JAPAN TRIP PART 1 [OMIYA BONSAI VILLAGE]

[MACH5]

Did you have a particular favorite maple that you got to see, M5?

Thumbless it is impossible to answer this I am afraid. Way, way too many to count. But I will say this, Mr. Takeyama had the best ones in my opinion. The way he handles deciduous is second to none. He simply has a passion for maples and deciduous in general. He is the Bill V. of Japan LOL!!

 

[MACH5]

I saw those marks and my jaw dropped. Did you have to pay a duty on the way back into the U.S.?

I did not.

 

[rockm]

FWIW, I posted this link to the Omiya bonsai museum separately a few days ago. It could fill in what they wouldn't allow you to take photos of.
http://www.bonsai-art-museum.jp/en/collection/

 

[MACH5]

FWIW, I posted this link to the Omiya bonsai museum separately a few days ago. It could fill in what they wouldn't allow you to take photos of.
http://www.bonsai-art-museum.jp/en/collection/

Thank you! Yes they were very strict about photo taking even outside which was a shame. I could have sneaked a few when I was viewing the indoor displays but I wanted to be respectful.

 

[Breeze46]

Thanks for a great visual tour of Omiya. As luck would have it I am in the process of planning a trip to Japan in May of 2016, and a trip to Omiya is top on my bucket list. As an avid photographer I am looking forward to shooting as much as I can, but I have read that photography is not allowed in many locations. Did you have to get special permission to shoot at the nurseries that you have images for? Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[MACH5]

Breeze that's very exciting! A trip to Japan is always an great proposition! I am not sure as to their individual policies on photography. What did help me greatly is that I was part of Bill Valavanis' Japan tour which he conducts annually. He has long standing relationships with many of the bonsai folks in Omiya and Japan in general, so I was able to take photos in many of these places and in areas that would normally be closed to the general public. I highly doubt I would have been able to do the same, or as much, in at least some of these nurseries had I been by myself.

 

[coh]

Somehow I missed this thread until this morning! Wow, Sergio, thanks for taking the time to document your trip so thoroughly. I feel almost like I was there with you. Looking forward to day 2.

Chris

 

[Breeze46]

Breeze that's very exciting! A trip to Japan is always an great proposition! I am not sure as to their individual policies on photography. What did help me greatly is that I was part of Bill Valavanis' Japan tour which he conducts annually. He has long standing relationships with many of the bonsai folks in Omiya and Japan in general, so I was able to take photos in many of these places and in areas that would normally be closed to the general public. I highly doubt I would have been able to do the same, or as much, in at least some of these nurseries had I been by myself.

Thanks, I thought that might be the case. I wonder if hiring a guide might be a good idea.

 

[MACH5]

Thanks, I thought that might be the case. I wonder if hiring a guide might be a good idea.

Sure that might be very wise. I am sure there are several but here is one.

http://www.j-bonsai.com/page/4

 

[Crash607]

A large selection of pots were also available at very reasonable prices.






And inside, there were many high end suiseki and Chinese pottery.

I'd like to hear more about your experience with shopping/pricing in Omiya. The prices of these pots seems incredibly reasonable!

Is this common, or was this shop particularly well priced?

Any recommendations for places that had the best prices? Or even places that price gouge and should be avoided?

Thank you!

 

[Hartinez]

I'd like to hear more about your experience with shopping/pricing in Omiya. The prices of these pots seems incredibly reasonable!

Is this common, or was this shop particularly well priced?

Any recommendations for places that had the best prices? Or even places that price gouge and should be avoided?

Thank you!

Sergio is going to give excellent advice regardless. But keep in mind this post is 9 years old and I imagine things have changed considerable in that time.

 

[Crash607]

Sergio is going to give excellent advice regardless. But keep in mind this post is 9 years old and I imagine things have changed considerable in that time.

Yes, hopefully it's ok that dug up this super old thread

 

[WEI]

Sergio is going to give excellent advice regardless. But keep in mind this post is 9 years old and I imagine things have changed considerable in that time.

@Crash607 I can answer this directly, having visited S-cube solo last week with someone who speaks fluent Japanese. Prices have not changed significantly since then. In fact at every bonsai pot source and garden I visited across the country from Tokoname to Kyoto to Nagoya to S-cube/Uchikitei, prices for good-to-great quality Japanese pots (respected potters, from Reiho to Shukuho to first and second-gen Yamaaki) were a literal fraction of the prices you see in America from very reputable distributors on FB and ebay. Even relatively good condition, “lesser” Nakawatari/later Qing pots went for <$150 and oftentimes were littered about outside. In my conversations with several Tokoname potters, one remarked they could upcharge 3-4x in America and and still sell out in minutes. prices, however, level out the higher in quality you go (i.e. museum Kowatari/Nakawatari pieces)

I’m still in a bit of reverse sticker shock from Japanese prices. combine that with the weak yen and your budget will go incredibly far. the reason US prices are so high reflects simple supply and demand.

 

[doc spring _work]

Oh my lord.... Thank you for pulling this post up! Im honesty just... Speechless! The deadwood features are inconceivable to me... I apparently very badly need to go to Japan to stare at trees for a few weeks

 

[JeffS73]

@Crash607 I can answer this directly, having visited S-cube solo last week with someone who speaks fluent Japanese. Prices have not changed significantly since then. In fact at every bonsai pot source and garden I visited across the country from Tokoname to Kyoto to Nagoya to S-cube/Uchikitei, prices for good-to-great quality Japanese pots (respected potters, from Reiho to Shukuho to first and second-gen Yamaaki) were a literal fraction of the prices you see in America from very reputable distributors on FB and ebay. Even relatively good condition, “lesser” Nakawatari/later Qing pots went for <$150 and oftentimes were littered about outside. In my conversations with several Tokoname potters, one remarked they could upcharge 3-4x in America and and still sell out in minutes. prices, however, level out the higher in quality you go (i.e. museum Kowatari/Nakawatari pieces)

I’m still in a bit of reverse sticker shock from Japanese prices. combine that with the weak yen and your budget will go incredibly far. the reason US prices are so high reflects simple supply and demand.

This is very interesting, I was in Japan for the Taikan Ten this year and of course buying pots. At the nurseries I found production pots were good value, but high quality or rarer pots were not cheaper. Good quality suiseki were equal to what I can find online.

I bought a few small pots from one antique dealer. Nothing from a nursery. Nothing from the show. If you factor in shipping and breakages, I think you'll find prices at say Bonsai Auctions on Facebook to be very good value. Of course, US or EU nurseries have overheads like any business, so you should allow for that as well.

Just my experience.

 

[Wood]

@Crash607 I can answer this directly, having visited S-cube solo last week with someone who speaks fluent Japanese. Prices have not changed significantly since then. In fact at every bonsai pot source and garden I visited across the country from Tokoname to Kyoto to Nagoya to S-cube/Uchikitei, prices for good-to-great quality Japanese pots (respected potters, from Reiho to Shukuho to first and second-gen Yamaaki) were a literal fraction of the prices you see in America from very reputable distributors on FB and ebay. Even relatively good condition, “lesser” Nakawatari/later Qing pots went for <$150 and oftentimes were littered about outside. In my conversations with several Tokoname potters, one remarked they could upcharge 3-4x in America and and still sell out in minutes. prices, however, level out the higher in quality you go (i.e. museum Kowatari/Nakawatari pieces)

I’m still in a bit of reverse sticker shock from Japanese prices. combine that with the weak yen and your budget will go incredibly far. the reason US prices are so high reflects simple supply and demand.

Yeah, but you gotta get them home without breaking them

 

[rockm]

Hmmm...One of the biggest reasons for higher prices for imported Japanese (and Chinese) pots is tied to shipping and the costs for getting the pots over the ocean. Importers can suffer significant losses during shipment. Boxes of pots get smashed. Larger pots won't fit standard box sizes and require individual attention to packing. Things could get even more expensive come next year and the president makes good on tariff threats. Japanese goods are one of the targets

 

[Stormwater]

I will never get over the beer crates being used for everything. I lived in Japan for a few years, and it got me every damn time. Man, those trees, wow!

I willI

Some of my favorite works by Mr. Kimura are the series of landscape plantings that form a good portion of his total oeuvre.

One of them and, probably his most famous, graced the entrance to his garden. It is composed with a type of dwarf hinoki cypress. This piece took me by surprise not only because I am so familiar with it through pictures, but also because of its smaller than expected scale. To be sure, it is a large piece, but not as big as I originally thought. Absolutely incredible nonetheless!












Many other plantings were displayed in the same area and looked like either hinoki cypresses or junipers were used to compose these masterpieces.

I will never g

 

[Stormwater]

Hmmm...One of the biggest reasons for higher prices for imported Japanese (and Chinese) pots is tied to shipping and the costs for getting the pots over the ocean. Importers can suffer significant losses during shipment. Boxes of pots get smashed. Larger pots won't fit standard box sizes and require individual attention to packing. Things could get even more expensive come next year and the president makes good on tariff threats. Japanese goods are one of the targets

need to find wire alternatives. If I only had time to salvage copper wire....

 

[snowman04]

Did you try here:

Bonsai Wire

We offer a very large selection of anodized aluminum bonsai wire. Our most popular brand is Bonsai Aesthetics wire, which is very affordable and comes in a large range of sizes and weights. We also offer Yoshiaki bonsai wire, which is a little stiffer with better holding power and more expensive...

stonelantern.com

They have pretty decent prices IMHO...