Kew Gardens, Richmond, London TW9 3AE
Bamboo Garden and Japanese Minka House
Garden
Place photograph
5.3
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
Paid
Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
5.3Among 130 bamboo species at Kew, a path through varied forms and foliage leads to a Japanese minka house with a history shaped by wartime loss and a remarkable transcontinental rebuild.
This is a compact, carefully composed garden rather than a wild landscape, but its unusual bamboo collection and the story of the Minka House give it a distinctive sense of place. Come for the contrast between the bamboo’s varied shapes and the traditional farmhouse tucked among it.
Peaceful · Quirky
Find your way
Open mapKew Gardens, Richmond, London TW9 3AE
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The experience
A short garden visit with two things to notice: the range of bamboo forms and the Minka House’s story. The house’s entrance is ringed with sacred bamboo, traditionally believed to dispel bad dreams.
Things to do
Compare the bamboo forms
Wander among the collection and look for the contrast between wispy, variegated species and fountain-like cascades.
15–30 minutes
Find the Minka House
Follow the garden between the bamboo until the traditional Japanese country house comes into view.
10–20 minutes
Look at the entrance planting
Notice the sacred bamboo planted around the Minka House entrance; Kew says it is believed to dispel bad dreams.
A few minutes
Spot the bamboo barriers
Some bamboo species are highly invasive. Look for the durable plastic barriers Kew uses to contain their growth.
A few minutes
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Under 1 hour
Quick bamboo-and-Minka visit
- 01
Wander among the bamboo and compare its varied forms and leaf shapes.
- 02
Find the Minka House as it comes into view between the bamboo.
- 03
Look for the sacred bamboo planted around the house entrance.
Half day · Allow extra time within your Kew visit
Slow garden visit
- 01
Take time to notice how the bamboo collection is arranged to show a variety of forms and leaf shapes.
- 02
Visit the Minka House and read its story alongside the garden setting.
- 03
Look closely at the entrance planting and the barriers used to contain some bamboo species.
Verified history
The Minka House belonged to the Yonezu family, who lived there after their main house was bombed in 1945. After the last family member died, the house was donated to Kew by the Japan Minka Reuse and Recycle Association as part of the Japan 2001 Festival. Japanese carpenters and British builders rebuilt it at Kew; some of the builders had also worked on the Globe Theatre.
Folklore & legend
Kew notes a belief that sacred bamboo planted around the Minka House entrance can dispel bad dreams. This is presented as a belief, not a verified effect.
Hidden details
A rebuilt house with an international story — The Minka House was donated to Kew as part of the Japan 2001 Festival and rebuilt by a team of Japanese carpenters and British builders.
Bamboo as a collection, not a single look — Kew’s collection includes 130 species from China, Japan, the Himalaya and the Americas, arranged to bring out differences in appearance.
When to go
· Check Kew’s current visitor information; no specific time of day is verified by the supplied source.
The supplied source describes the collection and its forms but does not identify a best season.
Check the forecast and Kew’s current visitor information before travelling.
What to look for
Compare the bamboo’s different forms and leaf shapes. Look for the durable barriers used to contain some invasive species, then notice the sacred bamboo planted around the Minka House entrance.
The story
Japanese domestic architecture and heritage
Best time to go
Check Kew’s current seasonal information; the bamboo collection’s varied forms and foliage are the main draw.
Check Kew’s current seasonal information before planning a visit.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
Photographers · History lovers · Walkers
Before you go
Practical information
Opening & access
Located within Kew Gardens. Check Kew’s current visitor information for entry arrangements, opening times and access details before visiting. Access arrangements are unconfirmed. Check before visiting; do not enter private land or restricted structures.
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Parking
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Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
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Accessibility
Check Kew’s current accessibility information for routes and facilities.
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Cost
Paid
Gallery
Place photographs
Keep exploring
Around Bamboo Garden and Japanese Minka House
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
Place photograph7.0London Museum of Water & Steam
Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, London TW8 0EN
1.3 km away
Place photograph5.8St Mary Magdalene Church, Richmond
Church Walk, Richmond, London TW9 1SN
2.1 km away
