Kunenan Villa and Garden

Kyushu's most restricted tourist site

By Mandy Bartok

Community writer

A path in the garden leads to places unknown

The garden is open only in November and usually at the peak of foliage season

You have to share the garden with tons of people, as it's only open nine days a year

During the Meiji period, businessman Itami Yataro wanted a second home in the mountains of Saga. He and his architect set to work designing Kunenan, named the Nine Year Garden for the amount of time it took to create. Today, this property is only open to the public for four days in May (May 3-6 for 2014) and nine days in November (November 15-23 for 2014). That's when the grounds are at their best, with copious maple trees turning stunning shades of red. A sukiya style house with open verandas makes for a photogenic backdrop against the changing foliage.

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Find out more about Kunenan Garden.

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By Mandy Bartok

Community writer

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Tristan Scholze 9 years ago

Pretty! Love the mossy, rocky approach here.

Mandy Bartok Photographer 9 years ago

It was hard to truly appreciate the garden with all of the crowds, but the leaves were beautiful. Next year if I return, I'll try to go on a weekend rather than on a holiday weekend.