The Power of Japanese Flowers: Your Ikebana Experience

Our popular one-hour “Introduction to Ikebana Class” is a wonderful way to discover the basics of ikebana. This extended workshop, however, gives you more time to slow down, explore, and experience the mindful side of ikebana.With a greater variety of flowers and more time for creative practice, you can work at a relaxed pace—observing the natural beauty of each stem, discovering space and balance, and allowing your arrangement to develop naturally.Whether you are new to ikebana or have some experience, this workshop offers a chance to step away from the everyday, connect with flowers, and enjoy the quiet, creative process of making an arrangement. Take your time. Observe. Create. Find your harmony.Your Ikebana ExperienceTucked away on a quiet suburban street just 20 minutes from the city lies a hidden Japanese garden—an enchanting private sanctuary featured on ABC Gardening Australia.Inspired by the mountain landscapes of his hometown in Niigata, Japan, award-winning contemporary ikebana artist Dr Shoso Shimbo, CEO of Melbourne Ikebana Festival, has created a garden and studio where nature becomes a source of contemplation, creativity, and connection.Your Ikebana Experience begins with a welcome drink and time to explore this tranquil garden before entering Shoso’s private studio—an intimate space and an opportunity rarely available to the public.Shoso will introduce you to the history, philosophy, and aesthetic principles of ikebana, revealing how simple flowers, branches, and natural materials can be transformed into expressive works of art.You will also learn about the Four Ikebana Principles, which provide practical design strategies for creating harmony in an arrangement. Shoso formalised these principles during his nine years teaching a Japanese Aesthetics Short Course at RMIT and later developed the Online Ikebana Aesthetics Course at Ikebana Dojo.You’ll then create your own arrangement, selecting from a beautiful range of seasonal materials and discovering how to use form, balance, space, and movement to express your own individual style. As you work, you’ll experience the quiet mindfulness at the heart of ikebana: an invitation to slow down, observe nature, and find beauty in simplicity.At the end of the experience, you’ll take home your own unique ikebana creation, along with a deeper appreciation of Japanese culture, design, and the relationship between nature and art. Before you leave, take a final stroll through the garden and photograph your arrangement in this beautiful and unexpected setting.The ProgramWelcome | 15 minutes Arrive and enjoy a welcome drink before taking time to wander through the Japanese garden and settle into the experience.Introduction to Ikebana | 10 minutes Join Shoso in his private studio for an introduction to the history, philosophy, and fundamental principles of ikebana.Demonstration | 20 minutes Watch as Shoso creates a seasonal arrangement, demonstrating key ikebana principles and sharing the thinking behind his creative choices.Gathering Materials | 15 minutes Explore a selection of seasonal flowers, branches, and natural materials, choosing the elements that inspire you and speak to your own creative vision.Creation | 45 minutes Create your own individual ikebana arrangement, incorporating some of the principles introduced during Shoso’s demonstration while developing your own personal expression.Show & Tell | 15 minutes If you wish, share your creation with the group and talk about the principles, ideas, or inspiration behind your arrangement.Closing Photograph your finished work in the studio or find your favourite setting in the garden for a memorable final image.Seasonal ThemesEach experience explores a distinct seasonal theme, inspired by the ever-changing character of nature throughout the year. Across the series, four principles of Ikebana and four fundamental elements—line, form, colour, and space—are introduced progressively, both individually and in combination.2026 Spring — November Theme: Balance2027 Summer — Contrast Autumn — Movement Winter — Pattern Spring — Balance X Line A completed Ikebana work Read more details