Experience Bonsai at the Bonsai Museum

Explore the Omiya Bonsai Museum and Bonsai Village, including a Collection Gallery, Bonsai Garden, and Bonsai Terrace. Learn about Bonsai culture through monthly displays of bonsai pots, stones, and seasonal Bonsai. See 60 seasonal Bonsai trees outside, some of which can be viewed from all angles and photographed. After the museum, take a leisurely stroll through the peaceful Bonsai village and visit the 5 Bonsai gardens, where staff will explain how to care for Bonsai.

Bonsai classes for beginners are also available with prior reservation.

Itinerary

This tour begins at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, a 15-minute walk from Toro Station, which comprises a Collection Gallery, Bonsai Garden, and Bonsai Terrace on the 2nd floor.

The Collection Gallery introduces Bonsai culture through monthly displays of bonsai pots, stones, pictures, and representative Bonsai, while the Bonsai Garden showcases approximately 60 seasonal Bonsai trees outside.

Visitors can capture a full view of the garden from the 2nd floor terrace.

Admission fees are 300 yen for adults and 150 yen for high school students, university students, and those aged 65 and over.

Next, the tour stops at the peaceful residential area of Omiya Bonsai Village, where visitors can admire the beautiful gardens of the houses, including neatly maintained pine trees and flower trees.

There are five Bonsai gardens, where Bonsai are created by each owner, displayed inside, and sold.

Staff members will provide information on how to care for Bonsai, and some gardens offer periodic Bonsai classes for beginners, with prior reservation required.

Note that photography and touching Bonsai are not allowed.

The tour concludes at the Seiko-en Bonsai Garden, which was founded during the Edo era and features traditional and new-style Bonsai.

Bonsai classes for beginners are available, with prior reservation required, and tuition fees starting at 5,000 yen (additional fees apply for English-speaking classes).

Seedlings and pots are available for purchase, with prices starting at 500 yen and 1,000 yen, respectively.

The duration of the class is approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.

Key Takeaways

The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is a must-visit destination for Bonsai and Japanese garden lovers.

The museum features a Collection Gallery, Bonsai Garden, and Bonsai Terrace on the second floor, and admission fees are 300 yen for adults and 150 yen for students and seniors.

The Bonsai Village is a calm residential area that surrounds the museum, and it is a great place to see pretty gardens and Bonsai trees that are created, displayed, and sold by each owner.

There are five Bonsai gardens in the Bonsai Village, where Bonsai classes are held periodically for beginners, and the staff can teach visitors how to take care of their favorite Bonsai trees.

Seiko-en Bonsai Garden is a traditional Bonsai garden that offers classes for beginners at a tuition fee of 5000 yen or more. The duration of the class is 1 to 1.5 hours.

The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with serious medical conditions, and participants should have a moderate physical fitness level.

Related Read: Exploring the Art of Japanese Bonsai: Cultivating Miniature Beauty