Strolling Bonsai Village and Museum visit

Omiya Bonsai Cooperative presents

Details

Location: Kita-ku, Saitama
At one of six bonsai historical Omiya bonsai gardens
2.0 hours total
15 people max
Group Experience
Offered in Japanese, with friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in English (French/German/Spanish interpretation may be available upon request)

The birthplace of modern bonsai

Despite bonsai’s centuries of history and aesthetic importance, bonsai culture suffered severely during World War II, with countless prominent bonsai trees destroyed by fire, caretaking prohibited barring rare exceptions, and effort focused on daily survival rather than cultivation. Postwar revival of this revered botanical and spiritual practice originated at the Omiya Bonsai Village, where the creation of the Omiya Bonsai Association not only sparked renewed interest in the art, but also led to the nationwide creation of the Nippon Bonsai Association.

About the Omiya Bonsai Village

The Omiya Bonsai Village itself was founded before the war by a coalition of bonsai gardeners searching for a prime location around Tokyo to establish their nurseries. A modern beacon for bonsai enthusiasts, the village draws visitors from all over the world with its collection of artful masterpieces and living cultural heritage. Each garden in the village is run by a different family of masters, who pursue and perfect their own style of cultivation. Formed in 1925 following the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1925, Omiya was selected due to the areas pristine water and good soil, essential for cultivating healthy bonsai.