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I knew from the start upon reading its name that this museum would be different to others: a museum dedicated to carpentry tools, this sounded intriguing. I imagined a specialised place focused on technical aspects. Upon visiting I was surprised and delighted to find a very handsome building filled with fascinating displays highlighting the beauty of craftsmanship.

I reach the Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum after a mere three-minute walk from Shin Kobe station. Despite this very convenient location right in the centre of Kobe, the museum is surrounded by greenery. It stands on the site of the former residence of the Takenaka family, who founded a carpentry establishment in the early Edo period. Centuries later, the Takenaka Corporation has grown into one of Japan’s most important construction companies. Yet this museum’s purpose is not the promotion of the corporation but to collect and preserve carpentry tools as cultural heritage. So far, the collection counts 30,000 items.

The outstanding building offers an admirable blend of traditional and contemporary techniques. But it keeps a restrained presence in the cityscape as two of its floors are below ground. Entrance is via an airy lobby opened onto a garden and whose ceiling made of domestic timber is shaped like a traditional houseboat. Special exhibitions take place here three to four times a year. Stairs take me down towards the permanent collection spread on two spacious floors. I take in the lightwell that distributes natural light through the different levels and the attractive plaster walls made by hand according to a traditional technique.

Beautifully presented tools and models introduce visitors not only to the techniques and skills employed by Japanese craftsmen, but also to their spirit and aesthetic sensibilities. The displays are divided into seven sections, respectively “A Journey through History, Tools and Handwork, Tools Around the World, Exquisite Works of Master Craftsmen, The Traditional Beauty of Japanese Wa, Learning from a Master Carpenter, and Making the Most of Wood”. Those titles illustrate the breadth and range of themes covered by the museum.

During the visit, I enjoy discovering a variety of features, from impressive large-scale models to hands-on displays, that help me understand the historical evolution of Japanese tools. On show is a complete standard set of tools that belonged to a Japanese carpenter in 1943. With the advent of electrical tools, the number of carpentry tools began to decrease. The museum’s curators are architecture historians and researchers who collect as well as investigate. For example, research is being conducted to understand some of the methods employed by early craftsmen, as they did not leave written documents.

In the section presenting tools from around the world I examine a range of them and watch videos; one shows three carpenters of different origin, namely Japan, China and Germany, working with a plane - their remarkably dissimilar techniques can be explained by the difference in weight and density of the wood they each employ, respectively japanese cypress, pine and oak. I am impressed to learn about a study showing that Japanese carpenters used 179 different tools, while their Western counterparts had approximately 60.

On the second level down, the full-scale model of a tea house showcases the skills and refinement of Japanese craftsmen and artisans: walls are made of clay and other natural materials, different timbers such as bamboo or cedar are grown for their distinct aesthetic qualities, sliding doors are made with handmade paper decorated with woodblock prints and mica, a powder made from seashells.

Next, I admire the presentation of a selection of tools used by blacksmiths, as well as the recreation of a workshop. The tools are remarkably handsome; some were engraved by the blacksmiths. Their attractiveness also lies in the distinctiveness of their shape and the quality of their finish, and I am fascinated by the link between functionality and beauty. The final section focuses on wood indigenous to Japan and the characteristic of each type of timber. To cap off my visit it is fun to feel the texture and to smell the scent of different varieties.

The Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum is indeed different and quite specialised. Yet it is so well presented, it can without doubt appeal to all. Throughout the museum the displays are elegant, clearly laid-out and ingenious, making it possible for non-Japanese speakers to understand without difficulty, whilst the videos bring the different themes to life.