Is prior experience needed to participate?

No prior experience is necessary; the professional landscaper guides you through every step.

What will I take home from the workshop?

You’ll bring home your own living mini Zen garden complete with a mini bonsai and sand elements.

Are materials provided?

Yes, all materials including plants, rocks, and sand are supplied during the session.

Can I schedule a private group session?

Yes, private bookings are available—contact the organizers directly to arrange.

What if it rains on the day of the workshop?

Workshops are held under a covered rooftop area; sessions usually proceed unless weather is severe.

Is drinking sake mandatory?

The sake is offered as part of the cultural experience and optional for participants.

Create Your Own Mini Zen Garden Workshop in Singapore’s Secret Rooftop Oasis

Singapore, a city known for its vibrant urban energy, offers a surprising escape high above its bustling streets. At a secret rooftop garden tucked away on East Coast Road, you can immerse yourself in the tranquil art of Japanese Zen garden design through the Mini Zen Garden (Private) workshop. This unique experience blends creative hands-on activity with cultural learning, set against the backdrop of lush greenery and the subtle hum of urban nature, making it a standout outing in Singapore’s outdoor recreation scene.

The workshop is led by a professional landscaper with expertise in crafting authentic Zen gardens, giving you expert guidance to create your own living mini garden. Over a focused 1.5-hour session, you learn the seven core design principles of Zen gardens, including austerity and asymmetry, bringing an understanding of how these elements evoke calm and balance. The rooftop garden itself is an unexpected natural refuge, known for its beekeeping and quiet charm amid the city’s intensity.

Your creation centers on a live mini bonsai, accompanied by carefully chosen natural materials such as rocks to represent mountains and miniature bridges symbolizing portals to other planes. These softscape elements are key to the Zen philosophy and give your garden both symbolic meaning and aesthetic beauty. The process of raking sand patterns and arranging these pieces becomes a mindful meditation in itself, allowing you to slow down and connect with nature in an urban setting.

The experience concludes with a relaxing cup of sake, underscoring the Japanese cultural roots of the garden art and providing a perfect moment to reflect on your work and the peaceful space around you. All materials are provided, and by the session’s end, you have a beautiful, living garden to bring home and tend to—offering a lasting reminder of your time cultivating calm.

This workshop offers a rare combination of hands-on craft, cultural immersion, and outdoor enjoyment right in Singapore. It’s especially ideal for anyone looking to expand their creative horizons, find moments of mindfulness, or gift themselves a slice of tranquility within the city’s dynamic environment. Whether you’re a local or visiting, the Mini Zen Garden workshop promises a refreshing, hands-on experience in one of Singapore’s lesser-known green gems.

Nearby, Singapore’s East Coast Park provides ample outdoor adventure options, from cycling and kayaking to beach lounging, allowing visitors to round out their day with a full mix of relaxation and recreation. This workshop fits especially well for those seeking a blend of art, culture, and nature on their urban explorations.

About The Sundowner

The Sundowner is a Singapore-based experiential venue offering hands-on workshops, rooftop adventures, and farm-based activities for families, couples, and private groups. Located in Singapore, it runs a diverse program including rooftop ice baths, cocktail-mixing sessions in The Nomad's Tent, mead-making workshops, live coffee roasting, terrarium classes, and various fermentation and permaculture experiences.

Guests can book private and public options such as the Rooftop Ice Bath add-on, private cocktail mixing, and kids-only pizza parties. The Nomad's Tent sessions feature a sand floor and rooftop garden sunset views. The rooftop farm hosts activities that introduce visitors to apiary visits, honey tasting, worm hunts, and ant observations for education and engagement.

Workshops cover craft and culinary skills: mead making includes apiary exploration and personalized bottling; roast-your-own-coffee sessions teach bean origins and hands-on roasting; terrarium and mini zen garden classes focus on soil, microorganisms, and sustainable plant scaping. Fermentation experiences teach kimchi, kombucha, and other gut-friendly ferments.

The Sundowner accommodates private events, school tours, and family-friendly programming. Experiences listed in its program include Bean to Bar Chocolate, permaculture tours, salad and sugarcane workshops, rearing chickens, honey ice cream, and pizza-making options. Booking information, pricing, and availability are provided through The Sundowner's official reservation channels. The venue emphasizes educational experiences, practical skills, and memorable hands-on activities in an urban rooftop and farm setting.

Many experiences provide alcohol-free or mocktail alternatives, and several workshops offer private booking or school-tour formats tailored to different age groups and group sizes for flexible scheduling. See official listings for details.