Precious bonsai at the Saitama City Omiya Bonsai Museum of Art

Hello, I am SK8, a bonsai enthusiast.

Bonsai are living art pieces that you can enjoy easily in small spaces such as narrow Japanese residences.

Even though the bonsai itself is small enough to hold in your hand, depending on the angle, it could look like a big tree that has a magnificence to it.

The holy ground of bonsai is here in Omiya, Saitama Prefecture. It is called “Omiya Bonsai Village”.

About 100 years ago, Tokyo’s bonsai artisans moved as a group to this place, which is near Omiya Park, to create a village for bonsai and seeked quality soil, clean water, and rich nature.

In its heyday there were nearly 30 bonsai gardens, but now only 6 are still in operation, and various bonsai with particular characteristics are bred in each garden. You can visit each one for free.

Today I will introduce the Omiya Bonsai Museum, in Saitama City, where many precious bonsai are on display close to the Omiya Bonsai Village.

Many precious bonsai are displayed at this Bonsai Art Museum. Some bonsai are nearly 1000 years old and the bonsai that was owned by the past prime minister is displayed here. In addition to the indoor exhibition gallery, you can also see about 60 bonsai treasures in the bonsai garden.

The image below is of “Chiyo no Matsu”, a Goyo-Matsu (Japanese white pine) Bonsai that is estimated to be around 450 years old.

It is the largest bonsai in the museum, and is 1.6 meters tall and 1.8 meters wide.

Next is the “Blue Dragon”, which is said to be older than 350 years. This work is over 1.6 meters wide, and like its name, is shaped like a horizontally twisting dragon. The tree trunk also has overwhelming power just like a dragon.

There are 6 bonsai gardens near the museum, and each one exhibits many bonsai. You can enter and leave freely, so you can appreciate the bonsai in all the parks.

People who want to know more about bonsai should come and visit “Omiya”, the sacred bonsai town.

Address　2-24-3, Torocho, Kita-ku Saitama-shi, Saitama, 331-0804, Japan
Homepage　http://www.bonsai-art-museum.jp/en/
Price　Adult : 300 yen
High school/University students and persons over 65 : 150 yenElementary School and Junior High School student : 100 yen

■Access

It is easy to get to the Bonsai Art Museum on the JR Utsunomiya Line from Omiya Station to Toro Station.

Get off at the JR Toro Station and go out the East Exit. There are pine trees growing by the roundabout so you can already feel the sacredness of this bonsai town.

Turn right at the roundabout by the East Exit.

Turn left at the next intersection.

If you walk about 200 to the right of the cleaning shop at the intersection, you will get to the Bonsai Art Museum.