The Bamboo Museum
The Bamboo Museum is a single-story building of about 450 square meters (4,800 square feet) with reinforced concrete Japanese style finish. The entrance of the Bamboo Museum is through the south entrance of the Bamboo Park or through the north entrance at the parking lot.
Inside the Bamboo Museum, there is an exhibition room, meeting room, rest area and office. There is also a tea room and tea garden next to the museum.
Inside the Bamboo Museum, there is an exhibition room, meeting room, rest area and office. There is also a tea room and tea garden next to the museum.
About Exhibits
As you enter the exhibition room from the entrance, you will see a display of Kyoto bamboo (Kyomeichiku) on the right wall.
Kyoto bamboo is a traditionally crafted bamboo produced in Kyoto and used for construction and decorative purposes. The exhibition features rare Kyoto bamboos such as White Bamboo (Shira-Take), Sesame Bamboo (Goma-Take), Artificial Square Bamboo (Zumen-Kakutake), Tortoise-Shell Bamboo (Kikkou-Take), and Square Bamboo (Kaku-Take).
A partition in the center on the right side displays 18 panels, explaining interesting facts about bamboo, its characteristics, and how bamboo is used. It also explains the property and mysterious part of bamboo, including its historical background and unusual physiology and ecology, especially the flowering phenomenon.
Kyoto bamboo is a traditionally crafted bamboo produced in Kyoto and used for construction and decorative purposes. The exhibition features rare Kyoto bamboos such as White Bamboo (Shira-Take), Sesame Bamboo (Goma-Take), Artificial Square Bamboo (Zumen-Kakutake), Tortoise-Shell Bamboo (Kikkou-Take), and Square Bamboo (Kaku-Take).
A partition in the center on the right side displays 18 panels, explaining interesting facts about bamboo, its characteristics, and how bamboo is used. It also explains the property and mysterious part of bamboo, including its historical background and unusual physiology and ecology, especially the flowering phenomenon.
Bamboo blooms and bears fruit in a certain cycle. This cycle lasts for tens or hundreds of years, and the chances of seeing bamboo seeds are rare, including the process of blooming and bearing fruit.
However you will have an opportunity to see the rare seeds of these precious bamboo species on our display.
However you will have an opportunity to see the rare seeds of these precious bamboo species on our display.
Do you know what is occuring in the soil of a bamboo grove? Some people say bamboo groves are a safe place to escape to during an earthquake, but do you know why? You can find the answer and see the actual underground stems that were dug out of the soil in a bamboo grove. (Donated by NHK)
There are also displays of rare foreign bamboo and bamboo musical instruments, traditional Kyoto bamboo crafts, and a large Nodate umbrella in the rest area.
Exhibition of historical materials
Bamboo drainage pipe from the Nagaoka-kyo period
Bamboo reinforced concrete
This is a bamboo reinforced concrete used for the Kyoto City Nishikyogoku Sports field which was built during World War II. From the Taisho era until just after World War II, bamboo reinforced concrete was also used in bridge construction and shipbuilding. Due to its strength and durability, bamboo played the role of a reinforcement bar.
Edison's bamboo light bulb
In 1890, Thomas Edison, the most renowned of American inventors, succeeded in producing the world's first light bulb with a bamboo filament using Phyllostachys bambusoides Siebold et Zuccarini (Ma-Dake) grown in Yawata, Kyoto. Since then, bamboo filament bulbs became popular across the world. You can see one of the rare bamboo bulbs on our display at the museum.
Bamboo Fence and Landscape
One of the aspects of bamboo culture is the traditional bamboo fence, and today, various types of bamboo fences are used in ordinary homes in Japan to make better use of small spaces.
The traditional Japanese-style garden of the Tea Room, "Chikufuken" that is next to the Bamboo Museum is surrounded by the Kenninji and Koetsuji bamboo fences, creating a dominating environment.
Many of the bamboo fence styles are named after famous temples in Kyoto. These include Kenninji Temple, Kinkakuji Temple, Ginkakuji Temple and Koetsuji Temple. This is because the designs originated in each temple and is the reason why Kyoto is commonly referred to as the birthplace of bamboo culture.
The traditional Japanese-style garden of the Tea Room, "Chikufuken" that is next to the Bamboo Museum is surrounded by the Kenninji and Koetsuji bamboo fences, creating a dominating environment.
Many of the bamboo fence styles are named after famous temples in Kyoto. These include Kenninji Temple, Kinkakuji Temple, Ginkakuji Temple and Koetsuji Temple. This is because the designs originated in each temple and is the reason why Kyoto is commonly referred to as the birthplace of bamboo culture.
The Ecological Garden viewed from the terrace of the Bamboo Museum
The Bamboo Museum viewed from the Ecological Garden
Depending on the angle, the view of the Ecological Garden from the balcony of the Bamboo Museum offers a variety of colorful scenery. The view of the Bamboo Museum from the Ecological Garden also provides you with unique and enjoyable scenery.
Recently, children from nearby elementary schools have been coming every year for field trips to learn about bamboo. At the Bamboo Park, we invite the children to discuss and spread the knowledge of bamboo.
Recently, children from nearby elementary schools have been coming every year for field trips to learn about bamboo. At the Bamboo Park, we invite the children to discuss and spread the knowledge of bamboo.