What & How - 100th Kokufu-ten (8-11 & 14-18 Feb 2026)
- Thread starter leatherback
- Start date
SgtPilko
Shohin
The 100th edition will be incredible.
For those in UK/Europe I know of people who've brought trees back from Japan in luggage
some sellers will also airship pots and trees in just a couple of days, extra costs but the material is already half the price and double the quality of regular imports here. Slight risk of quarantine but less so with deciduous (conifers in UK need a quarantine period)
For those in UK/Europe I know of people who've brought trees back from Japan in luggage
some sellers will also airship pots and trees in just a couple of days, extra costs but the material is already half the price and double the quality of regular imports here. Slight risk of quarantine but less so with deciduous (conifers in UK need a quarantine period)Ply
Mame
Won't customs ask questions? "Sir, on the x-ray we see what appears to be a miniature, living, yet ancient looking tree in your luggage, could you care to explain"The 100th edition will be incredible.
For those in UK/Europe I know of people who've brought trees back from Japan in luggage
I did see someone bring a small olive tree as handluggage on a flight from Greece once. Nobody, customs nor cabin crew batted an eye, so I apparently that was allowed. That was within the EU though. If I had known it was allowed I would've scoured all nurseries in the area for the nicest olive trunk lol.
SgtPilko
Shohin
Palltergeist
Seedling
SgtPilko
Shohin
It's a bit of a grey area, i.e. under the right circumstances this is a/the way, just without the markup of your local nursery.
Fair play though, I haven't done it and no encouragement here, as always the content herewith past present and future are purely for entertainment purposes and you should consult with your family physician and legal counsel and stuff
Sumimasen!Crash607
Seedling
It's a bit of a grey area, i.e. under the right circumstances this is a/the way, just without the markup of your local nursery.
Fair play though, I haven't done it and no encouragement here, as always the content herewith past present and future are purely for entertainment purposes and you should consult with your family physician and legal counsel and stuff
I’m with you. I think with certain things, the rules and regulations are way too strict. It’s like the government has left us with no other option. Like with Cuban cigars for example... Absolutely no reason for the strict laws that exist on those…
Only ethical concern I see with buying bonsai abroad is that it kind of undercuts small businesses and people local to you.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
I would encourage you to read the distribution section:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_beetle
This is what the reason for plant import & quarantine rules are. It is NOT an innocent act of defiance.
IPPC - International Plant Protection Convention
leatherback
The Treedeemer
nonsense. Every frikking country in the world has routes to legally import trees in a safe way.
In some species this may mean: Make an appointment for inspection upon arrival. In other cases it may require a 3 or 6 month quarantine either before export, or upon import.
There is a reason why trees produced in one region and sold in another are more expensive -beyond the shipping cost-. It is the cost of keeping trees for several months in a closed greenhouse including regular pest treatments.
Coppersdad
Mame
@leatherback The Green room is where they sell stuff. Only, there it's off site of the museum exhibits and is several buildings and outdoor vendors. Not to be missed. If you can take back trees... you'll likely do so.
Coppersdad
Mame
Respectfully for everyone... We know the rules here in the States are to prevent invasive species that have no natural predators here. Living in a port city as we do, there are many examples of both plant, animal and insect species that have visited here from other parts of the world and the damage they continue to cause. We look at our local forests and gardens and wish certain organisms had never given us a visit.
Yes for us tree nuts, the rules are more than annoying and importation under the rules is expensive. Yes, there are ways around them (We once tried to purchase roses from a grower in New Zealand. He advised us to have them shipped to Vancouver, BC and pick them up there. We decided not to.)
The rules are burdensome and some are just stupid. BUT they're much better than no rules at all.
Yes for us tree nuts, the rules are more than annoying and importation under the rules is expensive. Yes, there are ways around them (We once tried to purchase roses from a grower in New Zealand. He advised us to have them shipped to Vancouver, BC and pick them up there. We decided not to.)
The rules are burdensome and some are just stupid. BUT they're much better than no rules at all.
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