Recommendations for a trip to Japan

[Bonsai_hope]

I am in the early stages of planning a trip to Japan next Spring. Naturally I want to see some fine bonsai. Can anyone who have perhaps made a trip give me any recommendations?

 

[BartelBe]

try https://cumbaya.travel/ . It is a AI driven (free) app that guides you to what's of interest to you.

 

[leatherback]

Omiya bonsai museum is worldclass.
Do not skip.

Many bonsai master gardens are private and you can only get entrance by knowing them and/or being introduced. So that can be tricky. If you reach out to e.g., eisei-en you might be able to have a tour through them. Not sure how he operates these tours.

 

[Edrahyl]

If you can plan it around the Kokufu-ten that would be awesome! I've personally been to Omiya bonsai village. There's a fantastic museum there that Jelle mentioned, and there's also (I think) 8 nursery's that you can visit within walking distance from there.
If you plan on going to Kyoto there is another bonsai museum in a beautiful setting at Hoshun-in at the Daitoku-Ji temple complex.

Kyoto has many other world class gardens to visit, although usually not with bonsai, but many impressive niwaki. Personal favourite garden is that of ginkaku-ji. To be honest, you can't really go wrong in Kyoto for gardens.

 

[Bonsai_hope]

If you can plan it around the Kokufu-ten that would be awesome! I've personally been to Omiya bonsai village. There's a fantastic museum there that Jelle mentioned, and there's also (I think) 8 nursery's that you can visit within walking distance from there.
If you plan on going to Kyoto there is another bonsai museum in a beautiful setting at Hoshun-in at the Daitoku-Ji temple complex.

Kyoto has many other world class gardens to visit, although usually not with bonsai, but many impressive niwaki. Personal favourite garden is that of ginkaku-ji. To be honest, you can't really go wrong in Kyoto for gardens.

Thanks. Kyoto will be on the itinerary.

 

[Bonsai_hope]

Omiya bonsai museum is worldclass.
Do not skip.

Many bonsai master gardens are private and you can only get entrance by knowing them and/or being introduced. So that can be tricky. If you reach out to e.g., eisei-en you might be able to have a tour through them. Not sure how he operates these tours.

Thank you. Omiya will now be on the itinerary. I admire eisei-en video. I will try.

 

[caffeinated]

If you're in Tokyo and can't make it to Omiya (the entire place, more or less, closes down on Thursdays just FYI). Shunka-en is closer, fairly easy to get to and spectacular.

 

[Bonsai_hope]

Omiya bonsai museum is worldclass.
Do not skip.

Many bonsai master gardens are private and you can only get entrance by knowing them and/or being introduced. So that can be tricky. If you reach out to e.g., eisei-en you might be able to have a tour through them. Not sure how he operates these tours.

Should I schedule one day for both, the museum and gardens or do I need more?

 

[oranjeaap]

Last Year I visited Kyoto Botanical Gardens when I was cycling through the city and they had some nice bonsai on display. Nothing particularly jaw dropping or memorable but every tree was beautiful. Not sure if worth a detour. Maybe an unpopular opinion but most Bonsai I saw in Japan were so picture perfect it got boring really quickly actually. Spread around Japan I saw a couple of stunning trees but they were surrounded by a dozen of almost equally stunning trees and the beauty of each kinda got lost in the mix. I only realized how beautiful some of them really were when I got back home.
Actually a lot of people experience the same thing with temples in Japan, they visit so many on their already overstuffed itinerary they get bored, just google "temple fatigue" and you'll see I'm not exaggerating.
If you're not from an Asian country and it's your first time in Japan the best advice I can give you is don't overdo anything. Some of my fondest memories are just wandering around some random neighborhoods having no particular plan, being the only tourist, eating a discounted bentobox and drinking a strong zero or suntory highball on a bench somewhere just watching the people go by. If you're going during prime time Sakura season bring a picnic blanket and some bottles of Sake and do some research on where locals are doing their Hanami and you'll be having the best day of your life.

Sorry I didn't really answer your Bonsai related question.

 

[Bonsai_hope]

Last Year I visited Kyoto Botanical Gardens when I was cycling through the city and they had some nice bonsai on display. Nothing particularly jaw dropping or memorable but every tree was beautiful. Not sure if worth a detour. Maybe an unpopular opinion but most Bonsai I saw in Japan were so picture perfect it got boring really quickly actually. Spread around Japan I saw a couple of stunning trees but they were surrounded by a dozen of almost equally stunning trees and the beauty of each kinda got lost in the mix. I only realized how beautiful some of them really were when I got back home.
Actually a lot of people experience the same thing with temples in Japan, they visit so many on their already overstuffed itinerary they get bored, just google "temple fatigue" and you'll see I'm not exaggerating.
If you're not from an Asian country and it's your first time in Japan the best advice I can give you is don't overdo anything. Some of my fondest memories are just wandering around some random neighborhoods having no particular plan, being the only tourist, eating a discounted bentobox and drinking a strong zero or suntory highball on a bench somewhere just watching the people go by. If you're going during prime time Sakura season bring a picnic blanket and some bottles of Sake and do some research on where locals are doing their Hanami and you'll be having the best day of your life.

Sorry I didn't really answer your Bonsai related question.

Great advice. Thank you.

 

[shohin_branches]

Omiya is great, also go to Sunkanen bonsai museum to meet Kobayashi. My partner is a travel junkie so I was given a ration of time when we could do bonsai gardens.

I have the email of a guy who can get you in to see Kimura's garden and translate for you. I can Private message it to you.


If you get over to Kanazawa check out Kenroku-en. Not bonsai but simply one of the most amazing Japanese gardens with stunning trees.

 

[Canada Bonsai]

Can anyone who have perhaps made a trip give me any recommendations?

Send me an email and I'll send you my Google Maps with pins for all of the bonsai nurseries in Japan, from production nurseries to grafters to high-level hobbyists to professional gardens.

On the topic of food:

If you're staying near the Omiya station, two spots worth mentioning are:

Ishimaru (いしまる) for traditional omakase sushi

Ishimaru · Japan, 〒330-0854 Saitama, Omiya Ward, Sakuragicho, 2 Chome−305 日の出ビル 2F

★★★★☆ · Sushi restaurant

maps.app.goo.gl

and

Tsukemen Noroshi (狼煙 大宮店) for ramen

Tsukemen Noroshi Ohmiya Shop · Japan, 〒330-0844 Saitama, Omiya Ward, Shimocho, 1 Chome−２５

★★★★☆ · Ramen restaurant

maps.app.goo.gl

Kyoto will be on the itinerary.

In Kyoto, the options for high quality dining are much more plentiful