Ikebana Workshop: Mindful Side of Ikebana

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.What will you gain from the workshop?1. Calm and re-energise: Step away from busy days and slow down in a tranquil garden. Enjoy a calming, mindful experience that helps you relax, reset and reconnect with yourself.2. Discover your creativity: Learn the simple principles of Ikebana and Japanese aesthetics—balance, space, asymmetry and natural beauty—and use them to inspire your own creative practice.3. See nature in a new way: Learn to look at nature through the eyes of an Ikebana artist. Notice the beauty, shape, movement and character of natural materials, and discover how connecting with nature can bring a sense of wellbeing.4. Experience Japanese culture: Discover how Ikebana nurtures personal growth, mindfulness and respect for nature, while deepening your connection with the environment.Connect with nature, experience a different culture and discover the beauty of Ikebana. No experience is needed. You’ll create your own unique Ikebana artwork to take home, along with a new way of seeing nature and creativity.Learn from Dr Shoso Shimbo, an award-winning Ikebana artist, sculptor and qualified Ikebana teacher, highly rated by participants with 4.9/5 from 83 ClassBento reviews. Your Ikebana experience:Tucked 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, the CEO of the 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.Seasonal themes:Each 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 LineNote:

• For private classes with more than 21 participants, we kindly ask clients to arrange a suitable venue for the class.
• For private classes with less than 12 participants, please book from our "Ikebana Floristory Class for Beginners"
• The studio is located upstairs, so if you have difficulty with stairs, please talk to us before you book so we can make arrangements for you.
• If you have an allergy to dogs or cats, please let us know.

Upcoming dates for Ikebana Workshop: Mindful Side of Ikebana

Times are Melbourne time. Dates and prices as of 5 Nov 2026, 3:45am; availability and price are confirmed live when booking on this page.

3 upcoming dates between 28 Nov 2026 and 1 May 2027.

• Sat 28 Nov 2026, 2pm-4pm
• Sat 23 Jan 2027, 2pm-4pm
• Sat 1 May 2027, 2pm-4pm

A completed Ikebana arrangement. Read more details