Kessi World

Mindful travel around the Pacific Northwest.

Pacific Bonsai Museum — the beautiful twisted balance of nature

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This Pinterest pin shows a close up shot of a beautifully crafted Bonsai miniature tree from the Pacific Bonsai Museum. The gentle cedar leaves are a bright lime green against the wood colors of the trunk. A shadow in the background creeps along the yellow wall.

Not far away from Seattle, along the busy Interstate 5 corridor, is a peaceful 22-acres of land wedged between two frantic freeways. The location is on the historic campus of forest-products giant Weyerhaeuser, long known for their iconic vegetation-covered building that seems to flow with the contour of the evergreen space. Just as the quiet corporate building seems to blend elements of nature with human requirements to come together to achieve work goals, the Pacific Bonsai Museum exists on a balancing beam between the calm of the precisely manicured trees and the constant drum of commerce mere steps away.

The space, tucked in deep beneath towering fir trees, works with this paradox in calming ways that invite visitors to stroll through the outdoor exhibit while pondering the creations brought to life by true botanical artists — some world renown. The collection of 60 miniature trees come from Pacific Rim nations including China, Japan and the United States.  

The Pacific Bonsai Museum is one with nature under the canopy of fir trees. This shot shows the entrance gate to the museum, which shares space with the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.

The museum features changing contemporary and traditional exhibits.  The current “World War Bonsai” exhibit (on display through Fall 2021) weaves together a historic account of the complicated and often painful relationship between Japanese-Americans and their place in history in the United States — especially during the atrocious years of internment during World War II.  The story is one of inspiration, told through the lens of the beautiful craft of miniature trees, twisting their way to sustained life. 

No matter the current exhibit, the result is an impressive collection of horticulture marvels, beautifully curated amid a forest landscape that is shared with the magically flowing Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.

Pacific Bonsai MuseumHelpful Planning Tips
Entrance FeeBy donations; suggested amount $10 (credit card or cash)
HoursTuesday – Sunday; 10AM – 4PM; Closed on major holidays
PetsNot allowed (except service animals)
AccessibilityYes, flat small gravel path (800 feet) and drive-up options
Recommended time1-2 hours
LocationSee map below — well marked from I5 in Federal Way, WA (between Seattle and Tacoma).

The following is a photo collection of the World War Bonsai exhibit tucked amongst nature at the Pacific Bonsai Museum, “Remembrance & Resilience.”

This placard welcomes guests to the Pacific Bonsai Museum and the specific exhibit titled "World War Bonsai" which is written in bright red while three portrait style black and white photos feature history around the time of World War 2 in the United States.
Even Bonsai die, and this tree is only a white ghostly version of a former self atop a broken ceramic flower pot filled with a brown sawdust type material. The shadow of the intricate dead branches flashes on the stucco wall behind the plant.
Eastern white cedar, bonsai from 1989-2020; included in the collection as a memorial to the millions of lives lost in World War II.
This miniature cypress tree has puffs of green foliage atop a thick twisting trunk that folds in sinewy strands of reddish brown and yellowish white bark. The tree sits in a simple rectangular brown ceramic pot.
Chinese juniper grafted on sierra juniper. Bonsai since 1960.
The Pacific Bonsai Museum hosts over 60 miniature trees amongst a nature setting, including this intricately tripped Japanese plum tree, with fresh young vibrant purple leaves.
Flowering plum. Bonsai since 1973.
This shot shows the natural surrounding of the the Pacific Bonsai Museum, as this miniature white pine tree reaches up to the giant fir trees above. The branches push out greenish pine needles as the round base is surrounded by tight green moss.
Engelmann spruce. Bonsai since 1952.
The Pacific Bonsai Museum is primarily outside amongst the local example of nature. These three exhibits feature miniature trees amongst tan stucco walls and support tables holding the pieces.
This miniature tree appears to have two intertwining types of trees, one with white bark and the other with a cedar looking skin while the cedar leaves fan out in all directions. Below a miniature version of a fern spreads fronds amongst a moss covered base.
Rocky Mountain juniper. Bonsai since 1964.
This miniature bush features showy white blooms in tiny clumps amongst the lime green waxy leaves. The tree is held in a beige clay pot and tucked in with a mix of green and yellow moss.
This is an up close shot of the delicate tiny clumps of white cherry flowers contrasted abasing lime green leaves on an exhibit at the Pacific Bonsai Museum near Seattle, Washington.
This placard at the Pacific Bonsai Museum, near Seattle, Washington, tells the story of a famous Bonsai Master who survived the US bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. The beige color of the placard barely contrasts to the yellow stucco on the outdoor wall behind. In the foreground a wave of charred wood brings home the intense content of the exhibit.
An intricately trimmed bonsai tree sits in an ornate brown pot atop a metal military issued box the appears to have held ammunition for World War 2 fighting. The tree beautifully ends a few inches from the surface of the table holding up the exhibit. Leaning up against the metal box of ammo is a burlap bag filled with sand.
Golden atlas cedar. Bonsai since 1957.
This photo inside the World War Bonsai exhibit at the Pacific Bonsai Museum near Seattle Washington shows one lonely pine miniature tree in amongst a fabricated example of housing at the many internment camps used to house Japanese-American citizens during World War 2.
Japanese black pine. Bonsai since 1942.
Affixed to the orange wall of the Pacific Bonsai Museum exhibit is a photo of a young Japanese mother dressed in nice clothing holding her sleeping baby. Both of them have luggage tags attached to their winter coast. This artwork depicts the content of the exhibit about the internment camps for Japanese-American citizens during World War 2.
Chinese wisteria. Bonsai since 1977.
The sign at the end of the World War Bonsai exhibition at the Pacific Bonsai Museum, near Seattle, Washington asks visitors, "What kind of ancestors do we want to be?"

The map below offers a few additional options to enjoy Japanese-inspired gardens in the Seattle area.

This Pinterest pin features an exhibit at the Pacific Bonsai Museum near Seattle, Washington. This shot shows a collection of miniature cypress trees meticulously clipped to look like a regular sized forest. The clay tray holding the 11 mini trees is filled with small rocks and flowing moss. The shadows from the trees are cast on the plaster platform.