National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in D.C. is a truly unbelievable treasure—and it's free! Located within the U.S. National Arboretum, it offers a serene escape showcasing masterworks of horticultural art. The collection features rare, meticulously trained specimens, some centuries old, including the famous Yamaki Pine which survived the Hiroshima atomic bomb. To witness such profound history and artistry in miniature form, with its roots linking different global cultures, is a humbling experience. It is easily one of the city's most valuable and inspiring hidden gems. Don't miss this living piece of history.

An absolute treasure. Do not skip this!! The pictures do not do the bonsais justice!!! I'm hopeful I can return in the spring or summer someday when the leaves are in full glory. Regardless, they are stunning in their winter form. So glad I made the trek.

Went in winter, so the majority of the exhibit was quite cold, but the collection is absolutely incredible! I would definitely try to come in summer if I return.

This place is absolutely wonderful and full of beauty and history! However, during my recent visit, I noticed a few things that could really use some attention: Some roads were randomly closed with no signs or clear directions, which made getting around a bit frustrating. Phone calls go straight to a prerecorded message, so it’s hard to get any real-time help or information. The only accessible entrance to the parking lot near the Bonsai Pavilion seems to be from R Street — clearer signage would be really helpful here. There’s a large wasp nest near the entrance to the Bonsai Pavilion area. This is a safety issue, and even if the site is unstaffed, pest control should be contacted to have it safely removed. The iconic columns area, which is truly a highlight, has a non-working fountain. This space could be incredibly inspiring for patriotic events or other important national days — if only the fountain were running! It’s such a missed opportunity. It’s clear that this place has great potential, and with a bit more active management and attention to detail, it could truly shine even brighter.

FREE of the beaten path! Nice place for a walk around the grounds. But 2 areas are kinda far and seems like you might as well drive. I rather walk but the park is huge. People go there to run. Not sure if you can bike, but that would be nice. I really love bonsai trees, so I'll have to say that was my favorite area. Definitely read other reviews because there's areas that didn't seem interesting to look in. Maybe it was the time of year ( may). It looks like they do events, unsure what kind.

If you owned a rock collection as a kid you will lose your mind like I did. Such beautiful pieces made by nature. The bonsai were beautiful and very well put together.

Beautifully kept gardens! Loved the bonsai exhibit! Wasn’t busy when we went and the bathrooms were clean as well! The walk was very peaceful.

Beautiful bonsai collection that is one of the highlights of the arboretum. Yamaki pine is collection’s highlight. There is air conditioned visitor center right next to the museum. National herb garden in front of museum is a magnet for many visitors.

Been here several times and decided to pop by again today after a walk with a group. The plants are absolutely stunning and I appreciate the short description beside them explaining that they're gifts from Japan and even one from Morocco.

This is a very small but beautiful museum that displays bonsai trees and tells the history behind them. It is located in the US National Arboretum. They have Chinese and Japanese exhibits that explain the different cultural influences on the art of growing bonsai trees. I learned about the significance of these trees, particularly the idea of bonsai diplomacy, and read very fascinating stories.

The Bonsai Museum is a fascinating look into the world of bonsai and has over 300 bonsai to see. You can see many species, varieties, growing styles, and ages. The highlight of the collection is a Japanese White Pine that was planted in 1625 that survived through the bombing of Hiroshima. Another amazing bonsai is a gift from the Japanese Imperial Family that was planted in 1795 and gifted to the United States in 1976. The Museum is located inside the US National Arboretum, but has different hours than it and is open 10am-4pm. It's free, and so, so worth wandering the grounds to see the care bonsai artists have given these plants for decades - or even centuries.

Located within the U.S. National Arboretum is one of D.C.'s most off-the-beaten-path museums- the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. It's well worth a visit. Here's why: 1) Admission: Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day, admission is free. 2) Exhibits: Paths lead visitors through exhibits that include bonsai from Japan, China, and North America. They also have a stone exhibit as well. 3) Space: It's very peaceful. Afterwards, explore the Arboretum.

Super fun exhibit. Walked through the Japanese, North American and Chinese exhibits and each featured numerous trees that were beautifully maintained. I have a newfound appreciation for the art of bonsai tree making and have found a new interest in rocks. Can't wait to come back and check out the rest of the arboretum

Awesome Bonsai exhibit. Truly a form of art. It amazes me to see trees that should be huge in such a miniature size.

The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum is a not miss opportunity. It is located on the grounds of the National Arboretum and is free to the public. When you are there, make sure to explore the Museum's large collection of bonsai, penjing and viewing stones. Some of the trees are hundreds of years old and all of the artifacts have unique characteristics that you will not see anywhere else. While I was there I learned that the museum relies on support from the public to exist and I was able to make a donation on the spot. Totally worth it for an afternoon of fun.

Open year round! This is such an incredible collection of bonsai, mostly diplomatic donations by the Japanese.