Bonsai Gardens, Craft, and Lunch in a Farmer’s Workshop

Booking Overview Highlights Includes/Excludes Cancellation Faqs Services Reviews

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Overview

Duration:6 hours 0 minutes
Travelers:2 - 8 guests
Tour Type:Daily tour
Language:English, Japanese

This isn't your typical garden tour—it's a hands-on dive into one of Shikoku's most cherished crafts.
Starting in Takamatsu, you'll spend your morning wandering through the stunning Ritsurin Garden, one of Japan's most beautiful historical gardens, before heading to Kinashi, the beating heart of bonsai cultivation in the region.

What makes this tour special? You're not just looking at bonsai from behind a rope barrier.

You'll walk through working bonsai gardens with an actual local farmer, step into their workshop, and get your hands dirty creating your own kokedama (moss ball) under expert guidance. Lunch happens right there in the farmer's space—think of it as breaking bread with the people who've spent generations perfecting these miniature living sculptures.
By early afternoon, you'll head back to Takamatsu with soil under your fingernails, a handmade moss ball to take home, and a genuine appreciation for why Shikoku's bonsai tradition has captivated people for centuries.j
It's intimate, it's authentic, and it's about as far from a tourist trap as you can get—just you, the trees, and the masters who shape them.

Duration: Half-day (6 hours)
Perfect for: Garden lovers, craft enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to experience the quieter, more meditative side of Shikoku culture

Explore Ritsurin Garden with your guide. One of Japan's most celebrated historical gardens, where you'll stroll through centuries-old landscapes before diving into the world of bonsai.
Walk working bonsai gardens with a local farmer in Kinashi. This is the real deal—you'll see where these miniature masterpieces are actually grown and cared for, not just displayed.
Create your own kokedama (moss ball) under expert guidance. Get hands-on with traditional techniques and take home something you made yourself, soil under your nails and all.
Share lunch in the bonsai farmer's workshop. Forget fancy restaurants—you'll eat where the magic happens, getting a genuine peek into the daily life of Shikoku's bonsai artisans.
Experience authentic craftsmanship in an intimate setting. This isn't a big tour bus experience—it's personal, real, and connects you directly with the people keeping this centuries-old tradition alive.

Includes/Excludes

Taxi transport for your group covering all transfers between Takamatsu station, Ritsurin Garden, Kinashi, and back.
English-speaking guide for the full 6 hours.
All hands-on experience fees for the kokedama moss ball workshop.
Ritsurin Garden entrance fee.
Bento box lunch served at the bonsai workshop.

Itinerary

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Bonsai Garden Guided Tour at a Glance

9:00 AM - Pickup at Takamatsu Station (or your hotel nearby)

Your English-speaking guide meets you right at the station or swings by your hotel. Quick introductions, hop in the taxi, and you're off.

9:20 AM - Transfer to Ritsurin Garden

Short taxi ride through Takamatsu to one of Shikoku's crown jewels. Use this time to ask your guide anything you're curious about.

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM - Explore Ritsurin Garden

An hour to wander this stunning historical garden with your guide. Think meticulously pruned pines, peaceful ponds, and walking paths that have been perfected over centuries. Your guide will point out the highlights and share stories you'd never get from a guidebook.

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM - Transfer to Kinashi

Taxi ride to Kinashi, the bonsai heartland just outside Takamatsu. This is where the real magic happens—row after row of working bonsai nurseries.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Tour the Bonsai Gardens with a Local Farmer

Now you're walking among the professionals. A local bonsai farmer takes you through their gardens, showing you trees they've been shaping for years (sometimes decades). You'll see their workspace, learn about the craft, and get a sense of the patience and skill this art demands.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Lunch at the Bonsai Workshop

Break for lunch right there in the farmer's space. Your bento box arrives, you sit down, relax, and soak in the atmosphere. It's casual, it's authentic, and honestly? Eating lunch surrounded by bonsai is pretty special.

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM - Hands-On Kokedama Workshop

Time to get your hands dirty. The bonsai farmer guides you through making your own kokedama—a moss ball with a small plant nestled inside. It's easier than it sounds, surprisingly meditative, and you'll leave with something living that you actually made yourself.

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM - Return to Takamatsu Station

Taxi back to the station with your moss ball in hand. Your guide makes sure you're all set before saying goodbye. Tour ends, but the memories (and your new plant) stick around.