Kunenan Garden Autumn Leaves 2026
Last updated: July 28, 2026. Typical viewing times and details below are compiled from official park, temple, city and tourism-association websites (linked at the end of this page). The dates of annual night light-ups are set each year — check the official site before you travel.
A nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty, Kunenan is a moss-blanketed sukiya-style villa garden whose crimson maples set against green moss and a warm thatched roof have become an iconic image of autumn in Saga.
Key Facts
| Typical peak | Mid to late November (garden opens to the public only for a limited autumn period) |
|---|---|
| Best months | November |
| Location | Kanzaki, Saga |
| Nearest station | JR Kanzaki Station (Nagasaki Main Line), about 10 minutes onward by taxi or local bus. |
| Admission | Kunenan is open to the public only during a limited autumn period each year, when admission is charged (recently 1,000 yen for high-school age and above); visitors with a disability certificate are admitted free. Exact dates and fees are set annually by the organizers, so confirm the current year's official announcement before visiting. |
| Night light-up | No autumn night light-up |
| Official site | https://kunenan-saga.jp/ |
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Highlights
- The signature contrast of red maple leaves, green moss, and the thatched roof of the villa
- A moss-covered garden that borrows the Chikushi Plain as a distant backdrop
- Opened to the public for only a limited number of days each autumn, making a visit feel special
Where to See the Autumn Leaves
Kunenan Garden (Paid)
The historic villa garden itself, with stepping stones and stairways winding through deep moss beneath crimson maples; access requires the limited-period admission ticket during the autumn opening.
At Nibiyama, Kanzaki-machi, Kanzaki City, Saga; about 10 minutes by taxi or local bus from JR Kanzaki Station, or about 10 minutes by car from Higashi-Seburi IC on the Nagasaki Expressway.
Getting There
In Kanzaki City, Saga Prefecture, near the Yoshinogari archaeological site. About 10 minutes by taxi or bus from JR Kanzaki Station, or about 10 minutes by car from Higashi-Seburi IC. During the autumn opening, general parking uses temporary lots (around 500 yen) and a free shuttle bus runs from the Yoshinogari Park lot on weekends and holidays; there is no parking at the entrance.
Crowd & Timing Tips
- Kunenan is open to the public for only a limited window each autumn (recently expanded to about two weeks in mid-to-late November), so check the current year's official dates before planning and expect crowds on weekends.
- The garden has many stepping stones and stairs and is not wheelchair accessible; tripods and baby carriages must be left at the entrance.
About Kunenan Garden
Kunenan was built as the villa of Saga businessman Itami Yataro, constructed over nine years from 1900 (Meiji 33) under the guidance of the monk Hori Washo, hence the name meaning 'Nine-Year Hermitage.'
See more autumn-leaf spots: Kyushu Autumn Leaves 2026 · Japan Autumn Leaves Guide 2026