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.