Japan Society Special Visit to Kew Gardens

The Japan Society is delighted to offer its members an exclusive tour of Kew Garden’s rarely seen Japanese collections. 

Kew’s Economic Botany Collection, Library and Archives hold many treasures from Japan including 19th century lacquer and washi (handmade paper), decorative wood panels, rare botanic books and prints. Visitors will have the opportunity to admire objects as diverse as 19th century botanical illustrations and a waterproof coat made entirely out of paper. The collection reveals a story of botany in Japan, and contact between Europe and Japanese scientists, artists and craft makers. For highlights from the collection please visit the Kew website.

 

The tour will be led by Chris Mills, Head of Library, Art & Archives and Mark Nesbitt, Curator of the Economic Botany Collection. Japan Society members will meet at the entrance to the Herbarium and then split into two groups, taking turns to visit the Archives and the Economic Botany Collection. The day will conclude with tea and cake in the Library.

 

Programme:

2.30pm – guests meet in reception of the Herbarium
2:35pm – one group is led to see the Botany Collection, another to the Archives
3:45pm – groups are switched
5:00pm – drinks/tea in the Library

 

*Any guests wishing to arrive earlier in the day and view the gardens should notify the Japan Society when booking.

 

£5.00 (price includes tea & cake in the library)
Booking deadline –Monday 22 October

 

To reserve your place, please call the Japan Society office on 020 7828 6330 or email events@japansociety.org.uk or submit the online booking form.