Mifuneyama Rakuen

Embracing the cliffs of Mifuneyama,
hundreds of thousands of trees and flowers paint the landscape.
It calls upon us to savor the joys of Japan’s four seasons.

Nabeshima Spirits

The Garden Envisioned and
Created by a Wise Lord

Mifuneyama Rakuen spans 500,000㎡ (150,000 tsubo).
In 1845, at the end of the Edo period,
the then Lord of Takeo, Shigeyoshi Nabeshima,
established this grand
strolling pond-style garden.

Set against the majestic cliffs of Mifuneyama,
the garden changes with the seasons: in spring, 200,000 azaleas and 5,000 cherry trees,
summer brings lush greenery and hydrangeas, autumn displays vivid fall foliage, and winter features camellias,
offering a rich variety of seasonal landscapes.

History of Mifuneyama RakuenClose

Shigeyoshi Nabeshima, the 9th head of the Takeo Nabeshima family, created this expansive strolling pond-style garden over approximately three years starting in 1845. The garden is designed around a central pond, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenery while walking its paths.

For the garden's creation, Shigeyoshi invited painters of the Kanō School from Kyoto to depict scenes in an illustrated scroll.

Shigeyoshi Nabeshima［なべしましげよし］

1800–1862
Samurai of late Edo period
9th head of the Takeo Nabeshima family
Lord of Takeo domain under the 28th Saga han administration

Biography of Shigeyoshi NabeshimaClose

Biography
Shigeyoshi Nabeshima［なべしましげよし］

Shigeyoshi Nabeshima, founder of the garden, was appointed as chief retainer of the main Saga Nabeshima domain at the young age of 23, showing exceptional talent. Besides his political skills, he was also talented in painting and waka poetry, earning the title “Kaishunsai.”

He was also known as a connoisseur of nature, often painting landscapes and plants, cultivating flora, creating botanical specimen books, and raising birds.

Mifuneyama Rakuen embodies Shigeyoshi’s love and passion for nature, reflected in every corner of the garden.

Mifuneyama Rakuen
Event Information

teamLab: Forest Where Gods Live 2025

July 18 – November 3, 2025

Flower Festival 2025 (Ended)

April 7 – May 6, 2025

A Year at Mifuneyama Rakuen

Early Spring
Flower Festival（Cherry Blossoms）

About 2,000 cherry trees bloom throughout the garden.

Mid March – Early April

Spring
Flower Festival（Azaleas, Wisteria, Spring Maples）

200,000 azaleas and wisteria estimated to be 180 years old, among other blooms.

Early April – Early May

Early Summer
Upside-down Maple and Azalea

Early May – Late May

Rainy Season
Upside-down Maple and Hydrangea in Rain

Hydrangeas are in full bloom during the rainy season.

Early June – Mid July

Summer
teamLab
"Forest Where Gods Live"
Our popular summer event

Mid July – November

Early Autumn
Water Moon and Insect Sounds

Early November

Autumn
Autumn Leaves Festival

The autumn scenery spreads across 500,000㎡ with one of Japan's largest illuminated foliage displays.

Early November – Early December

Winter
Bare Trees and Occasional Snow

From late January to early February, camellias reach their peak bloom.

Early December – Early March

Highlights of Mifuneyama Rakuen

Haginoo Teahouse

Built by Lord Shigeyoshi Nabeshima as a villa during the creation of Mifuneyama Rakuen, located by the pond.

Chaya Bar

Guests staying at Mifuneyama Rakuen Hotel can enjoy the Chaya Bar at night.

500 Rakan and Three Buddha Cliff Carvings

About 1,300 years ago, the famous monk Gyoki entered Mifuneyama and carved three statues of Buddha along with 500 Rakan statues into the cliffs, enshrining them in caves.