What & How - 100th Kokufu-ten (8-11 & 14-18 Feb 2026)

[leatherback]

Hi All,

Now that the dates for the 100th Kokufu have been released, I am looking for some recommendations on visiting the Kokufu ten. There is a big gap of information on this show I find. How to organize a visit, what the best moment would be to go. Is there a grand opening event that one should not miss? How to get tickets. Etcetc.

Next to this, looking for input on other highlights I should not miss. (Been to the World Bonsai Convention in Saitema, then passed though omiya and Tokoname).
Note, if I go, I might travel with my wife who is absolutely not into bonsai, so other things to see would be great!

Looking forward to experiences, recommendations and general thoughts!

 

[SeanS]

Bjorn holds a tour each year if you want to go in an organised group. If not you can at least have a look at the itinerary of his tour to get an idea of what to do bonsai-wise.

(Let me know if that link doesn’t work and I’ll try post some more details)
(The link above is for the 2025 tour, no 2026 details yet)

 

[Piedmont Bonsai]

I have been to the past 2 Kokufu exhibits and have found that it can be hit or miss if the show will be very crowded or not. I'd imagine next year will be very crowded since it is the 100th show. I'm not sure if there will be a grand opening next year. This year there was no grand opening.

Tickets are very easy to purchase, you just go to the Tokyo Metropolitan Art museum in Ueno and go down an escalator to the basement area and you will see the signs for the Kokufu. You can purchase tickets there and walk into the show right away.

I've found that it is very easy to organize a trip to Tokyo and not exclusively focus on bonsai but still hit the Kokufu and other bonsai attractions nearby.
Bonsai attractions that I would definitely hit would be Shunka-en Bonsai Museum, Omiya Bonsai Museum and Village (which it sounds like you went to before) and a lesser known, but really cool bonsai garden to see is Showa Kinen Memorial Park. It is a huge park with beautiful gardens and within the larger park is a small bonsai garden with incredible trees.

For Shopping Ginza is great. They have all the high end stores and other great stores as well. Roppongi is also nice. Went to Tokyo tower this year, but couldn't go to the very top due to strong winds that day. I went to Mt. Fuji this year and that was really incredible to see, but it is a 3 hour bus ride outside of Tokyo.

If going to Kyoto, I would see Kinkaku-Ji golden temple, Ginkaku-Ji, Kiyomizu Dera, and there is a very nice bonsai garden in Kyoto called Hoshun-in within the Daitoku-ji temple

Also, nearly every restaurant in Japan is good, but If you need food recommendations I have some solid recommendations. especially if you like Ramen.

 

[Canada Bonsai]

There is a big gap of information on this show I find. How to organize a visit, what the best moment would be to go. Is there a grand opening event that one should not miss? How to get tickets.

一般社団法人 日本盆栽協会

日本盆栽協会は、盆栽芸術の普及と発展を図り、日本文化の進展に寄与するために、昭和４０年２月に発足した全国組織の盆栽愛好者の団体です。

bonsai-kyokai.or.jp

There are no advance tickets for Kokufu, although there are always tickets being passed around by bonsai nurseries leading up to the show. Whether you have one of these tickets or not, you need to stand in the same line to get in — it’s a smooth process.

The vendor area is surprisingly far from the museum when compared to other events

 

[ZombieNick]

I am upping this thread because the show is a month away! So who is going? What are you guys most excited for? Any other recommendations besides the ones already posted? This will be my second trip to Japan. It's been a decade since I last went, and I wasn't at all into bonsai at the time, so I am very excited for this one!

 

[leatherback]

I am upping this thread because the show is a month away! So who is going? What are you guys most excited for? Any other recommendations besides the ones already posted? This will be my second trip to Japan. It's been a decade since I last went, and I wasn't at all into bonsai at the time, so I am very excited for this one!

Jealous. Not sure I can make it this year though.

 

[Canada Bonsai]

What are you guys most excited for?

I'm sincerely looking forward to seeing how they manage the volume of attendees. I have no doubt that the organizers will have a plan, and I think it will be a fun see it in action from a logistics-learning perspective. Maybe X-hour entry tickets? Maybe guides to keep people flowing? Extended hours? I have no idea. I'd personally love to be able to attend in the evening/night. Based entirely on my exchanges with colleagues and what I'm learning from client interactions, it seems like the volume of people attending, at least from North America, will be dramatically higher than usual.

 

[blackadam]

Please guys, take a lot of pictures and share them

 

[Ruddigger]

I’ll be there. I never go anywhere, should be interesting.

 

[Erika_Leaman]

I've a question regarding kokufu albums: how do folk get their hands on them? are the previous years album on sale at the exhibition? (I suspect the turn around isn't fast enough to have the current year's on sale at the exhibition?)

And is anyone in the uk intending to purchase albums who could grab me one?

 

[Glaucus]

There are online second hand Japanese book stores. They often have items like Kokufu albums:

https://buyee.jp/?lang=en

https://www.mercari.com/

You have to put in the Japanese characters, though. Try 国風盆栽

You can also try https://www.amazon.co.jp

If you are there in person, I imagine you'd be able to buy all kinds of brand new bonsai books.

 

[Erika_Leaman]

@Glaucus
Thanks for your reply. I've not yet used those resale sites but I am aware of them for older albums.
I'm wanting to get my hands on #99 and sequential albums in the future.

 

[RoadManDenDron]

I've a question regarding kokufu albums: how do folk get their hands on them? are the previous years album on sale at the exhibition? (I suspect the turn around isn't fast enough to have the current year's on sale at the exhibition?)

And is anyone in the uk intending to purchase albums who could grab me one?

What happens is you buy the current years book at the event and give your details and pay postage and it is posted out to you when it is done

100 I believe is a double book event so there will be 2 books this time

 

[Erika_Leaman]

What happens is you buy the current years book at the event and give your details and pay postage and it is posted out to you when it is done

100 I believe is a double book event so there will be 2 books this time

Ah that makes sense. Thankyou.

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

Bonsai Plaza (Netherlands/Europe) sells the Kokufu-Ten books.
Link: https://www.bonsaiplaza.com/nl/boeken/fotoboeken-van-bonsaitentoonstellingen/kokufu-ten/

Number 99 - 2025
Link: https://www.bonsaiplaza.com/nl/kokufu-ten-99-2025.html

 

[Wood]

I am upping this thread because the show is a month away! So who is going? What are you guys most excited for? Any other recommendations besides the ones already posted? This will be my second trip to Japan. It's been a decade since I last went, and I wasn't at all into bonsai at the time, so I am very excited for this one!

I am very excited for my first visit to Japan. Decided to go on Bjorn's tour this year, and spending a couple extra days around Hakone and Tokyo afterwards too

I'm looking to buy a large (20"/50cm) exhibition quality rectangle pot while I'm there. Does Ueno Green Club usually have vendors with that kind of selection or should I expect to do that shopping at nurseries?

 

[NaoTK]

You can order the current year's kokufu book at the event. They ship internationally and it is sent surprisingly quick, like 3 months after the kokufu. Take note US NATIONAL BONSAI EXHIBITION.

I'm looking to buy a large (20"/50cm) exhibition quality rectangle pot while I'm there. Does Ueno Green Club usually have vendors with that kind of selection or should I expect to do that shopping at nurseries?

you can buy things everywhere, but the vendors at kokufu will charge more than at the nursery

 

[NaoTK]

The first Kokufu was in 1934 which confused me, this being the 100th show. The show was held twice a year initially and obviously skipped WWII.

All of the articles here are worth a read: https://www.magiminiland.org/Days/Kokufutena.html#ByYear

 

[Coppersdad]

Hi All,

Now that the dates for the 100th Kokufu have been released, I am looking for some recommendations on visiting the Kokufu ten. There is a big gap of information on this show I find. How to organize a visit, what the best moment would be to go. Is there a grand opening event that one should not miss? How to get tickets. Etcetc.

Next to this, looking for input on other highlights I should not miss. (Been to the World Bonsai Convention in Saitema, then passed though omiya and Tokoname).
Note, if I go, I might travel with my wife who is absolutely not into bonsai, so other things to see would be great!

Looking forward to experiences, recommendations and general thoughts!

AND, don't forget the Green Room. Although most of us in the States can't bring back trees, there might just be enough post for you to purchase another suitcase while there to bring 'em back. I did!