Trip to Japan

[MACH5]

Hi guys!

I'm planning a business trip to Japan in June. My company is sending me on a creative mission to gather visual inspiration, ideas, trends and such. I will be there for about 8 days. Within that period, I plan on taking time to visit several nurseries around the Tokio area. One of the ones I have on my list is Taisho-En owned by renown master Mr. Nobuichi Urushibata in Shizuoka.

I wanted to ask other BNuts that have been to Japan (or not), what are some of the must see bonsai related spots. I'd like to keep it all within an hour or two max from Tokyo. Any advice you can give me or anything else I should be aware of?

I do plan on taking many pics of my travels there and I will make sure to share them all with you guys upon my return.

Many thanks!!

 

[Poink88]

Color me green...I'm envious!

Good luck and may you find the best places (and bonsai) so you can share the pics with us. (see I always have an ulterior motive too LOL )

 

[fourteener]

This looks like a lot of good info...

http://www.bonsaiempire.com/articles/bonsai-japan

 

[tmmason10]

Wow, you are so lucky. Owen Reich might be a good contact as he should still be over there I think. He mostly is on bonsai study group forum though.

 

[johng]

I would certainly plan to visit Kunio Kobayashi's garden if possible. It is located in Tokyo and he was a very gracious host the day I visited. You might contact Peter Warren through his blog about how to get an invite or if it is even necessary to have an invite??

Kimura's garden is somewhere between Tokyo and Omiya...If I remember correctly it was about 30 minutes from our hotel to Mr. Kimura's garden and then about another 30 min. to Omiya.

I also believe there to be a nice bonsai shop in the ginza shopping area of Tokyo...just don't recall the name... s-cube maybe??? here is a link.. http://www.bonsaiempire.com/articles/bonsai-japan/morimae-ginza

Hope that helps...have a great time! Watch the subways if you travel late at night...sometimes train rides end unexpectedly
John

 

[jk_lewis]

And for pots, tools, books and magazines (in Japanese, of course) don't forget the Tokyo Green Club near Ueno Park and Shrine. There's usually a small show there on weekends.

 

[Bill S]

Wow, you are so lucky. Owen Reich might be a good contact as he should still be over there I think. He mostly is on bonsai study group forum though.

Actually today he will be in Rhode Island today,he was with our club last night. Nice guy, I am sure if you can get him an email, he will try to help you.

 

[october]

Be sure to take an empty suit case with ventilation holes. Some nice shohins out there.

Rob

 

[amkhalid]

Some simple advice:

Buy as many pots as you can afford/manage to bring back.

Oldish pots with patina are very common over there and quite cheap. When I went to visit Aichi-en in Nagoya last year I brought back 15 pots and regret not getting more. Stuff like that is hard to find here and when you can find it, it probably came from Japan so you are paying a premium.

 

[buddhamonk]

Hi guys!

I'm planning a business trip to Japan in June. My company is sending me on a creative mission to gather visual inspiration, ideas, trends and such. I will be there for about 8 days. Within that period, I plan on taking time to visit several nurseries around the Tokio area. One of the ones I have on my list is Taisho-En owned by renown master Mr. Nobuichi Urushibata in Shizuoka.

I wanted to ask other BNuts that have been to Japan (or not), what are some of the must see bonsai related spots. I'd like to keep it all within an hour or two max from Tokyo. Any advice you can give me or anything else I should be aware of?

I do plan on taking many pics of my travels there and I will make sure to share them all with you guys upon my return.

Many thanks!!

Don't know if you speak Japanese but I used this service. Basically Japanese people who just volunteer their time to be a free tour guide for the day. They'll take you anywhere you want. What they get in return is lunch and conversation in the language that they wish to learn.

I had a wonderful tour guide called Masako when we visited Mr Kimura. Turned out to be the best decision ever as we stayed over 2 hours with Mr Kimura just making conversation via the interpreter/tour guide.

http://www.tokyofreeguide.com/

 

[buddhamonk]

Some simple advice:

Buy as many pots as you can afford/manage to bring back.

Oldish pots with patina are very common over there and quite cheap. When I went to visit Aichi-en in Nagoya last year I brought back 15 pots and regret not getting more. Stuff like that is hard to find here and when you can find it, it probably came from Japan so you are paying a premium.

I'll second that thought. I brought back a bunch of tools and not very many pots. What a mistake. Buy lots of pots. Everything else you can find here.

 

[MACH5]

Color me green...I'm envious!

Good luck and may you find the best places (and bonsai) so you can share the pics with us. (see I always have an ulterior motive too LOL )

No worries Dario sometimes I do too! I'll make sure to take a ton of pics and share them all with you guys upon my return.

This looks like a lot of good info...

http://www.bonsaiempire.com/articles/bonsai-japan

Thanks! I will take a look for sure!

Wow, you are so lucky. Owen Reich might be a good contact as he should still be over there I think. He mostly is on bonsai study group forum though.

Yes great idea! I will see if I can contact him and /or Bjorn. Those guys are something else!

I would certainly plan to visit Kunio Kobayashi's garden if possible. It is located in Tokyo and he was a very gracious host the day I visited. You might contact Peter Warren through his blog about how to get an invite or if it is even necessary to have an invite??

Kimura's garden is somewhere between Tokyo and Omiya...If I remember correctly it was about 30 minutes from our hotel to Mr. Kimura's garden and then about another 30 min. to Omiya.

I also believe there to be a nice bonsai shop in the ginza shopping area of Tokyo...just don't recall the name... s-cube maybe??? here is a link.. http://www.bonsaiempire.com/articles/bonsai-japan/morimae-ginza

Hope that helps...have a great time! Watch the subways if you travel late at night...sometimes train rides end unexpectedly
John

Thanks John! This is very helpful! Would love to visit Kimura but can you just drop by without a contact?

What's the best mode of transportation? Subways? Is it difficult to travel around and find your way without knowing the language?

And for pots, tools, books and magazines (in Japanese, of course) don't forget the Tokyo Green Club near Ueno Park and Shrine. There's usually a small show there on weekends.

Ah yes! The famed green club!! Is it on a permanent location and does it operate every day of the week?

Actually today he will be in Rhode Island today,he was with our club last night. Nice guy, I am sure if you can get him an email, he will try to help you.

Thanks Bill. I will definitely try him!

Be sure to take an empty suit case with ventilation holes. Some nice shohins out there.

Rob

Haha, I love how your evil mind works!! I only wish!

Some simple advice:

Buy as many pots as you can afford/manage to bring back.

Oldish pots with patina are very common over there and quite cheap. When I went to visit Aichi-en in Nagoya last year I brought back 15 pots and regret not getting more. Stuff like that is hard to find here and when you can find it, it probably came from Japan so you are paying a premium.

Thank you for the advice. I will try and remember this! I could buy them and have the hotel ship them out for me perhaps.

Don't know if you speak Japanese but I used this service. Basically Japanese people who just volunteer their time to be a free tour guide for the day. They'll take you anywhere you want. What they get in return is lunch and conversation in the language that they wish to learn.

I had a wonderful tour guide called Masako when we visited Mr Kimura. Turned out to be the best decision ever as we stayed over 2 hours with Mr Kimura just making conversation via the interpreter/tour guide.

http://www.tokyofreeguide.com/

I'll second that thought. I brought back a bunch of tools and not very many pots. What a mistake. Buy lots of pots. Everything else you can find here.

WOW! What a wonderful idea!! I think I will definitely look into this for sure. And yes I will try to get as much as I can afford specially pots.

Your visit with Kimura must have been incredible to say the least yes?

 

[buddhamonk]

Your visit with Kimura must have been incredible to say the least yes?

Another idea:

Bring your kimura books (if you have any) and get them signed

 

[MACH5]

Awesome pic! Yes another great idea! I do have a book of his and may even buy a couple others and bring them with me.

 

[jk_lewis]

Ah yes! The famed green club!! Is it on a permanent location and does it operate every day of the week?

Yes and yes. Store on ground floor and grounds and display areas and office on upper floors. And they ship pots -- and the pots get here in one piece!!!!!! The large Japanese Department Stores (Ginza and elsewhere) also sell bonsai and supplies. Top floor and roof.

 

[james]

Japan Trip

Wow, you are so lucky. Owen Reich might be a good contact as he should still be over there I think. He mostly is on bonsai study group forum though.

Hi All, this is Owen Reich. I jumped on here at the request of a client who is active here. I hope to follow this forum more in the future .

As far as a trip to Japan is concerned, Taisho-en would be a nice stop. I'd also recommend Shunka-en (Kobaiashi-san's garden) and a targeted trip to Omiya. The latter as there are a number of bonsai gardens there and if you don't have a plan of attack, you'd burn up some time . I'd suggest watching the "Visit Japan" campaign YouTube videos on Omiya Bonsai Village. As a bonus, there is a hot Geisha girl strolling though many of the shots.

Kimura-san's garden is open by appointment only so you'd need to set that up with someone other than me. There a number of other bonsai gardens in striking distance of you, but I'd need to know what types of styles / species you're into to assist further.

If you have $1000 saved for the trip (for bonsai supplies), you should bring $3000

You can contact me direct on my blog www.bonsaiunearthed.com or on Facebook.

 

[tmmason10]

Hi All, this is Owen Reich. I jumped on here at the request of a client who is active here. I hope to follow this forum more in the future .

As far as a trip to Japan is concerned, Taisho-en would be a nice stop. I'd also recommend Shunka-en (Kobaiashi-san's garden) and a targeted trip to Omiya. The latter as there are a number of bonsai gardens there and if you don't have a plan of attack, you'd burn up some time . I'd suggest watching the "Visit Japan" campaign YouTube videos on Omiya Bonsai Village. As a bonus, there is a hot Geisha girl strolling though many of the shots.

Kimura-san's garden is open by appointment only so you'd need to set that up with someone other than me. There a number of other bonsai gardens in striking distance of you, but I'd need to know what types of styles / species you're into to assist further.

If you have $1000 saved for the trip (for bonsai supplies), you should bring $3000

You can contact me direct on my blog www.bonsaiunearthed.com or on Facebook.

Welcome to the forum Owen.