Visiting Japan next month. Any recommendations?

[JadeMonsoon]

I'll be in Japan next month and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations on bonsai stops? I'll mostly be in Tokoyo area but could make a trip for something. I am sure there will be great trees a plenty, but also interested in pots, tools, etc. Thank you!

 

[Taste]

i recommend you enjoy yourself

 

[hemmy]

I'll mostly be in Tokoyo area but could make a trip for something.

October

Yusui-ten, Tokyo. A Satsuki tree exhibit.
Kinashi Bonsai Festival, Takamatsu. Held late October.

November

Shuga-ten, Tokyo. Medium sized Shohin exhibition organized in early November.
Annual Bonsai Exhibition, Takamatsu. Held mid/late November.
Taikan-ten, Kyoto. A Large Bonsai exhibition held in late November.
Kyushu Miyabi-Ten, Kumamoto. A small shohin exhibition held late November.

Bonsai exhibitions in Japan - Bonsai Empire

Throughout the year several Bonsai, Shohin and Suiseki Exhibitions are held in Japan. The most important exhibition is the Kokufu-Ten, where the highest quality...

www.bonsaiempire.com

Going to Taikan-ten would be at the top of my list that time of year.

 

[hemmy]

If you have time, I recommend getting out to the countryside and also seeing a Shinto shrine complex. We ate cold soba noodles at a restaurant next to a buckwheat field about 10 yrs ago and I can still taste them. We went to Nikki-Toshogu shrine complex which was beautiful and serene. But I heard it can be real crowded. We went while tourism was still low after Fukushima. We also went to a satsuki bonsai nursery near Kanuma (one area where Kanuma and akadama are mined).

Also look for some old, large cryptomeria trees and gingko trees. They can be impressive.