Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn ikebana, Japanese flower arranging
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Ikebana is a Japanese art of arranging flowers practised for more than 600 years, learned through schools such as Sogetsu, Ikenobo and Ohara. Teachers in the UK and botanic and Japanese gardens in the US run classes for beginners.
Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650MonthsIndoorsWith othersUK and US
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Schools, teachers and chapters
Ikebana is not one style. Teachers on the Japan Society's UK list each name a school, including Sogetsu, Ikenobo, Ohara, Koryu and Ichiyo; the society says inclusion on the list is not a recommendation. Sogetsu, founded in 1926, is a modern school, and Morikami Museum's class description sums up its idea that ikebana can be done by anyone, anywhere, with almost anything.
Ikebana International, founded in 1956 by Ellen Gordon Allen with the motto Friendship through Flowers, has nearly 140 chapters in more than 44 countries and areas. It does not teach or favour any one school, and does not give lessons itself; it suggests contacting a school or teacher for those. You can join through a local chapter.
Expect to buy some tools. Morikami's beginners need a shallow flat-bottomed container (suiban) about 30 cm (12 in) across and 5 to 6 cm (2 to 2.5 in) deep, a pin holder (kenzan) about 7.5 cm (3 in) across, and ikebana or garden scissors, plus a flower fee for each course.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Sogetsu London Branch exhibition, Rosslyn Hill Chapel, London | Annual exhibition (30 May 2026) with a 30-minute Let's Try Ikebana session led by certified Sogetsu teachers, materials included | Exhibition free; taster £10 |
| Sutton College, Surrey | Introduction to Ikebana, one two-hour evening workshop for complete beginners (September 2026); flowers and container provided | Not listed; may be free for eligible London residents |
| Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach, Florida | Sogetsu beginners' class, Wednesdays 10.30am to 12.30pm, in blocks of two to four weeks from October 2026 to June 2027 | Four weeks $80 members, $90 non-members, plus an $80 flower fee paid to the instructor |
| Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, Virginia | Sogetsu Ikebana: Basic Floral Arranging, one two-hour class (April 2026); all materials provided; bring your own clippers | $49 members, $59 non-members |
| Ikebana International (individual membership) | Membership for people who do not join through a chapter; applications reviewed by the board | JPY 6,000 a year |
How to start
- Go to an ikebana exhibition or a one-off taster class to see how the different schools work.
- Choose a school and find a teacher through the Japan Society's directory of UK ikebana experts or a local Ikebana International chapter, or book a course at a botanic or Japanese garden.
- Buy the basic tools your teacher asks for, usually a shallow container, a pin holder (kenzan) and ikebana scissors.
Where to go
- Japan Society: ikebana and horticulture experts (UK) UK
- Embassy of Japan in the UK: Sogetsu London Branch exhibition and taster UK
- Sutton College: Introduction to Ikebana workshop UK
- Ikebana International: about, chapters and membership
- Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens: Ikebana Sogetsu class (Florida) US
- Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden: Sogetsu Ikebana class (Virginia) US
We opened these links on 11 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
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Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between ikebana and flower arranging?
Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arranging, taught through named schools such as Sogetsu, Ikenobo and Ohara, each with its own approach.
Which ikebana school should a beginner choose?
It depends on the teachers near you. Sogetsu is a modern school built on the idea that ikebana can be done by anyone, anywhere, with almost anything; a taster class lets you try before you commit.
What do I need to start ikebana?
Usually a shallow container (suiban), a pin holder (kenzan) and ikebana scissors. Some one-off classes, such as at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, provide all the materials.
Does Ikebana International teach ikebana?
No. It is a worldwide nonprofit organisation, with the motto Friendship through Flowers and chapters around the world and suggests contacting a school or teacher for lessons.
Where this comes from: The Japan Society, Ikebana and horticulture experts; Embassy of Japan in the UK, Sogetsu London Branch Ikebana Exhibition (May 2026); Sutton College, Floristry Workshop – Introduction to Ikebana; Ikebana International, About us; Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Ikebana Sogetsu Class; Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Sogetsu Ikebana: Basic Floral Arranging. Opened 11 November 2026.
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