On a weekend trip to Nikko, I took my kids to Tobu World Square, which is a theme park that features miniatures (1:25 scale) of famous buildings from around the world. I did not expect to end up in a penjing theme park... But as it turns out, all the buildings were surrounded by trees, also in 1:25 scale (give or take). I was more amazed by the trees than the miniature buildings. Interestingly enough, none of the guidebooks or pamphlets say one word on the fact that the them park is actually a bonsai garden. (I guess they don't want to profile as a bonsai garden, because that is not their main thing... Also, they probably don't want to be subject to critique on the individual trees, or landscapes, from the bonsai perspective. I did talk to an old guy who was doing spring maintenance on some of the trees, and the trees are chosen from the perspective of easy maintenance and nice looks throughout the year, so its mostly conifers, maples, and cherry trees, and they are not trying to imitate the real trees around the real buildings.)

If you end up in Nikko to see some of the historic sites, this is another destination worth to visit. Didn't have time to take proper photos, but here are some to give you an idea of the park.


Cherry blossoms




The Golden Pavilion in Kyoto


Peter the Great's summer cottage


Shouldn't the trees be cut in regular geometrical shapes?


The Silver Pavilion in Kyoto


WTC, towers are still standing


Cherry trees around Tokyo Sky Tree Building


Tokyo Station

Very cool!

In the Netherlands there is one of these themeparks too. Really is amazing!

Great! The amount of work that must go into these trees is incredible!

Are the trees in the Dutch park also bonsai?

As far as I know, they are living trees in miniature yes, but I have not been there in decades (!)

Google helps, madurodam: