Japan’s Best Bonsai Gardens in 2024

Each year, we operate a tour of Japan’s finest bonsai gardens and nurseries, culminating in a visit to the Kokufu-ten Japanese National Bonsai Exhibition.

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Bonsai tours to Japan

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[Music] so today I am down at kto station getting ready to pick up our tour group for our annual KOC Fu 10 tour which usually starts down here in Kyoto and then makes its way up to Tokyo at the end so this year we have 33 people from a half a dozen countries around the world I think I’ve met maybe about half of the people in this group so uh it’s going to be an interesting group to be hanging out with super excited to meet everybody so I’m going to head over to the hotel pick everybody up and we’re going to spend the first day here in kyotto checking out an amazing bonai collection and then checking out some sightseeing spots as well so let’s head over to the hotel pick everybody up and get the show on the road [Music] the first stop on our tour was hosun in which is a small subtle of the larger daokui Temple complex in Northern Kyoto it’s home to one of the best public bonai collections in all of Japan and this project is the recent brainchild of the head monk of hunin along with a famous bonai collector in Kyoto as well as s Cube up in saitama we like to bring bring our tour participants here first because of the wow factor with the incredible bonai on display the next stock was nio Castle located in central kyotto this was built in 1603 as the official kilo residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun yasu it was completed in 1626 by his grandson e mitsu and the castle served as the shogun’s residence in Kyoto where he would reside whenever he visited the imperial [Music] capital the castle is renowned for its architecture Gardens and historical significance it consists of two concentric rings of fortifications the nomu palace and the H modu Palace as well as several Gardens the nomu palace is especially famous for its nighting Gale floors which squeak when walked upon to alert intruders nio Castle played a significant role in Japanese history particularly during the Edo period when it was a symbol of the shogunate’s authority over Japan after the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate it became an Imperial Palace before eventually being open to the public as a historic site today nio Castle is a UNESCO world heritage site and a popular tourist destination offering visitors a glimpse into Japan’s feudal past Yin Kakui also known as the Silver Pavilion was originally built in 1482 by ashikaga yoshimasa the eighth Shogun of the ashikaga Shogun [Music] it the Temple’s main hall the silver Pavilion was modeled after the golden Pavilion King Kakui which was built by yoshim masa’s grandfather ashikaga yoshimitsu despite its name though the silver Pavilion was never actually covered in silver after yoshim masa’s death The Villa was converted into a Zen temple and renamed gishi the Temple’s grounds include a beautiful sand garden known as the sea of silver sand and a moss garden with a unique cone-shaped structure called the moon viewing platform [Music] gin Kakui is renowned for its simple yet elegant design blending traditional Japanese architecture with elements of the natural landscape it is considered a masterpiece of the higashiyama or Eastern Mountain culture of the muromachi period and is designated as a UNESCO world heritage site [Music] yanji is a Zen temple located in the Northwest part of Kyoto just at the base of kinugasa mountain it’s renowned for its famous rock garden or kardis Sansui which is a dry landscape Garden considered one of Japan’s finest examples of Zen temple Gardens one interesting fact about the dry landscape Garden at dangi is that from any given View at least one stone is left invisible to the [Music] viewer King Kakui also known as the golden Pavilion is another Zen buddist temple located in the northwest corner of Kyoto it was originally built in 1397 as a retirement Villa for ashikaga yoshimitsu after yoshimitsu’s death in 1408 The Villa was converted into a Zen Temple according to his will the Temple’s main hall the golden Pavilion is covered in Gold Leaf giving it a stunning appearance that reflects in the pond just in front of [Music] it located on the grounds at King Kakui is this massive Japanese White Pine reported to be over 600 years old and was originally built as a bonide before being planted in the ground on the king Kakui property [Music] ten Yuji is a historic temple on the western side of kilo in the arashiyama district it was established in 1339 by the ruling Shogun ashikaga takuji in memory of emperor gigo [Music] one of the most famous features of ten Yuji is its Garden which is considered one of the finest examples of a traditional Japanese garden of its time designed by the famous garden designer muso SOI the garden features a pond surrounded by rocks Pines and Maples creating a tranquil and picturesque landscape just across from the pond is the arashiyama mountain which is used as borrowed scenery or Shake bringing the landscape together together guys enjoying the place pretty awesome huh week early for the for the beautiful almost In Bloom so impressive [Music] [Music] [Music] or COI sounds so is not a temple but a villa and Garden in the arashiyama district it was the former residence of the famous Japanese actor okoi denjo okoi sanso was constructed over a 30-year period starting in 1929 and was completed in 1962 the year of oki’s death The Villa and garden are situated on the slopes of Mount ogura in the arashiyama district of Kyoto offering stunning views of the City and surrounding mountains the garden features traditional Japanese Landscaping including ponds Stone Bridges and tea houses all designed to harmonized with the natural beauty of the area after oki’s death The Villa was open to the public as a museum allowing visitors to explore the beautiful gardens and experience the life of a famous Japanese actor [Music] the toil Bridge also located in the cic arama district has a history dating back to the hon period the original Bridge was built in the 9th century and its name which translates to Moon crossing bridge is said to have been inspired by a poem by the famous poet and Aristocrat tachibana nooshin the current bridge made of concrete was constructed in 1934 and renovated again in 1952 and 2004 to ensure its structural integrity and preserve its hisor iCal significance [Music] [Music] all right guys we are up in Tokyo right now to attend the koku fu 10 so this is Japan’s national bonai exhibition and kind of the main draw for our tour at this time of year so we’re actually going to be going over to the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art for the last day of the first half of the show so every year they do a double showing this is kind of a newer thing that the Japanese Bai Association has been doing over the last few years in the past it would be a single show per year and then on the 10th anniversary they would do a double showing well recently they switched that up to do a double show every year which means 100% of the trees get switched out so we’re going to check out the last day of the first half today then we’re going to go out and check out some gardens around saitama and Tokyo over the next couple of days and then we’re going to attend the first day of the last half of the koca food so it’s always a crapshoot as to whether or not the quality is consistent from the first half to the second half so I’ll be curious to see what it’s like this year but let’s head over to the hotel pick everybody up and go check out the best Bonsai exhibition in the world [Music] the kok futem Bonsai exhibition is one of the oldest and most prestigious Bonsai exhibitions in Japan it was first held in Tokyo in 1934 and was originally organized by the neon Bonsai Association the exhibition quickly gained recognition for its high standards and became an annual event showcasing some of the finest bonai specimens in Japan during World War II the exhibition was temporarily suspended but resumed in 1947 after the war ended since then the kokua exhibition has been held every year except for a few occasions when it was canceled due to natural disasters or other unforeseen circumstances the exhibition has played a crucial role in promoting the art of bonsai both within Japan and internationally it has helped to preserve and Advance the techniques and traditions of bonsai cultivation while also inspiring Bonsai enthusiasts around the world to pursue excellence in their Bonsai creations [Music] in its current form each year the koca fu 10 is a double show meaning that around 200 bonai are put on display for the first half of the show they’re then switched out during an intermediary period and another 200 or so bonai are then put on display so patrons from around the world can view some of the best bonai over the course of nearly 2 weeks at the Tokyo tow or Metropolitan Museum of of Art in the weno district of Tokyo [Music] [Music] [Music] nah [Music] [Music] he [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] n [Music] [Music] okay [Music] [Applause] [Music] So today we’re actually going to be getting on a coach bus that we’ve rented for the group and we’re going to head over to an area outside of Tokyo called hanu to a very famous garden called Ute which is run by the group called SQ maybe many of you guys are familiar with their work you see them online all the time very beautiful trees a very interesting and unique aesthetic and as a matter of fact the garden that we went to see down in Kyoto at D toi at the hosun in subtle where the bonai are on display that was actually designed and built and is maintained by the guys from SQ so there’s a lot of crossover in terms of Aesthetics between there and their Garden here in Tokyo so I’m going to head over to the hotel we’re going to pick everybody up we’ll spend the morning there and then this afternoon we’re going to be heading to another special Garden back inside of Tokyo City so let’s get started for the [Music] day the garden that we visited is referred to as Uchi but more popularly it’s known as SC Cube which is the brainchild of s morimi and two other Japanese volti professionals the garden’s atmosphere is very similar to that of the public Bai display at hunin down in Kyoto that’s of course because SQ manages and helped build the garden down at hosun e so there’s a lot of crossover aesthetically as well as with the style of trees that are on display at hunin one interesting aspect of SC Cube or the uchu Garden in hanu is that the bonide that are available for sale and most of the trees that you see here are for sale are extremely inexpensive compared to many other Gardens but the quality of the trees is rather high so unfortunately our tour members being mostly from the United States and from other parts around the world where importation of plant material is nearly impossible weren’t able to actually purchase any of these trees but the the sui and pots of course were up for grabs and we did spend several hours here so that our tour participants could pick out exactly what they wanted to bring back to their home countries [Music] oh [Music] [Music] shunkaen Bonsai Museum located in the edogawa district of Tokyo is a renowned Bonsai Museum and garden founded by Bonsai Master kunio Kobayashi it was established in 2002 and quickly gained recognition for its stunning collection of bonsai as well as its beautiful garden and traditional Japanese tea house and this team very strong very strong and this Jer like two people dancing here you know B yeah one people and one the museum showcases a wide variety of bonai styles and species ranging from classic Pine and maple trees to more unusual varieties [Music] kobashi’s approach to bonai emphasizes a balance between traditional bonai techniques and Innovative Design Concepts he is known for his use of unconventional materials and techniques to create bonide that are both beautiful and [Music] unique shuna and Bonsai museum has become a popular destination for Bonsai enthusiasts and tourists alike offering a glimpse into the world of Japanese bonai Artistry Mr kobayashi’s work has helped to elevate the status of bonsai as a respected art form and has inspired a new generation of bonai artists from around the world car Dron a dragon a Chinese dragon prior to [Music] h [Music] [Applause] [Music] then we also have my teacher books this is his latest book uh it basically has his whole life about Bonsai his 50 plus years about Bonsai and it has his philosophy about Bonsai um beautiful pictures of bonsai his most famous trees like this one right here um oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] masahiko Kimura is of course the legendary bonai Master known for his Innovative and daring approach to bonai art [Music] Mr Kimura began studying bonai at a very young age and quickly developed a unique style that pushed the boundaries of traditional bonai techniques he gained International recognition in the 1980s and 90s through his participation in prestigious bonai exhibitions and demonstrations around the world he became known for his bold and dramatic bonide Creations which often featured unconventional Style such as Twisted trunks dramatic bends and intricate Deadwood designs Mr kimura’s work has been influential in the Bonsai World inspiring many Bonsai artists to think creatively and experiment with new techniques today Mr Kimura continues to be a prominent figure in the bonai community known for his passion for Bonsai and his dedication to pushing the boundaries of the art form his work is celebrated for its artistic vision technical skill and emotional impact making him one of the most respected multim masters of his [Music] generation Mon and bonai Garden located in the omia bonai village is one of the oldest and most prestigious bonai nurseries in the world it was founded in 1922 and has been operated by the Kato family for four generations the omia Bonsai village located in saitama prefecture is a historic and renowned Center for Bonsai cultivation and Artistry it was established in the early 1920s by a group of bonsai enthusiasts who wanted to create a community dedicated to the art of bonai the village quickly grew to become the largest bonai production Center in Japan with numerous nurseries and workshops specializing in bonai cultivation located within the omia Bonsai Village is the omia Bonsai Museum officially known as the omia bonai art museum it was established in 2010 as a dedicated space to showcase the art and history of bonai the museum houses a diverse collection of bonai including some of the finest and most historically significant specimens in Japan many of these trees were originally part of the Takagi Bonsai collection which was a private collection owned by Mr Takagi within Tokyo upon his death and the founding of the omia Bonsai Museum the city of omia in saitama purchased the trees from the Takagi family and of course because they were a wealthy family and because this was public money going to an already wealthy family there was a little bit of a scandal around the acquisition of these trees in any case the plants that are on display are some of the most beautiful and most famous trees in the entire [Music] country we also had an excellent opportunity to hear a lecture on deciduous trees from the world-renowned Hiroshi takayama who is a prominent figure in the bonai world and the owner of fuyo and bonai Garden located within the omia bonai village Mr takayama prepared a lecture on properly building hokchi or broom styled zova which I think for everyone in the group myself included was a very interesting subject to learn about and something that is very difficult to actually do in practice is so to see many of these trees in different stages of development from beginning to end was very powerful and very [Music] informative for the final day of the tour the group returned to the second half of the koku 10 and of course during the intermediary period all of the trees had been switched out so it was as if we were seeing an entire early new exhibition now one comment I would make about the exhibition this year and it’s actually very similar to last year’s show is that there was quite a bit of variation in terms of quality from the first half to the second half meaning that the first half in my opinion was a little bit lackluster in terms of quality whereas the second half of the exhibition looked like what I would expect the koku to look like meaning the best quality trees on the best quality stands and the best presentation possible now I’m not quite sure why it was so disperate last year and this year from the first half to the second half but in any case that was what happened now I will say that it’s not that the trees in the first half were bad it’s just comparatively they weren’t as good as the second half another thing that I think a lot of us in the group noticed was that the first half of the show had an overabundance of juniper bonai whereas the second half was much more diverse in the species range on dis play so each year the Japanese mulai Association tries to limit the number of certain species and bring in a wide range of other species to make it more interesting for the viewership but for some reason the first half was overly full of shimpaku juniverse now that being said a lot of those trees in the first half were in incredibly spectacular trees so they were very impressive but to see that many junipers on display and I would guess probably close to 20% of the trees in the first half of the show were junipers was a bit overwhelming and a bit [Music] repetitive the fine ramification on some of the deciduous trees in the second half of the Koka Fu was absolutely spectacular and mindblowing uh one of the trees that won the koku award in the second half was this Cardin or Chinese Quint and this tree actually was in the larger tree section of the show but it was a bit closer to a medium-sized Tree in size uh however the ramification on the tree was spectacular and a very rare thing to see on a Chinese Quint so there are actually a couple of different cultivars of Chinese Quints you have what’s called Gardine and to cardine in Japanese one of which has a small Leaf the other has a larger Leaf so When selecting material for Chinese Quint to build out as bonide you want to make sure that you’re selecting the small Leaf size and this is true across the board with all deciduous trees but very specifically when it comes to Chinese Quints uh it’s very difficult to get them to ramify anyway so to see such a small tree with so much ramification was spectacular and there were several larger specimens as well that had incredible ramification too so I certainly want to point those out to you guys as you watch this episode [Music] this ioy gawa Shin paku Juniper here was another kfu Award winner this year I actually spoke to the owner of the tree or rather the owner’s daughter who happened to be there at the show turns out that her father has been displaying Bon the koca fu for well over a decade and this is actually his second Koka Fu award so he won it last year as well and won it this year again so she she was very excited to be there and uh really spent some time talking to a lot of the folks in our group uh explaining a little bit about the history of the tree [Music] [Music] this un assuming Japanese White Pine was actually my personal favorite tree in the entire exhibition the trunk is actually very reminiscent of some of our Ponderosa Pines here in the United States but of course it’s a Japanese White Pine so it had very small foliage one interesting thing on observation of this tree was that the branches were actually likely grafted on the tree the foliage isn’t really a natural foliage you would find on a specimen collected and obviously this is a collected tree with the trunk like that so to me the look of the foliage and the fact that the branches were uh very young in comparison to the trunk was an indication that the tree was likely grafted but with another 15 or 20 years of development this tree is going to be an absolutely incredible plant so I might very well see if I can figure out the owner of the tree how to contact that person and hopefully maybe acquire this tree for our collection at as [Music] kilo the chuin or mediumsized tree area which is located on the second floor at the Museum was also significantly better in the second half versus the first half the ramification the attention to detail the setups of the displays I think overall made the second half significantly more impactful than the first half [Music] [Music] [Music] Additionally the Shen displays in the second half had a much more impressive feeling to them the quality of the individual tray was on point and the overall setups of the displays were absolutely fantastic now this area of the show is typically the smallest and most Limited in terms of the number of displays and the number of trees uh so quite often people will kind of Overlook it and especially being at the very end of the exhibition after having gone through uh and seen everything else in the show your brain is essentially fried from looking at so many amazing trees it’s kind of hard to take in uh the Shen trees at the end but in any case the second half was certainly better than the first half [Music] [Music] so overall this year’s tour went spectacularly smoothly so I want to give a shout out to everybody who is on the tour for making it such a fun time and for helping me out as the only person running the tours during the day of course my wife was helping behind the scenes but uh I was the only one actually interacting with the folks on the tour so they did a great job following directions always being on time uh and just making everything run very smoothly so we’re already looking forward to running our Koka Fu tour in February of 2025 so if any of you guys are interested in signing up for that we will be putting out information on our website probably Midsummer this year for signups so certainly be on the lookout for that but with all of that said thank you guys so much for checking out this episode look forward to seeing all of you next time around and until then take care [Music] [Music]