Mini bonsai-making workshop brings Kawaguchi craft to Ikebukuro station

A two-day "Mini Bonsai-Making" workshop will bring the centuries-old Kawaguchi bonsai craft to AZLM TOBU Ikebukuro inside Ikebukuro Station on 24 and 25 January. The event is presented as part of the BON-Kei | Stillness and Movement × BONSAI-Art project and aims to make Kawaguchi’s 400-year tradition accessible to tourists and first-time participants.

Organized by Tobu Top Tours in partnership with Hachisuha BONSAI-Art, the program places technical supervision with Bonsai Kirakuen to ensure authentic instruction from professional artisans. All materials will be supplied on site: trees, pots, tools, and guided hands-on tuition. The setup is deliberately entry-friendly so visitors who have never handled a bunjin or chuhin can take part without prior experience.

The project positions the workshop as both cultural tourism and practical training. For international visitors this is a chance to learn traditional bonsai methods in a brief, focused format while based in a major transport hub. The organizers also highlight a larger lineup of programming tied to the initiative: export-ready bonsai workshops and premium cultural packages are scheduled as part of broader Japan Tourism Agency-supported efforts to promote cultural exchange.

Holding sessions within AZLM TOBU Ikebukuro lowers the barrier to participation—travelers can drop in between commutes and tourists can slot a hands-on session into a single-day itinerary. Technical supervision by Bonsai Kirakuen means the small-scale classes are anchored in a recognized Kawaguchi lineage, giving participants a direct link to a four-century-old brand and workshop practices maintained by master artisans.

Practical value for participants is immediate: everything needed is provided, expert oversight keeps the experience educational rather than purely decorative, and the workshop serves as an introduction that can lead to deeper study or participation in export-ready courses. For community members and local bonsai circles, the event brings renewed international attention to Kawaguchi techniques and creates a potential pipeline for overseas interest in cultivated material and artisan-led experiences.

Expect hands-on, time-efficient sessions aimed at delivering authentic craft exposure with an eye toward cultural outreach. For readers planning to attend, this is a rare, accessible chance to handle living art under master supervision and to see how bonsai programming is being repackaged for international visitors in Japan.