MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
After a busy and productive day 1 at Omiya Bonsai Village (which can be seen here: http://www.bonsainut.com/index.php?threads/japan-trip-part-1-omiya-bonsai-village.21274/), I was more than ready for day 2! On that day, we were to visit Shunka-en bonsai garden and museum owned by world renowned master Kunio Kobayashi. This is another garden that does not need any introduction. While the ones I visited the previous day were beautiful and even amazing, this garden was an experience that should not be missed by anyone traveling to Japan. Shunka-en is presumably one of the top five destinations in Japan!
On a beautiful sunny morning we took our tour bus to the outskirts of Tokyo, where Shunka-en is located. As soon as we arrived, Jin Yasufumi, an English speaking apprentice, took us inside the museum. Here, he showed us and explained the fifteen different and beautiful tokonoma that were on display. The craftsmanship and level of aesthetics used in all of the interiors was incredible. Very high quality woods and materials were used and I was told not a single nail was hammered in the entire place! Afterwards, we went outside to view the magnificent bonsai collection comprised of Japanese black pines, satsuki azaleas, a newly added area dedicated to Japanese maples and many other species throughout. It was quite difficult for me to absorb all that was around me. You literally do not know where to look, specially for first time visitors like me!
Mr. Kobayashi is a friendly and charismatic man full of passion for his craft. This is immediately obvious as you first enter. Apparently, he is also very used to having large groups visiting his garden. He told us that recently, he had a group of 700 people at his place all at once! He currently has, and welcomes, apprentices from all over the world and is committed to spreading Japanese culture, specially the art of bonsai, throughout the world.
I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story...
On a beautiful sunny morning we took our tour bus to the outskirts of Tokyo, where Shunka-en is located. As soon as we arrived, Jin Yasufumi, an English speaking apprentice, took us inside the museum. Here, he showed us and explained the fifteen different and beautiful tokonoma that were on display. The craftsmanship and level of aesthetics used in all of the interiors was incredible. Very high quality woods and materials were used and I was told not a single nail was hammered in the entire place! Afterwards, we went outside to view the magnificent bonsai collection comprised of Japanese black pines, satsuki azaleas, a newly added area dedicated to Japanese maples and many other species throughout. It was quite difficult for me to absorb all that was around me. You literally do not know where to look, specially for first time visitors like me!
Mr. Kobayashi is a friendly and charismatic man full of passion for his craft. This is immediately obvious as you first enter. Apparently, he is also very used to having large groups visiting his garden. He told us that recently, he had a group of 700 people at his place all at once! He currently has, and welcomes, apprentices from all over the world and is committed to spreading Japanese culture, specially the art of bonsai, throughout the world.
I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story...
