Glamping on the Bonsai Trail: Bandai-Asahi National Park

This is a one-of-a-kind journey where Japan’s bonsai heritage, volcanic landscapes, and refined hospitality come together in a private luxury experience. It is an exclusive 3-night/4-day program—limited to only one party—that invites participants into the world of master bonsai artisans in the natural surroundings of the Bandai-Asahi National Park.

The tour begins with rare, hands-on instruction from Daiki Abe, third-generation head of a historic bonsai garden that has shaped local culture for nearly a century. With special access to a private bonsai nursery normally closed to visitors, guests learn how local artisans draw inspiration from the park’s dramatic calderas, wild pines, and volcanic ridgelines.

An expert guide will lead the tour along the Bonsai Trail into Bandai-Asahi National Park, where a private glamping site awaits. You will enjoy chef-prepared cuisine beneath a star-filled sky and awaken to sunrise over a dormant volcano—an unforgettable setting that deepens your connection to a landscape that defines bonsai artistry.

The other nights are spent at a historic ryokan in Dake Onsen, a 1,200-year-old hot-spring village known for healing waters and exceptional hospitality. Soak in cypress baths, savor regional cuisine, and unwind in complete comfort. The tour is a rare fusion of culture, nature, and wellness—it is bonsai reimagined for the modern traveler.