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[Kobe City] Experience making a dragonfly at the "KOBE Tonbotama Museum" exhibiting glass crafts
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This museum exhibits approximately 2,000 glass crafts, including dragonfly beads, core glass, glasswork, and marble. Not only can you admire elaborate and beautiful crafts from ancient times to the present day, but even beginners can try their hand at making ``tonbotama''.
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- A permanent exhibition displaying the collections of ancient glass collectors and the works of modern artists.
- “Tonbotama production experience” where you can make one-of-a-kind original goods in the world
- Great value one day ticket
- Access to “KOBE Tonbotama Museum”
- basic information
A permanent exhibition displaying the collections of ancient glass collectors and the works of modern artists.
Photo provided by: “KOBE Tonbotama Museum”
``KOBE Tonbotama Museum'' is a museum consisting of an exhibition room, a demonstration/experience workshop, and a museum shop, and offers ways to enjoy ``watching,'' ``learning,'' ``creating,'' and ``buying'' glass crafts called lampwork techniques. Masu.
Photo provided by: “KOBE Tonbotama Museum”
A dragonfly ball is a decorative glass ball with a hole. In addition to ``Tonbotama,'' which resembled the compound eyes of a dragonfly, there were other names for each pattern in the Edo period, but today they are collectively called ``Tonbotama.'' In ancient times, glass was melted with the flame of a lamp, so it is made using a technique called lampwork.
At the KOBE Tonbotama Museum, you can see a variety of glass crafts made using the lampwork technique, including ``Tonbotama.''
Photo provided by: “KOBE Tonbotama Museum”
The exhibition room hosts both permanent and special exhibitions, with approximately 2,000 glass artifacts on display in chronological order, ranging from ancient glass to works by modern artists. The ``Hymn to Ancient Glass'' corner introduces the history of ancient glass.
The showcase is filled with the collection of Akinori Habara, one of Japan's leading ancient glass collectors. Inside, you can see valuable works that were created over 3,500 years ago.
Photo provided by: “KOBE Tonbotama Museum”
This is a ``human face ball'' made using mosaic glass that is made in the same way as Kintaro candy. This method of making glass, which produces the same pattern no matter where you cut it, is a glass craft technique that has been around for a long time.
Photo provided by: ``KOBE Tonbotama Museum'' / Works with an eye motif that served as a talisman
Photo provided by: ``KOBE Tonbotama Museum'' / Messages of support for KOBE after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake as well as works donated by domestic and international artists are also on display.
Photo provided by: “KOBE Tonbotama Museum”
There are also a number of works by domestic and international lampwork artists on display, making it a sight to behold.
There are a wide variety of works made with ``lampwork,'' including ``tonbo beads,'' ``core glass,'' ``glasswork,'' ``marbles,'' ``paperweights,'' and ``glass pens.''
Be captivated by the gorgeous world view enclosed within glass
The breadth of expression in lampwork can be seen in works such as those shaped like fried eggs.
``KOBE Tonbotama Museum'' holds special exhibitions four times a year. From October 7, 2023 (Saturday) to January 9, 2024 (Tuesday), glass craft works with flower motifs created using the lampwork technique will be exhibited under the title "Flowers Blooming Glass 2023." Masu.
“Tonbotama production experience” where you can make one-of-a-kind original goods in the world
Experience making dragonfly beads
At the ``KOBE Tonbotama Museum,'' you can experience making tonbotama. The content of the experience is to create a dragonfly ball by choosing your favorite color or pattern and melting it with a burner. If you are in the 3rd grade of elementary school or above, you can try it on your own. Children in second grade and younger can try their hand at making accessories using the dragonfly beads sold at the workshop.
The process of making a dragonfly ball starts with choosing the color that will be the base of the dragonfly ball.
Next, choose a pattern from five types: powder balls, dot balls, parts balls, glitter balls, and flower dragon balls.
Melt the glass rod with a burner and create the shape of a dragonfly ball.
The molten glass is wrapped around the core of a stainless steel rod and a pattern is created.
Once you have the pattern, turn the stick around and around to shape it.
Let the dragonfly balls cool for about 40 to 50 minutes and they're done. It's fun to wait and imagine the finished product. Even beginners can easily do it, so why not try your hand at making dragonfly beads?
The finished dragonfly ball can be made into accessories or miscellaneous goods by combining it with accessory metal fittings and parts sold separately. There are a wide variety of parts, so why not combine them to create your one-of-a-kind original goods?
It takes about 10 minutes to make one dragonfly ball, 20 minutes to make two dragonfly balls, and 40 to 50 minutes to cool them down slowly. If you want to make the most of your time, we recommend trying your hand at making dragonfly beads, then viewing the exhibits or shopping at the museum shop.
Of course, you can go out and enjoy sightseeing in Kobe, and then pick up your artwork later.
Popular clips in the museum shop
Reception hours for dragonfly making experience: 10:00-18:00 Experience fee: 1,250 yen for 1 piece, 2,100 yen for 2 pieces *Admission fee not included Features: Approximately 4,000 shots of star mines and fireworks will be launched, making it an impressive event!
Accessory production experience Reception hours: 10:00-18:00 Experience fee: Selected dragonfly beads (from 800 yen each) + combined parts fee *Admission fee not included
Great value one day ticket
Kobe 1-day bus ticket
This is a bus ticket that allows you to ride the City Loop and Port Loop that run through Kobe city as much as you like for 700 yen a day. If you want to visit sightseeing spots in Kobe, use this ticket for an easy and comfortable trip.
Hyogo Amazing Pass
This ticket is recommended for those who are considering touring around Himeji and Hyogo prefectures other than Kobe! Kobe 1-day bus ticket contents + A mobile ticket that allows you to ride unlimited Shinki Bus routes for 1,000 yen per day. *Limited to foreign visitors tourists visiting Japan
Access to “KOBE Tonbotama Museum”
``KOBE Tonbotama Museum'' is an 8-minute walk from Sannomiya Station or Motomachi Station on each line. The City Loop, which runs around the sightseeing spots in central Kobe in about 65 minutes, and the Port Loop, an articulated bus that goes around Kobe's port area, are also included in the benefits of the one-day pass. If you present your one-day pass, you will receive a 25% discount on admission fees.
If you are using the City Loop, it is about a 2-minute walk from the Old Settlement (City Museum) and Kyomachisuji. Both buses are excursion buses that visit the main sightseeing spots in Kobe, so they are convenient for sightseeing in Kobe. Information on how to ride the bus, bus stops, special offers, etc. can be found on our website.
"KOBE Tonbotama Museum" has an English pamphlet available. There is an explanation board written in English so you don't have to worry about making dragonfly beads. It seems that there are many foreign visitors tourists visiting the museum, and some of the staff can help if they speak simple English.
Museum guides on smartphones also available in English
Glass has a very long history, and some of the exhibits at the KOBE Tonbotama Museum are over 3,500 years old. Take your time to tour the museum and think about the evolution of glass crafts, which have evolved into a variety of expressions over time.
The ``KOBE Tonbotama Museum'' holds the ``1.17 Light of Hope Tonbotama Making Experience'' every January. My thoughts on the event are introduced in the article below, so please check it out as well.
(Writer Nakata/West Plan)
*This article is information as of November 2023. Prices include tax. Product contents and prices may change. Please check the official website for the latest information.
basic information
KOBE Tonbotama Museum
Address: 2nd floor, Nippon Building, 79 Kyomachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture
Phone number: 078-393-8500
Business hours: 10:00-19:00 (last entry until 18:45)
Admission fee: 400 yen for adults, 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students
Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays December 31st to January 2nd
Access: ・8 minutes walk from Sannomiya Station and Motomachi Station on each line ・2 minutes walk from the City Loop “Kyomachisuji” and “Kyu-Kyoryuchi (City Museum)” bus stops
Parking: None
HP: https://www.lampwork-museum.com/
SNS: Instagram
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What are good things and good experiences? There are many characteristics such as having a story to tell, overflowing with the thoughts of the creator, having a history, and being loved by the locals. Have you ever come across a special thing or experience that made you want to tell someone about it? And as a result of telling, someone new leads to something. We think that's what "good" is all about. In order to deliver such encounters to our customers, we discover Hyogo's good things based on the concept of "talk, communicate, and connect", and provide information that will shorten the emotional distance between customers and the region of Hyogo Prefecture.
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