot.

Be sure to stop by the museum shop (behind the reception counter) on your way home.

Original products include tote bags, hand towels, and postcards.

Popular items include straps, key chains, and pencil sharpeners shaped like carpentry tools. They were made by woodworkers using scrap materials, so they are not always available. If you like it, we recommend purchasing it immediately.

The Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum also has popular hands-on events.

Experience events and workshops are held, including those for children. The application method varies depending on the content, such as first-come-first-served basis or advance application (lottery). There are some that you can participate in on the day.

Please check the official website for details.

Let's go with a great value bus ticket! How to access Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum

Kobe 1-day bus ticke t

A digital ticket that allows you unlimited rides for one day on City Loop, Port Loop, and Shinki Bus (route buses that operate in the central Kobe area, including the Yamanote Line and Kobe Airport Line) that connect the main tourist areas in Kobe City. Recommended for those who want to tour all the sightseeing spots in Kobe city.

The ``Kobe 1-day loop bus ticket'' is a great value for sightseeing in Kobe city!

Hyogo Amazing Pass

If you are planning to sightsee in Kobe or Himeji, this is recommended! This is a great ticket that allows you to ride the Shinki Bus route bus + Kobe's CityLoop/PortLoop for just 1,000 yen a day.

Click here for details and to purchase the ``Hyogo Amazing Pass,'' a 1,000 yen per day ticket.

The best way to access Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum from Sannomiya is by bus.

The Takenaka Carpenter's Tools Museum has a parking lot, but the parking lot is limited and often full, and surrounding parking lots are difficult to find, so we recommend accessing the parking lot by public transportation.

(Writer Takashi Tsukamoto)

*This article is information as of June 2023. Prices include tax. Product contents and prices may change.

basic information

Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum

Address: 7-5-1 Kumauchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe City

Phone number: 078-242-0216

Business hours: 9:30-16:30 (Admission until 16:00)

Closed: Mondays (the next day if Monday is a holiday), New Year holidays (December 29th to January 3rd)

Price: 700 yen for adults, 500 yen for university and high school students, 500 yen for those over 65, free for junior high school students and under

Access: Approximately 3 minutes' walk from the central ticket gate of Sanyo Shinkansen "Shin-Kobe Station", approximately 3 minutes' walk from North Exit 1 or North Exit 2 of Kobe Municipal Subway "Shin-Kobe Station", walk from City Loop Bus "12 Shin-Kobe Ekimae (2F)" Approximately 3 minutes, about 2 minutes walk from Kobe City Bus 2/18 "Kumauchi 6-chome" stop

Parking lot: 6 spaces (free) *As the parking lot is often full, we recommend using public transportation.

Official website: https://www.dougukan.jp

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