Saga

<p>The sukiya style hermitage at Kunenan</p>

The sukiya style hermitage at Kunenan (Photo: Mandy Bartok)

Saga

Kunenan Villa and Garden

Kyushu's most restricted tourist site

Mandy Bartok Nov 24, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>The sukiya style hermitage at Kunenan</p>

<p>A path in the garden leads to places unknown</p>

<p>The garden is open only in November and usually at the peak of foliage season</p>

<p>A close up on the garden's maples</p>

<p>Fall foliage</p>

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

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.

More info

Find out more about Kunenan Garden.

Mandy Bartok

Mandy Bartok @mandy.bartok

Japan resident for 10 years, with time spent in Okinawa, Kumamoto and Tokyo.