Kokufu 2012 and what else do you recommend to do and see in Japan?

yenling83

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I've been saving my pennies for a trip to Japan and am aiming for a trip in 2012 for Kokufu I have several things I would like to do related to Bonsai, however I would like to go with my longtime girlfriend-who does not dislike Bonsai, but I would feel bad if it was 100% Bonsai related.

Was wondering

1. What non Bonsai related things do you recommend to do and see?

2. Where might there be good shopping for my girlfriend?

3. What do you reccommend to do and see that is Bonsai related?

Thank you so much for any feedback.
 
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fredtruck

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A few suggestions:

1: The monastery at Kit Kamakura.
The huge bronze Kamakura Buddha.
Everything in Kyoto.

2. Tokyo has tons of shopping. The best I think is in the international section...

3. Omiya Bonsai Village.
 

jk_lewis

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The Green Club near Ueno park and shrine. That is the center for bonsai in Tokyo. There's somehing going on almost evey weekend and an excellent on-site shop.
 

yenling83

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Thank you guys so much, I want to see everything both of you mentioned. Please keep this coming.

I'm curious I know the Kokufu is Feb of each year. But what are the other big shows during the, when are they and can anyone attend?
 

yenling83

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There are no other major exhibits at the time of Kokufu ten in Feb but there are other major exhibits during the year. There are a ton of bonsai related places to visit in Japan - you just have to know where to look.
Here is a good resource:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-812.pdf

john romano

Oh I meant what are the other major shows throughout the year? They don't have to be during Feb. Reason I ask is because looks like Feb might be a difficult time to take off.
 
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In that link, most of them are listed:
Besides Kokufu ten, other major exhbiits are:
Taikan ten is in Kyoto every November (this year the week of the 20th)
Gafu ten is the major shohin bonsai exhibition in Kyoto also and that is in January (usually starts the first weekend after New Year)
Sakufu ten (the Professional Creators Exhibition) is also in January.
there is another good shohin bonsai show in Kyoto every October, Koju ten.
Shizuoka also has a nice annual show.
You can also get good exhibition info here:
http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~masumi-t/0index.html
There are also various satsuki azalea shows in the spring but I don't have specific info.
If you wanted to pay for a personal tour, get in touch with Yoshi Nakamizu in Saitama Japan. He has a bonsai travel service. You can find his contact info here:
http://www.j-bonsai.com/

Good luck,
John
 

Bill S

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Yenling have you checked with Bill Valvanis to see if his trips fit your bill?? Hear tell he runs good trips.
 
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Bill,
You are right.
this I forgot. Bill has a great tour - usually every Feb for Kokufu ten and every Nov for Taikan ten.
I went twice with Bill and both times were excellent.
I have a small group I am taking next month (through New England Bonsai) for Taikan ten, etc.
You can email Bill for info.
John
 

kakejiku

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The Gotou Museum

Yenling San:

I would highly recommend going to the http://www.gotoh-museum.or.jp Sorry site is in Japanese....

I went on the recommendation of a potential supplier that I visited that was a 10 minute walk away.
I visited an exhibit on the Matsudaira Clan and their family artwork. Primarily scrolls and calligraphy. They change exhibits about 7 x each year.

However, they also have some beautiful ancient trees and a garden with an assortment of statuary.

I believe the museum entrance fee was about JPY1,000.
It is about a 5 minute walk from the Kaminoge Station on the Ooimachi line run by the Tokkyu train company.
Address is: 3-9-25 Kaminoge Setagaya Ku Postal Code is 158-8510
Telephone is 03-5777-8600

Hope this is helpful.

Jonathan Maples
 
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Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, the usual place for Kokufu-ten,
will be closed for 2 years for repairs.

And Kokufu-ten 2011 and 2012 will be held at
Tokyo Industrial Trade Center Taitou-kan in Asakusa.

http://www.sanbo.metro.tokyo.jp/tai/index.html
http://www.google.co.jp/maps?f=q&so...139.800038&spn=0.010453,0.017166&z=15&iwloc=A


1. What non Bonsai related things do you recommend to do and see?

Asakusa is one of typical sightseeing areas for foreign visitors and
going to Kokufu-ten automatically takes you to the neighborhood of
Senso-ji Buddhist temple.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensō-ji

The Tokyo Sky Tree (now under construction) may be also in your sight.

http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/english/

On the opposite side of River Sumida from the subway Asakusa station,
there is a main office of Asahi Breweries, LTD..

Next to the office bulding is Asahi’s Super Dry Hall
with a French product designer Philippe Starck’s objet “flamme d'or” on top.

Because of the color and shape of the objet,
Super Dry Hall is often nicknamed as “Unko Biru (poo bulding)”.

http://www.asahibeer.co.jp/english/
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ファイル:Asahi_beer02s3872.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Starck


2. Where might there be good shopping for my girlfriend?

Difficult to say.

That depends on your girlfriend’s preference.


3. What do you reccommend to do and see that is Bonsai related?

The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum.

http://www.bonsai-art-museum.jp/english/index.php


I want to recommend Asakura Chouso Kan, too,
but I am afraid it is closed until 2013 for repairs.

Asakura Chouso Kan was the atelier and residence of a
Japanese sculptor Asakura Fumio.

Asakura had a liking for horticulture and
it was one of compulsory subjects at his art school.

Without him, it was impossible to hold Kokufu-ten at an art museum
because there was a strong protest from the Japanese art world
against holding a bonsai exhibition at an art museum.

http://www.taitocity.net/taito/asakura/
(Japanese only)
 

jk_lewis

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In Tokyo, your girlfriend will want to shop at the Ginza. Go to one of the major department stores. Even Harrods in London cannot compare!!!

Be certain to buy a Japan RailPass. You must order these over here before you go. They cannot be purchased in Japan. Passes get you on the bullet trains, local trains, subways, streetcars, etc. The BEST thing you can have.

There are some nice gardens around the Impreial Palace in Tokyo. Yasukuni Shrine and Meiji Shrines along with Ueno shrine are good visits with nice gardens. They may be an ikebana display or even a bonsai display at Ueno. There a Huge Azalea show there every spring. The Tokyo Green Club is nearby (see above).

Here is a useful site: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3005.html
 

buddhamonk

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that railpass costs > $400 for two weeks? Is it worth it if you only visit 2-3 cities in Japan?
 

kakejiku

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that railpass costs > $400 for two weeks? Is it worth it if you only visit 2-3 cities in Japan?

Depends on how far apart the cities are and days of travel. If one planned to go to Tokyo and then to Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto etc. with multiple stops then it may be worth it. If travel just inside Tokyo Metro, then it may not be worth it as you alluded to above...
 

jk_lewis

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The rail pass works getting around Tokyo, too -- on subways (best in the word!) urban trains, and streetcars. It's not easy to get around without using those -- a lot. I get one on every visit -- even if I'm only going to Tokyo. Use it to go to Kamakura, Nikko, Yokohama, etc. with Tokyo as your base.

No one had mentioned Nikko yet. It is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful spots in the world -- especially around Lake chuzenzi. (sp?)
 
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No one had mentioned Nikko yet. It is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful spots in the world -- especially around Lake chuzenzi. (sp?)

You are right! Going to visit Nikko next week on my trip to Japan. We organized a small group through New England Bonsai Gardens for a bonsai and cultural adventure.
john
 

jk_lewis

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Have a great trip, John. Take some pictures. And maybe get some pics of some nice small trees for International Bonsai?????

jim
 
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thanks. I will take plenty of photo's for the shohin column.
John
 
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