Fun at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum!

What to Do at the Museum

The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum hosts a variety of events, activities, and special exhibitions throughout the year catering to different audiences, from curious children to knowledgeable bonsai aficionados. Some events are offered in English.

Special displays at the Museum include the Bonsai Cultural Exhibition for Kids, timed for the summer holidays. Panel displays in both English and Japanese present a fun and easy-to-understand introduction to bonsai culture and its 1,000-year-plus history. Other special exhibitions introduce themes such as bonseki (miniature landscapes created with stones and white sand).

Opportunities for hands-on learning include a regular Bonsai Workshop for beginners, held once a month. The workshop introduces cultivation basics and gives participants the chance to create a seasonal bonsai of their own. A simplified kids’ version offers the same workshop for children of elementary and junior high school age. Committed enthusiasts can sign up for more in-depth classes taught by experts from the various Omiya Bonsai Village nurseries. Workshops and classes are given in Japanese, with English-language interpretation available.

A highlight of the annual program is “Yukata de Bonbi.” From mid-July to the end of August, visitors wearing traditional Japanese dress are given free admission to the museum. Yukata robes can be rented, but even visitors who do not dress up will enjoy the atmosphere. “Yukata de Bonbi” also includes, on one day, a recital of classical music.

Guided Tours

The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is offering guided English-language tours every Monday.

Many museums in the Tokyo region are closed on Mondays, but the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is open. Under the banner of “Welcome Mondays,” knowledgeable volunteers introduce the museum’s exhibits along a route taking in the Collection Gallery; the zashiki-kazari exhibit of bonsai displayed in traditional Japanese-style rooms; and the Bonsai Garden.

Tours are offered on an on-demand basis between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., with a maximum capacity of 20 visitors per guide (for group visits, please make reservations by the 15th of the preceding month). “Welcome Mondays” guided tours are offered at no additional charge; simply purchase a regular museum admission ticket.

This English-language text was created by Japan Tourism Agency.