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Bonsai is perhaps the most well-known and treasured of Japan’s botanical beauty. What you may not realize, however, is that “bonsai” is not the name of the trees themselves, but the name of the art form of raising these miniature saplings. Bonsai trees get their size from being grown in a small container that restricts the extent to which their roots can grow.

Furthermore, this art form serves a very specific purpose that, once you better understand it, will make you a lifelong lover of bonsai. Continue reading to find out everything you need to know about the Japanese art of bonsai and how to make it a new hobby that will last a lifetime. You will also learn where to buy bonsai trees in Tokyo and about museums located in and around the capital of Japan.

We also have many other articles covering various aspects of Japanese culture such as ikebana, wadaiko, kabuki, rakugo, tea ceremony, etc. If you live in Tokyo and would like to learn calligraphy or ikebana, please check the following articles for a list of classes: "Japanese Calligraphy (Shodo) classes in Tokyo" and "Learning Ikebana: English-Speaking Ikebana Classes in Tokyo".

Benefits of Bonsai

Bonsai is intended as a meditative practice, meaning the goal is reciprocal enrichment between plant and practitioner. Bonsai offers a variety benefits to hobbyists, many of which can positively affect one’s well-being.

Great for Your Physical Health

There are indoor and outdoor bonsai. Indoor bonsai are helpful in purifying the air in your home, which can aid in reducing cold symptoms such as coughs or sore throats. Clean air also helps fight fatigue.

Bonsai Provides Mental Health Benefits, Too

Raising bonsai is not to be rushed. The constant care, trimming and use of proper water make this art form a practice in patience, and can teach the value of taking it slow from time to time. Therefore, growing bonsai can be a great stress reliever if you are on the go in your professional life.

Explore Your Creativity

We all have a general mental image of what a bonsai looks like. However, when starting to grow a new tree, there are many ways to develop your new bonsai’s aesthetics, giving you the opportunity to be as creative as your imagination will allow.

Best Types of Bonsai Trees for Beginners

Depending on your skill level, some bonsai trees are easier to maintain than others due to varying demands for care and cultivation. These plant types can be recommend to those who are new to bonsai.

Chinese Juniper Bonsai

Visually, the Chinese juniper bonsai is the most common type when you think of bonsai trees. Juniper bonsai closely resemble miniature pine trees, and tend to be dark green or blueish-green in color. These bonsai are not recommended for indoor growing.

Fig Tree (Ficus Bonsai)

Indoor bonsai have experienced a boom in popularity, and ficus bonsai trees are chief among them. There are numerous small leaf-types of ficus, most of which are great for bonsai. This particular species is versatile enough to be grown outside in full sunlight as well, making it a great option for novices.

Chinese Elm Bonsai

The Chinese Elm Bonsai is another highly versatile plant that grows extremely well in sunlight and can also endure colder winter temperatures quite handily. Its branches grow significantly faster than the trunk, so frequent pruning is necessary. The stringy roots give it an aesthetic advantage, as this makes rock planting a bit easier.

Maple Bonsai

There are over 100 species of maple trees, and nearly all can be used for bonsai. The most common of these for bonsai is the Trident maple. Recommended as an exclusively outdoor bonsai, this deciduous tree changes from a dark green color to beautiful tinges of orange and red in autumn, offering a charming amount of character to your plant garden.

Jade Bonsai

There are two species of jade bonsai; Crassula argentea and Portulacaria afra, with the latter of the two being much easier for care and maintenance, so make this your choice as a newbie to the hobby. Jade bonsai are easily recognizable by their oval-shaped leaves, as well as their trunks that change color as they age.

Styles (Shapes) of Bonsai Trees

There are many styles of bonsai trees ranging from trees growing perfectly straight or leaning to one side, to those shaped as if they grew on a steep cliff. Below is just some of the bonsai styles you may encounter. There are also many other styles that include bonsai trees grown on a rock, those with exposed roots, etc.

Chokkan (Formal Upright Style)

Formal upright style, known as chokkan in Japanese, is a very popular style of bonsai trees. Bonsai trees of this style are grown perfectly straight without curves.

Moyogi (Informal Upright Style)

Unlike previously mentioned formal upright style, bonsai trees of moyogi style have curves. It grows upward, but with turns, resembling the letter "s".

Shakan (Slanting Style)

Bonsai of shakan or slanting style lean to either left or right side at an angle between 60 and 80 degrees. This bonsai style resembles trees that grow in the nature while being shaped by the wind, etc.

Fukinagashi (Windswept Style)

The bonsai trees of this style look like as if they were shaped by a wind blowing from one side. The trunk and branches are all bent towards one side.

Kengai (Cascade Style)

This is a very interesting style of bonsai trees. It resembles a tree growing on a cliff, bending downward. The bonsai trees in the cascade style grow downward, often going below the bottom of the pot. There is also hankengai or semi-cascade style, which is not as dramatic as the cascade style and does not go below its pot.

How to Care for and Maintain Bonsai Trees

Though there is a mystique surrounding the delicate nature of bonsai, the process of caring of them is actually quite easy. While some species of bonsai may require more attention than others, the most important part of the process is maintaining care on a regular basis. Some key general guidelines to remember when caring for your bonsai are:

■ Keep bonsai in moderate light and away from extreme heat.

■ Water once a week and use a humidity tray to sustain hydration between waterings.

■ As your bonsai grows, repot in similar small, shallow pots to maintain its dwarfed size.

Armed with this knowledge, you should be well on your way to becoming a bonsai master, and your newfound bond with nature will be of great benefit to you for years to come.

Where to Buy Bonsai Trees in Tokyo

Of course, if you are interested in seriously getting started with bonsai, you need to know where to find one to get started. Here are a few places in and around Tokyo with a selection of bonsai and resources that will help you begin on the right foot.

Bonsai Network Japan

Bonsai Network Japan is located in Saitama, just outside of North Tokyo. Not only does Bonsai Network have an extensive collection of bonsai trees of various species for sale at any given time, but they even offer guided English-speaking tours for enthusiasts from around the world.

Ueno Green Club Permanent Store

Nicely located in Ueno Park area in Tokyo, Ueno Green Club Permanent Store (in Japanese) is a great place to purchase bonsai trees as well as suiseki, pots, and more.

Ginza Uchiku-an

Ginza Uchiku-an is located right in the middle of Ginza’s upscale shopping district. It has a handful of breathtaking trees, and they also offer suiseki and other items for sale.

Green Scape

Green Scape (in Japanese) has a store in Meguro and also online shop. Besides bonsai, they also sell pots, and other products. Furthermore, they also offer bonsai, kokedama (moss ball) classes.

Yoshoen

Yoshoen is a bonsai specialty shop that can meet the needs of advanced enthusiasts and beginners alike. Their physical location is in Osaka, but they also sell bonsai online. Their online shop has a selection of more than 5000 items. They also sell on Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, etc. 

Bonsai Museums in and around Tokyo

The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama

Easily accessble from Tokyo, the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is located in the Kita Ward of Saitama City in Saitama Prefecture. The museum has a collection gallery as well as a garden where you can enjoy viewing about 60 bonsai trees. It also holds interesting exhibitions and even offers exhibition guides making it a fantastic place to immerse yourself in the world of bonsai. In the parking lot of the museum, there is a bonsai shop, which also has an instagram page.

Shunkaen Bonsai Museum

Shunkaen Bonsai Museum is located in Tokyo and is a great place to familiarize yourself with Japanese art of bonsai. The museum is created by Kunio Kobayashi, a bonsai artist who has won many awards. There you can not only see various beautiful bonsai displayed, but also attend classes.

Purchasing Bonsai Related Articles Online

You can purchase Bonsai, bonsai related books, and bonsai related products online.