It’s getting seriously chilly outside lately, but when it comes to succulent plant events, things are only heating up as we head into this season! Right here in Kansai, the much-talked-about succulent event “BOTANICAL BOTANICAL” that drew huge crowds last year is coming back again this year! As we count down the days to the next event, here’s a look back at the previous one.

What is BOTANICAL BOTANICAL?

…So, what exactly is it? Well, I won’t pretend I’m an expert, so I’d love to just say, “Check out the photo report below!” But to sum it up in a nutshell, it’s “an event where you can discover the latest trending succulents and goods making waves on social media—right here in Kansai.” As you’d expect, the beating heart of these trends is the Tokyo area. Maybe it’s sheer population size, or maybe that creative spark that a big city stirs up. On the flip side, there’s also a Kansai culture of feeling a bit shy about being ‘too cool’ (see explanation below), so maybe we just naturally watch from afar. But when those much-admired things from Tokyo make their way all the way out here, we Kansai folks just have to give them a warm welcome!

And it really is “Tokyo transplanted to Kansai”—this event started out in Sendagaya and is basically the Tokyo version brought to Kansai. Most events are what you’d call “site-specific”—they root themselves in their location and make the most of local character—so it’s actually pretty rare to see this kind of pop-up event crossing over to other regions. It's a real treat.

^ Note: “Shutto shiteru”… Kansai dialect that means “stylish”, “tall”, “slim”, “clean”, “sharp-looking”, or basically an attractive guy. (Source: d Hits) It’s also sometimes used to lightly tease “Tokyo culture” from a Kansai perspective.

Photo Report

A picture is worth a thousand words!

It was definitely “cool” plants as the stars of the show—no Echeveria or similar types here...

Remember Plants Greed from our 3D printed pots feature? Or the Seiko Oki works we introduced in the previous column, “Pot Collection”?

A Unique System More Events Should Imitate!

This event introduced a system you don’t really see elsewhere, so here’s a heads-up for those looking to attend.

Centralized Checkout

Instead of paying at each booth, you collect sales slips at each vendor then pay for everything together at a central register. Afterwards, you exchange your paid slip for your items. It keeps things moving quickly at each booth, avoids any fuss about different payment methods, and you don’t have to carry everything around while you shop. I’m curious, though, how it works during really crowded times—wonder if there’s ever confusion?

Self-serve Packing Corner

A feature I loved: there’s a self-serve packing corner! By letting attendees pack their own purchases, things stay smooth at the booths, and best of all, all packing materials—even paper bags and cardboard—are free. The packing area is located on a separate floor by the exit, so even if it gets crowded there, it doesn’t affect the main venue. My only questions: what if you buy so much you can’t carry it all to the exit? And do all attendees know about the packing area before arriving?

The Venue: “about her.” in Minoh City

The only slight downside is getting there. If you’re coming from central Osaka, it’s pretty smooth switching to the bus at Senri-Chuo Station. But if, like me, you're coming from the northern suburbs, there’s no train, bus rides are long and infrequent, and the bus stop isn’t exactly close—I felt like I wasted a lot of time last time.

There’s a parking area across the street (not fully confirmed) for those driving. The lot in front of the building is used for the event itself, so there may be fewer spaces than usual.

All things considered, I’ll probably bike there this year.

How do you get to the venue?

Other Cool Spots Nearby

The area around the venue has a long history as a wholesaler’s district, with rows of big warehouse buildings. At first glance it can seem like a pretty empty place, but it turns out there are some hidden, stylish gems—old warehouses turned into creative studios and shops.

SQUARE FURNITURE COFFEE STAND is a café run by Square Furniture, known for their solid, stylish furniture. They serve sandwiches and one-plate lunches. Someday, I’d love them to make shelves for my plants!

Popincourt Café, Minoh Main Store: a café filled with greenery and antique retro-shabby décor. Tons of stylish interior ideas worth borrowing!

CAFE Rico. This restaurant café offers hearty burgers and grilled chicken. The crispy French fries and chicken with mustard sauce are delicious—and, despite the generous portions, I finished in no time! The friendly chef chats away in English, and staff speak English in the back, so it almost feels like you’ve teleported to New York (they even hold English cooking classes making use of that environment).

In Closing

I run my business mainly online, but seeing things you’ve only followed on social media “in real life” is a special experience. I'll definitely keep ‘sneaking into’ different events to see what I can learn next!