Bamboo Fountains and Spouts

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Bamboo Fountains and Spouts (kakei)

Bamboo Fountains and Spouts (kakei) are very common in Japanese gardens. They can be used wherever running water is wanted - over ponds, Japanese stone basins, or as part of a tsukubai or shishi odoshi.

Kakei bamboo spouts

Bamboo spouts are a perfect water feature for a rustic style Japanese garden, and they're small enough for even a tiny urban garden. You can use them over a Japanese stone basin, as part of a tsukubai or pouring into a pond. There's also a kind of bamboo fountain called a shishi odoshi, or deer scarer, which makes a rhythmic noise.

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Natural bamboo is beautiful, and distinctively Japanese. As with all Japanese garden ornaments, bamboo fountains will weather, and this is part of their charm. However, bamboo tends to split over time if water is running through it, so typically a plastic pipe is used inside the bamboo fountain or spout to protect the bamboo. You may also want to varnish or oil your bamboo fountain before use. Varnish will last longer, but has a harder finish.

Normally, all you need to power a bamboo fountain is a small garden pump – look on the box for the 'head height' – this is how high the pump can lift water, so this number needs to be bigger than the distance from your reservoir to the top of the bamboo spout. See how to make a Japanese water feature for more information about pumps and reservoirs.

Shishi odoshi

The shishi-odoshi or deer chaser is intended to scare off animals and birds, but it's mostly used as an ornament. Water pours from one bamboo spout into another, causing the second spout to tilt back and forth and making a rhythmic knocking sound. More about shishi odoshi.