What & How - 100th Kokufu-ten (8-11 & 14-18 Feb 2026)

[leatherback]

Hi All,

Now that the dates for the 100th Kokufu have been released, I am looking for some recommendations on visiting the Kokufu ten. There is a big gap of information on this show I find. How to organize a visit, what the best moment would be to go. Is there a grand opening event that one should not miss? How to get tickets. Etcetc.

Next to this, looking for input on other highlights I should not miss. (Been to the World Bonsai Convention in Saitema, then passed though omiya and Tokoname).
Note, if I go, I might travel with my wife who is absolutely not into bonsai, so other things to see would be great!

Looking forward to experiences, recommendations and general thoughts!

 

[SeanS]

Bjorn holds a tour each year if you want to go in an organised group. If not you can at least have a look at the itinerary of his tour to get an idea of what to do bonsai-wise.

(Let me know if that link doesn’t work and I’ll try post some more details)
(The link above is for the 2025 tour, no 2026 details yet)

 

[Piedmont Bonsai]

I have been to the past 2 Kokufu exhibits and have found that it can be hit or miss if the show will be very crowded or not. I'd imagine next year will be very crowded since it is the 100th show. I'm not sure if there will be a grand opening next year. This year there was no grand opening.

Tickets are very easy to purchase, you just go to the Tokyo Metropolitan Art museum in Ueno and go down an escalator to the basement area and you will see the signs for the Kokufu. You can purchase tickets there and walk into the show right away.

I've found that it is very easy to organize a trip to Tokyo and not exclusively focus on bonsai but still hit the Kokufu and other bonsai attractions nearby.
Bonsai attractions that I would definitely hit would be Shunka-en Bonsai Museum, Omiya Bonsai Museum and Village (which it sounds like you went to before) and a lesser known, but really cool bonsai garden to see is Showa Kinen Memorial Park. It is a huge park with beautiful gardens and within the larger park is a small bonsai garden with incredible trees.

For Shopping Ginza is great. They have all the high end stores and other great stores as well. Roppongi is also nice. Went to Tokyo tower this year, but couldn't go to the very top due to strong winds that day. I went to Mt. Fuji this year and that was really incredible to see, but it is a 3 hour bus ride outside of Tokyo.

If going to Kyoto, I would see Kinkaku-Ji golden temple, Ginkaku-Ji, Kiyomizu Dera, and there is a very nice bonsai garden in Kyoto called Hoshun-in within the Daitoku-ji temple

Also, nearly every restaurant in Japan is good, but If you need food recommendations I have some solid recommendations. especially if you like Ramen.

 

[Canada Bonsai]

There is a big gap of information on this show I find. How to organize a visit, what the best moment would be to go. Is there a grand opening event that one should not miss? How to get tickets.

一般社団法人 日本盆栽協会

日本盆栽協会は、盆栽芸術の普及と発展を図り、日本文化の進展に寄与するために、昭和４０年２月に発足した全国組織の盆栽愛好者の団体です。

bonsai-kyokai.or.jp

There are no advance tickets for Kokufu, although there are always tickets being passed around by bonsai nurseries leading up to the show. Whether you have one of these tickets or not, you need to stand in the same line to get in — it’s a smooth process.

The vendor area is surprisingly far from the museum when compared to other events