Ryokan Sawanoya
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[25.8 miles]
Family-run ryokan (traditional inn), providing tradition on a budget in Tokyo’s old Yanaka neighbourhood.
Official star rating:
Bucket list experience:
Bonsai trees in Omiya
Saitama, Kanto, Japan
Last updated: 19 November, 2022
One of Japan’s most refined, traditional art forms, the growing of ornamental dwarf trees and the creation of miniature landscapes, aka bonsai, first came to Japan from China roughly 800 years ago.
Varied in appearance and symbolism, they represent the imperfection and struggle of nature. And tending to a bonsai can be a lifetime’s pursuit.
For bonsai buffs, or to simply understand more about this fascinating tradition, a day trip north of Tokyo to the Omiya ‘Bonsai Village’ in the neighbouring city of Saitama is well worth adding to your itinerary. There are half a dozen nurseries there open to the public, as well as a dedicated bonsai museum – the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum.
Just take plenty of cash if you feel like buying one – the most expensive on record, reportedly close to 800 years old, sold for more than a million dollars, and it’s not uncommon to see prices at nurseries hit the 10,000-dollar mark.
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Destination Guide >Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 8+
Frequency: annually
When: March, May and Sept
Duration: 2-3 hours
Getting there & doing it
Omiya, a district within the city of neighbouring city of Saitama, is just north of Tokyo.
Getting there is quick and easy by JR trains; depending on the service, it’s 30 to 50 minutes from Tokyo and Ueno stations.
Or, if you wanted to splurge on a taste of the Bullet Train, it’s just two stops from Tokyo Station (26 mins) or one from Ueno (20 mins).
The website of the bonsai museum, the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, has some background information on bonsai trees and their art forms – worth a quick read before you go.
When to do it
Bonsai nurseries are open daily. The Bonsai Museum is open all year round, Friday to Wednesday. It’s closed on Thursday.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
BnA Studio Tokyo
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[27.7 miles]
A recently-opened boutique hotel with just 6 rooms, each a unique art installation, in a convenient location in Akihabara.
Official star rating:
Nine Hours Otemachi
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[28.5 miles]
The capsule hotel gets a slick reboot at this chain, offering smart sleeping pods in Shinjuku and elsewhere. Decent accommodation at very affordable prices.
Official star rating:
Hoshinoya Tokyo
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[29.1 miles]
A high-rise, high-end contemporary take on the traditional ryokan with a great central location.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
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Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[26.6 miles]
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Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[25.7 miles]
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Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[26.2 miles]
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Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[28.9 miles]
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