I will be in the San Jose area next month for a few days and was wondering if there are any decent bonsai nurseries/ garden that I should check out. Thanks in advance.
Not really anything. Best in “bay area” for actual prebonsai would be lone pines in sebastapol. Probably about a 3 hr drive, but you can see the golden gate.
Bonsai tonite is about an hour - 1 1/2 away from san jose proper, but would require you contacting them to make sure available.
Other than that, there are tons of nurseries, but none with what we would consider bonsai.
As far as gardens, the GSBF has an outstanding bonsai garden at lake merritt you could hit on your trip to bonsai tonite if you end up making it that direction.
there are a few scattered “tea gardens” that while lovely to visit, lean more niwaki.