The Bonsai Museum or Shunkaen Bonsai Museum is located in Niihori, Edogawa City. I have heard and read about it long time before but it was only yesterday that we were able to visit it. We both don’t have work since Japan is celebrating its National Foundation Day and the accession of its first emperor. And because the weather was nice yesterday, we decided to go there by bike to enjoy the scenery.
The museum is established by a known Bonsai Sensei, Kunio Kobayashi, who has been creating bonsais for more than 30 years. Bonsai is a Japanese art form of transforming big trees and plants into miniature size and growing them in small containers.
Although the museum was located somewhere in the middle of a residential community, it was not hard to find because of the signage and bonsai displays in front of the museum gate. At that time, there weren’t many visitors that we almost have the museum for ourselves. We were also lucky to have one of Kobayashi Sensei’s apprentices to guide us around and explain the concept behind the craft.
Bonsai pine trees were placed as the main displays at the main garden. Other trees such as azaleas, cherries, camellias. and plums were scattered in the whole garden. We also went inside the museum which consists of different tea rooms highlighting important and highly-priced bonsai pieces. Most of them are more than 300 years old.
Inside the Bonsai Museum
