Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum

Gloria Lau a week ago

This was a nice gem! We went right when it opened at 930am and there was only two other people with us. We had the place pretty much all to ourselves foe the first 30 mins. The museum smells amazing of freshly cut wood. All the tools and joinery were laid out artistically and beautifully, w mostly japanese information. We used google translate and it wasnt an issue. There were various videos and informative resources as well, although limited interactive activities. I liked the teahouse on the basement floor where you can go in and appreciate that an entire building could be built without screws! We only has about 1hr and 15 mins until we needed to catch our bus out of Kobe, but for a woodworking or carpenter enthusiast, i think you would need 2.5h to casually enjoy everything and admire every detail. They also offer little workshops for children at very affordable prices on weekends (starting at 500 yen i believe and up to ~1500 yen). What a great way to include children in woodworking activities at a young age! They have a very small gift shop at the entrance and I think they could offer a larger selection of items to be bought. It costs 700 yen entrance and 500 yen for students. There are 100 coin lockers for you to store your luggage BUT you get your money back when u retrieve your belongings. I really liked this museum even though i have no woodworking experience and wish we had more time before leaving.

Angela Mayrina 2 months ago

An underrated local museum with so much knowledge on Japanese wood working. I'm a designer -- and visiting this museum is such a breath of fresh air for my practice. So inspiring, and would totally recommend it to someone who is interested in furniture and design. We spent 3 hours just looking at videos of how the tools are used, playing around with the joinery and learning the history of woodworking. Wish we have something similar back home!

Abigail 3 months ago

A small but very interesting museum. My husband is a woodworker and I learned a lot especially from their interactive pieces. It’s walkable from the train station and there is a small zen garden at the back.

Melissa 4 months ago

Had an amazing time at this museum. It showcases the history of Japanese carpentry and the skills and craftsmanship of master carpenters and the blacksmiths who made their tools. After buying your ticket, you can store your bags and things in the locker room to the left of the shop area. The locker requires a 100 yen coin but it is returned after you insert the key again to open the door. I spent about 4 hours here and could have spent another 4 as there were several videos and short documentaries (English available) that can be watched individually on the basement floor as well as a workshop to craft your own pieces under the guidance of staff. The free audio guide can be accessed on your phone via the free Wi-Fi and English is available. The audio guide provides a lot of information and is well worth using. Numerous items are available to touch and feel like the shavings of different types of planers. I loved the comparison of the rough planed plank vs. the finish planed plank. I also loved the joinery examples where you can take apart and re-assemble the blocks and observe the joinery techniques. There are also several touch screen displays throughout the exhibitions with additional short videos that you can play through. A lounge area with views of the garden is available with vending machines and water for refreshments. I think the museum has so many great touches to make the experience top notch. It has really set the bar high. Whenever I come back to Kobe, I would certainly visit this museum again (earlier to spend more time) and also try out a workshop.

Scott Combs 7 months ago

This was such an interesting museum that focused on the history of Japanese woodworking from the beginnings to the present age. Seeing the different tools and how things evolved over time was interesting. Making my own coaster from wood was a nice break while there and it was a free experience which was nice. A nice person who works there explained things to me in even greater detail which added to the enjoyment. It was a well designed place and with a nice Japanese garden to look at after the experience.