A bonbai is a plum tree in a pot, and some of these are old enough and big enough that the building has to be arranged around them.
Overview
The Nagahama Bonbai Exhibition has run since 1952 and is generally described as the largest and oldest of its kind in Japan. Around 90 trees are shown at any time, rotated from a collection of about 300 so that visitors always see a mix of bud, half-open and full bloom. Individual trees have names and long records of care; some are nearly three metres tall and said to be 400 years old.
The venue matters as much as the trees: Keiunkan was built in 1887 as a guest house for the Meiji Emperor’s visit, named by Ito Hirobumi, and its garden is a nationally designated place of scenic beauty.
When and where
The exhibition runs from mid-January to 10 March each year – the 75th edition ran from 10 January to 10 March 2026, open every day. Evening light-ups are held on weekends and holidays in the second half of the run, with opening extended to 19:30.
The 76th edition’s dates are confirmed by the organiser in late autumn, so check before booking.
Getting there
Keiunkan is a three-minute walk from JR Nagahama station, which is about 30 minutes from Kyoto or 55 minutes from Osaka on the Biwako line. By car it is roughly 15 minutes from the Nagahama interchange on the Hokuriku expressway.
The whole visit is indoors, which makes this a good option for a cold or wet winter day.
What to expect
Quiet rooms, strong scent, and one very old tree after another.
- About 90 trees on show at a time, rotated from a collection of some 300
- Trees up to nearly three metres tall, including specimens said to be four centuries old
- Evening light-ups with bamboo lanterns and mist in the garden
- A tea room serving matcha with a view of the display
- A pond-and-stream garden by the seventh-generation gardener Ogawa Jihei
Tickets and admission
Paid, around 900 yen for adults and 400 yen for schoolchildren in the last edition, with group discounts. Visitors with a disability certificate enter free, with one carer. The Nagahama Odekake Passport also covers entry.
Tips for visitors
Go in February for the fullest bloom, and on a light-up evening if you can – the trees look completely different lit from below. The exhibition is a short walk from Nagahama’s Kurokabe Square glass district, which fills an afternoon. Photography is allowed, and a photo contest runs during the exhibition.
Access and map
| Dates | Mid-January to 10 March 2027 (76th edition; confirm with organiser) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Keiunkan, Nagahama, Shiga |
| Access | JR Nagahama station, 3 minutes on foot |
| Admission | Paid (about 900 yen for adults in the last edition) |
| Official site | Nagahama Bonbai Exhibition |
Source: Nagahama Bonbai Exhibition official site
Image: Photo: 663highland / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5
