Windmills of Japan


In common with much of Eastern Asia, as a rice based rather than a wheat based culture, Japan does not have much of a history of using the power of the wind for grinding. Similarly it's not had a great need for windpumps for drainage either. However, in comparatively recent times, a matter of the past 10 years or so, the Japanese fondness both for theme parks, and also for recreating the outside world with their borders, has led to the construction of a surprising number of authentic looking, and occasionally mechanically accurate working windmills. The majority of these draw on the long tradition of association between Japan and the Netherlands, though other windmill traditions such as England, Cape Cod, Germany and Denmark get a look in too.

Akebono Yama (#jp3)

(35.89649,140.008)
smock mill :

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Anjo (#jp16)

(34.93035,137.058)
DenPark: smock mill :

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Funabashi (#jp24)

(35.75917,140.060)
H.C.Andersen Park: smock mill :

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Gunma (#jp28)

(36.45965,139.133)
Green Flower Stock Farm: smock mill :

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Hakone (#jp12)

(35.28954,138.965)
smock mill :

[photo]

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Huis Ten Bosch (#jp4)

(33.08827,129.791)
3 smock mills: set of 3 smock mills, modelled on the wall of pumping windmills at Kinderdijk

the middle of the three is the Molen Museum

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Huis Ten Bosch (#jp7)

(33.08787,129.788)
3 post mills: widely spaced on separate ramparts

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Huis Ten Bosch (#jp10)

(33.08834,129.794)
smock mill : mounted on top of another building

[StreetView]

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Huis Ten Bosch (#jp11)

(33.08862,129.792)
smock mill : mounted on top of another building

[StreetView]

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Kasumigaura (#jp17)

(36.06347,140.220)
smock mill :

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Maebashi (#jp20)

(36.45737,139.133)
smock mill :

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Maruyama (#jp13)

(35.00799,139.975)
Shakespeare Country Park: post mill :

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Nagoya (#jp18)

(35.18903,136.900)
Meijo Park: smock mill :

Dutch style, built 1988

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Obihiro (#jp26)

(42.74578,143.202)
Glucks Konigreich: smock mill :

A German theme park, which closed in 2001. The mill was modelled after one in Bremen.

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Osaka (#jp15)

(34.77862,135.489)
Museum of Japanese Farmhouses: wind pump:

Moved from Sakai, one of numerous such wind pumps to be found in that area.

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Osaka (#jp19)

(34.71434,135.580)
smock mill :

On the Expo 90 site

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Saikai-shi (#jp21)

(32.99496,129.757)
smock mill :

Dutch village

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Sakai (#jp23)

wind pumps:

There were once numerous wind pumps in this area (such as the one now relocated to the Museum of Rural Farmhouse in Osaka), but few remain. Instead there are some more modern examples.

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Sakura (#jp1)

(35.74133,140.201)
De Liefde: tower mill :


A Dutch drainage mill, made in the Netherlands, then shipped and assembled in 1994-6 by Verbij Hoogmade BV. The mill was built for the 40th anniversary of Sakura City, and as a landmark for the Sakura Furusato Square, serves also as symbol of the goodwill between Japan and the Netherlands.

The 15.6m high tower brick tower contains 4 floors of reinforced concrete, and the sails have a diameter of 27.5m. The mill is located alongside the railway linking Tokyo to Narita airport, so is seen by a good proportion of visitors to Japan - not a typical Japanese sight at all! In spring, the fields around the mill are full of flowering bulbs.

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Shodoshima (#jp14)

(34.47148,134.272)
Olive Garden: Greek style:

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Shunan-shi, Yamaguchi (#jp2)

(34.07678,131.766)
Eigenzan Park Windmill: smock mill :

A replica of the Dutch mill from Farmsum, with some adaptation for local materials (the smock is tile covered rather than thatched). Constructed in the early 1990's by Verbij Hoogmade.

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Tome, Miyagi Prefecture (#jp25)

(38.68981,141.136)
tower mill :

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Tonami (#jp22)

Dutch hollow post:

In the tulip park - may have been only temporary.

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Yokohama (#jp27)

(35.44121,139.653)
Motomachi/Harbour View Park: wind engine:

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Mock Mills

Akane (#jpmock6)

(33.55093,130.598)
smock mill :

[homepage]

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Hokkaido (#jpmock12)

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Kamiyubetsu, Hokkaido (#jpmock9)

(44.15943,143.578)
smock mill :

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Kamiyubetsu, Hokkaido (#jpmock10)

(44.15922,143.579)
hollow post:

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Lake Biwa (#jpmock4)

(35.35024,136.067)
Shinasahi pinwheel village: pinwheel:

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Lake Biwa (#jpmock5)

(35.35052,136.066)
Shinasahi pinwheel village: smock mill :

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Maruyama (#jpmock15)

(35.01347,139.976)
wind engine like sculpture:

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Matsuyama (#jpmock13)

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Nakatajima (#jpmock3)

(34.66445,137.743)

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Omiya (#jpmock2)

Minuma:

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Shodoshima (#jpmock7)

(34.47613,134.274)
Dutch Cafe Cupid & Cotton: smock mill :

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Tokyo (#jpmock1)

(35.79351,139.692)
Ukima Park: smock mill :

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Tokyo Summerland, Akiruno (#jpmock8)

(35.71777,139.273)
Flushdance: fairground ride:

Dutch themed, with tulip shaped seats! I can't find this shown on the current web site so it's possible that it has been retired as a ride now.

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Wakkanai, Hokkaido (#jpmock11)

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Yokohama Bayside (#jpmock14)

(35.37941,139.646)
Sawtucket Windmill:

Cape Cod themed retail development.

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Last updated 03/03/2017 Text and images © Mark Berry, 1997-2017 -