Bonsai trees and nishikigoi, the coloured koi carp, have keen followers all over the world. Clubs and collectors travel to Japan to see the best examples, to meet the growers and sometimes to buy. These are small, specialist groups, and they care about detail. A good programme gives them real access, not only a garden visit.
Bonsai: Omiya in Saitama
- Omiya Bonsai Village. A cluster of bonsai gardens in Saitama City, just north of Tokyo. Growers from Tokyo moved here after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, and the village was founded in 1925. Several gardens still work there today.
- The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. Opened in 2010, it was the world's first public museum of bonsai art, with fine trees, pots and prints.
- Easy from Tokyo. It works as a half-day or a full day, and it combines well with our Kawagoe and Saitama guide.
- Gardens are workplaces. Each garden sets its own opening days and rules. Some ask visitors not to touch the trees or take photos. We confirm this before the visit.
Nishikigoi: Niigata
- The home of koi. Nishikigoi first appeared in the early nineteenth century in the mountain villages of Ojiya and Yamakoshi in Niigata Prefecture, where carp were raised beside the rice fields.
- The autumn harvest. In spring, breeders put young koi into outdoor mud ponds. From about October they drain the ponds and bring the fish in. This is when many buyers visit.
- Visits need arranging. Koi farms are working businesses. Many welcome visitors, but a visit must be requested in advance, and some deal only with the trade.
- Combine with the region. Niigata also offers sake, rice terraces and Sado Island. See our Niigata guide.
Buying and taking home
- Bonsai. Many countries restrict the import of live plants and soil. Collectors must check their own country's plant health rules before they buy. Some gardens can advise on export, but we do not handle it.
- Koi. Export is arranged by the breeder or a specialist dealer, with health checks and paperwork. It is not something a traveller carries home.
- Shipping and payment. These are agreed between the buyer and the seller. We arrange the travel, the visits and the interpreting.
How we plan it
We contact the gardens, museums and farms in advance, match the dates to the season, provide an interpreter who can handle technical questions, and plan transport for rural farm visits. A garden programme can be added from our guide to Japan's gardens.
FAQ
Where can you see bonsai near Tokyo? At Omiya Bonsai Village and the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum in Saitama City, a short train ride north of Tokyo.
Where do nishikigoi koi come from? From the mountain villages of Ojiya and Yamakoshi in Niigata Prefecture, where they were first bred in the early nineteenth century.
When is the best time to visit koi farms in Niigata? Autumn, from about October, when breeders harvest their outdoor ponds. Visits must be arranged in advance.
Planning a bonsai or koi tour for a club? Write to b2b@explera.jp, message the trade desk on WhatsApp at +66 93 656 8090, or register on the B2B portal. Proposals within 24 hours. IATA TIDS 96215733, ASTA member 900408341.
