Bonsai trees are typically made from the Japanese Black Pine. It’s familiar shape (which reminds me of those trippy fractal patterns) is used often in visual depictions of Japan.

Japanese Black Pine Tree

Japanese Black Pine
Canon DIGITAL IXUS 65 (5.8mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec, ISO0)
Japanese Black Pine 「Kuromatsu 黒松」
At Osaka Castle

The tree is often found at Japanese shrines and temples. The trees frame perhaps the most iconic photo of Japan – The Golden Pavilion Temple in Kyoto.

When people think of bonsai, the first vision which usually comes to mind is the dark brown branches with green pine needles – this is the Japanese Black Pine Tree.

Location of this photo:

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View this location – Map coordinates: 34.687, 135.526.