Kunen-an Garden Autumn Leaves 2026 Confirmed
九年庵の紅葉 — Kanzaki, Saga (Kyushu)
✓ Walk-in · numbered tickets
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- Typical peak
- Sat, Nov 14 – Sun, Nov 29, 2026
- Time
- 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Venue
- Kunen-an Garden, Kanzaki
- Tickets
- Admission was 1,000 yen (high school age and over) at the 2025 autumn opening and the 2026 spring opening; the 2026 autumn price and any reservation rules had not been published on the official site as of Oct 7.
- Official site
- kunenan-saga.jp
Kunen-an may be Japan's most exclusive foliage garden — not by price, but by time. This National Place of Scenic Beauty in Saga opens to the public only about 9 to 16 days a year, around November 15-30, timed to the maples' peak (in 2025: November 15-30, 8:00am with last entry 4:00pm). Inside, red canopies float above an unbroken carpet of moss surrounding a thatched-roof villa — a composition so painterly that tens of thousands queue for it each year. Admission is 1,000 yen.
Background
Saga businessman Itami Yataro built the villa and garden as his retreat, employing a noted gardener for nine years of work from 1892 to 1900 — the name Kunen-an means "nine-year hermitage." The garden was designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 1995.
Getting there
Take the JR Nagasaki Line to Kanzaki Station, about 15 minutes from Saga Station or 40-50 minutes from Hakata with a transfer. During the public opening, shuttle buses typically run from near the station to the garden's reception area at Niiyama; outside those dates there is nothing to visit, so confirm the year's opening before planning.
Tips
- The opening window is the whole story: roughly 9-16 days around November 15-30. Lock your Kyushu itinerary to the announced dates.
- Admission is 1,000 yen (high school age and up), and on busy days numbered tickets are issued — arrive early in the morning to secure entry rather than an afternoon slot.
- Overcast or drizzly mornings are a gift here: wet moss saturates to deep green and the maple reds intensify without harsh shadows.
- Neighboring Niiyama Shrine's own maples come free with the walk in, and Yoshinogari's ancient-village park is one station away if you have the afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the best time to see Kunen-an Garden Autumn Leaves?
- Autumn color here usually peaks Nov 15 – Nov 30. Color depends on how cold the nights have been, and peak can land a week either side of the usual window, so check a foliage forecast about a week out.
Maintained by Tetsu Yamamoto · Last verified against the official source: Wed, October 7, 2026