Kumamoto Hosokawa Bonseki Art Class & Suizenji Jojuen Garden Admission Ticket

Hosokawa-style Bonseki spread on a tray, a breathtaking view from Kumamoto.

This class will teach you Hosokawa-style Bonseki at the tranquil Suizenji Jojuen Garden. Bonseki is a traditional Japanese miniature garden art that uses white sand, gravel, and pebbles on a black tray to create landscapes like mountains, rivers, islands, and the sea. Hosokawa-style is a particularly well-known and formal school. The experience begins with a brief greeting and orientation, followed by a detailed explanation of the history and background of Hosokawa-style Bonseki from a professional instructor, allowing you to immerse yourself in the experience. Next, you'll receive meticulous instruction on how to hold traditional tools, the proper hand movements for spilling sand, and even the proper placement of stones. You'll then create your own unique landscape on your own tray. Drawing waves and paths with white sand and mountains and islands with pebbles, you'll forget about everyday life and focus solely on your fingertips—a deeply meditative experience.

From Miniature Landscapes to Real Gardens: A Stroll Through Suizenji Jojuen

After completing the Bonseki class, you can freely explore the Suizenji Jojuen Garden, which includes admission. Suizenji Jojuen is a refined, circuit-style Japanese garden, begun in the 17th century by Hosokawa Tadatoshi. Centered around a pond fed by groundwater from Mount Aso, the garden features hills, islands, bridges, and pine trees, creating a miniature replica of a traditional Japanese landscape. The artificial hills, inspired by the 53 Stations of the Tokaido and Mount Fuji, are particularly impressive. Within the garden, you'll also find Izumi Shrine, dedicated to the Hosokawa family, and a Noh stage, allowing you to experience Kumamoto's history and culture just by strolling. Walking through the actual garden, while imagining the Bonseki landscapes on a tray, will add a lingering, three-dimensional quality to your experience.

View schedule briefly

• Greetings & Orientation

• Explanation of the history of the Hosokawa-ryu Bonseki

• Guide to using traditional tools

• Create your own miniature landscape using sand and stones (Bonseki Experience)

• Closing remarks & commemorative photo shoot

• Free time for a stroll after entering the Suizenji Jojuen Garden