Mifuneyama Rakuen Garden Autumn Leaves 2026 Confirmed
御船山楽園の紅葉 — Takeo, Saga (Kyushu)
Staying in Fukuoka? See what else is on in Fukuoka this season →
- Typical peak
- Nov 6, Nov 7, Nov 8, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 13, Nov 14, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 25, Nov 26, Nov 27, Nov 28, Nov 29, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 2, Dec 3, Dec 4, Dec 5, Dec 6, 2026
- Time
- 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Venue
- Mifuneyama Rakuen Garden, Takeo
- Illumination
- Yes — nighttime illumination during peak season
- Scale
- ~500 maple trees
- Tickets
- Daytime or nighttime: adults (junior high+) ¥600, elementary ¥300; combined day+night: adults ¥900, elementary ¥400; free for hotel guests
- Bad weather
- Open rain or shine (雨天開催); no closure days
- Official site
- www.mifuneyamarakuen.jp
Mifuneyama Rakuen in Takeo stages what is billed as Japan's largest autumn illumination: some 500 maples, including a grand tree about 170 years old, lit nightly beneath the cliff face of Mount Mifune during the Momiji Matsuri (in 2025, November 6 to December 7, night session 5:30-10:00pm). Leaves peak from mid-November to early December. The garden runs a day/night split system — 600 yen for either session, or a 900 yen combo — and its teamLab exhibitions have made it genuinely famous abroad.
Background
Shigeyoshi Nabeshima, lord of the Takeo domain, spent three years creating this strolling garden at the foot of Mount Mifune, completing it in 1845. The 500,000-square-meter grounds later gained international recognition as the setting for teamLab's long-running "A Forest Where Gods Live" digital art exhibition.
Getting there
Take the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen or JR limited express to Takeo-Onsen Station — about 70-80 minutes from Hakata with the Relay Kamome transfer at Takeo, or 25 minutes from Nagasaki. From the station, the garden is a 5-minute taxi ride or about 8 minutes on the local Yutoku bus line.
Tips
- Buy the 900 yen day-night combo: exit at the changeover, eat in town, and return for the illumination — seeing both versions is the point of this garden.
- The reflection of lit maples in the pond by the boathouse is the signature night shot; claim a spot near the water's edge before full dark.
- Takeo Onsen's 1,300-year-old baths and its famous lacquered gate are 10 minutes away — soak between the day and night sessions.
- Weeknights are dramatically quieter than weekends; the final week of November usually combines peak color with lighter crowds than the opening days.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the best time to see Mifuneyama Rakuen Garden Autumn Leaves?
- Autumn color at Mifuneyama Rakuen Garden Autumn Leaves typically peaks from Nov 10 – Dec 5. Exact timing shifts year to year with the weather, so check a real-time foliage forecast close to your trip.
- Where is Mifuneyama Rakuen Garden Autumn Leaves, and how do you get there?
- Mifuneyama Rakuen Garden Autumn Leaves is located at Mifuneyama Rakuen Garden, Takeo in Takeo, Saga. Take the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen or JR limited express to Takeo-Onsen Station — about 70-80 minutes from Hakata with the Relay Kamome transfer at Takeo, or 25 minutes from Nagasaki. From the station, the garden is a 5-minute taxi ride or about 8 minutes on the local Yutoku bus line.
- Is there a named festival or matsuri at Mifuneyama Rakuen Garden Autumn Leaves?
- Mifuneyama Rakuen in Takeo stages what is billed as Japan's largest autumn illumination: some 500 maples, including a grand tree about 170 years old, lit nightly beneath the cliff face of Mount Mifune during the Momiji Matsuri (in 2025, November 6 to December 7, night session 5:30-10:00pm).
- Is there a nighttime illumination at Mifuneyama Rakuen Garden Autumn Leaves?
- Yes — Mifuneyama Rakuen Garden Autumn Leaves holds special evening illumination during peak leaf season. Hours and exact dates change every year, so confirm with the official site before you go.
- How many maple trees are at Mifuneyama Rakuen Garden Autumn Leaves?
- Mifuneyama Rakuen Garden Autumn Leaves has roughly 500 maple trees.
- Is Mifuneyama Rakuen Garden Autumn Leaves free to enter, or do I need tickets?
- Daytime or nighttime: adults (junior high+) ¥600, elementary ¥300; combined day+night: adults ¥900, elementary ¥400; free for hotel guests
Last verified against the official source: Thu, July 9, 2026
Plan your trip
- 🏨 Search hotels on Trip.com
- 🎟️ Tours & experiences in Takeo
- 📱 Get a Japan eSIM (Airalo) — install before you fly, connect the moment you land, no SIM swap needed
Some links above are affiliate links — booking through them supports this site at no extra cost to you.