What people ask me
If your question isn't answered here, write to me.
The trip
- What are the different formats?
- There are three. I meet you in Japan for a few days if you are already travelling on your own. A small group departure on fixed dates. Or a private journey, built for you alone.
- Do I need to be a bonsai expert?
- No. I travel with keen beginners just as happily as with collectors. I adapt what I explain to the person listening.
- How long does a trip last?
- Count on a week to ten days for a group departure. Just a few days if I join you there. A private journey follows your own dates.
- When is the best time to go?
- Winter and early spring. The trees have no leaves, so you see the structure, and it is the season of the major exhibitions: Kokufu-ten in February, Taikan-ten in November.
- How many people are in a group?
- Few. The whole point of the trip disappears if twenty of us turn up at a private garden.
- Can I bring someone who isn't into bonsai?
- Yes, and it happens often. Japan offers plenty to someone who came for something else.
Before you go
- Who books the flight and the hotel?
- You do. I don't sell travel. I sell my guidance on the ground. I send you a precise sheet: which flight, which hotel, which link, and by when. You book in your own name and pay directly. It is more transparent, and you stay in control of your budget.
- Do I need to speak Japanese?
- No. That is a good part of what I do there.
- Do I need travel insurance?
- Yes, take some. It often comes with your plane ticket or your bank card. Check before buying another policy.
- Do I need to be physically fit?
- There is a lot of walking. Nothing athletic, but bring good shoes.
- How far ahead should I plan?
- As early as possible for group departures. Places are limited and airfares climb quickly as the dates approach.
- How quickly do you reply?
- Within 5 working days, and it is me replying.
On the ground
- What exactly will we see?
- Working nurseries, private gardens, workshops, and depending on the season a major exhibition. Some of these places do not take visitors at all. That is where ten years of relationships earn their keep.
- Do we also see the 'classic' Japan?
- A little: temples, gardens, food. But the thread of the trip stays bonsai.
- Can I ask technical questions?
- That is the whole point. I am there to translate, to explain, and to tell you what you are actually looking at.
- Are there hands-on workshops?
- It depends on the trip and on what you are after. Tell me in advance and I will arrange it where I can.
Buying and bringing a tree home
- Am I expected to buy a tree?
- Never. Plenty of people go home empty-handed and don't regret it. The journey stands on its own.
- Can I bring a tree back to Europe?
- Yes, but not in your suitcase. A bonsai leaving Japan goes through quarantine, plant health checks and paperwork. It is slow and tightly regulated. We handle it for you.
- How long does the export take?
- It depends on the tree. If it has already done its two years of quarantine in a registered nursery in Japan, it can leave the following winter: a few months. If not, it has to do those two years first, so expect about two years between your purchase and its arrival at your home.
- Who handles the paperwork?
- We do. In Japan, Tree House Bonsai, the garden I'm a partner in, handles quarantine and export. In France, Bonsai Collectors, the company behind Monsieur Bonsaï, handles the import and the border check.
- Can every tree leave Japan?
- No. Some species and some specimens cannot go, or need several years of preparation first. I tell you before you get attached to a tree.
- And once the tree is at my home?
- A Japanese tree arriving in Europe needs care and time to settle. I work with professionals in France who handle maintenance, seasonal boarding and styling.
Budget
- What does a trip cost?
- It depends on the format, the length and the number of people. Write to me or book a call: I will come back with a clear price, no runaround.
- What does your service include?
- My time, building the programme, the visits and appointments, translation and advice. Flights, hotels and meals stay in your name and at your expense.
- What about the price of the trees?
- On top of the price set by the Japanese seller, there are export costs. Depending on the specifics, my job is to tell you what the total will come to before you decide.
- How is your fee paid?
- By bank transfer, with a deposit on booking. We go through it on the call.
Clubs and associations
- I'm organising for my club. Is that possible?
- Yes, and it is a format I enjoy: the group already exists and everyone is there for the same thing. Write to me and we'll settle the dates and the programme together.
- From how many people?
- Let's talk. It depends mostly on what you want to visit. Some gardens simply cannot host a large group.
Something not covered here?
Let's talk about your trip