大宮盆栽美術館

平成22（2010年）(年3月28日に埼玉県さいたま市北区土呂町2-24-3にオープンした世界で初めての公立の盆栽美術館。外国人にとても人気だとか。
以下、英語のパンフレットを丸写しします。

The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama
2-24-3 Toro-cho, Kita Ward, Saitama City, Saitama, 331-0804 JAPAN
Admission
Adult : 310(200)yen
High school,University students and persons over 65 : 150(100)yen
Elementary school and junior high school student : 100(50)yen
*Admission is half price for a person with a disability certificate and accommpanying person.
*Figures in  parentheses are individual fees for groups of 20 or more visitors.
Hours
9:00-16:30 during March-October
9:00-16:00 during November-February
*Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Closed
Thursday(except for National Holiday)
Closed on December 29-January 3.
*Temporary close during exhibition preparation.

Welcome to the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama
Bonsai, literally meaning "plantings in trays or pots" is one of the
traditional cultural arts that  represents Japan.

  The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama, opened in March of 2010,
is the first public bonsai art museum. While conducting research and investigation into the bonsai culture that has fostered the bonsai tradition,
the museum's mission also includes spreading knowledge about bonsai
and having more people become with bonsai and bonsai culture.

Starting with around 120 masterpiece, the museum has also 
systematically collected bonki (bonsai pots), suiseki-stones, pictures,
historical and folkloric materials for display to the public. Made of collaborative effort between man and nature, bonsai is truly a living art.
Come and enjoy the beauty of this art at your own pace.

About the Omiya Bonsai VIllage 
The Omiya Bonsai VIllage is located within a few minutes  walk from
our Museum  (Bonsai Cho, Kita Ward, Saitama City) . Long ago, gardeners living in the Bunkyo ward of Tokyo took care of the gardens of feudal lords and samurai. In the Meuji period some of these gardeners began to specialize in bonsai.  After the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, a group of bonsai gardeners immigrated to this area in search of land suitable  for growing bonsai. In 1925 Omiya Bonsai  Village was established as an self-governed community of bonsai gardeners. At its height, in 1930, aruond 30 bonsai
gardens were a part of the community. Even now  Omiya Bonsai  Village
is known for its bonsai masterpieces attracting enthusiasts not only from Jpan, but from around the world.  

Access
Take the JR Utsunimiya, Shonan-Shinjuku, or Ueno-Tokyo lines to Toro station.　Only local trains stop at Toro station. Be aware that rapid trains will pass Toro
without stopping. The trip from Shinjuku station will take about 35 minutes and from Tokyo station 40.
Access by train
* 5 minutes walk from the East Exit of Toro station on the JR Utsunomiya line
* 10 minutes walk from   Omiya-Koen station on the TOBU URBAN PARK Line

  Access by car
* About 6 km from the Shintishin Nishi exit on the Metropolitan Expressway
Saitama Shintoshin Route
* About 9 km from Iwatsuki exit on the Tohoku Expressway
* Parking spaces for 39 cars (up to 2 hours free parking),
spaces for 3 busses (￥880),  2 handicap spaces (free parking)    

Take a walk from Omiya park.....
Recommend walking route. (45 minutes around) start from Omiya station,
via Hikawa shrine, Omiya park,   Omiya Bonsai Village to our museum