Prepare to be enchanted by Mifuneyama Rakuen, a “Wonder” that harmoniously blends natural beauty with human artistry.

Name: Mifuneyama Rakuen (御船山楽園)

Address: 4100 Takeo, Takeo-cho, Takeo-shi, Saga Prefecture 843-0022, Japan

How to get there:
Mifuneyama Rakuen is conveniently located in Takeo City, Saga Prefecture. Here are several ways to reach it:

• By Train: The nearest station is JR Takeo-Onsen Station. From there, it’s about a 5-minute taxi ride or a 30-minute walk. You can also take a bus bound for Ureshino Onsen and alight at Mifuneyama Rakuen.
• By Car:
  • From the Takeo-Kitagata Interchange on the Nagasaki Expressway, it’s approximately a 10-minute drive.
  • From Fukuoka Airport, it’s about a 1 hour 10-minute drive.
  • From Nagasaki Airport, it’s about a 40-minute drive.
  • From Saga Airport, it’s about a 50-minute drive.

Landscape and Architecture:
Mifuneyama Rakuen is an expansive garden sprawling over 500,000 square meters at the western foot of Mt. Mifune. This elegant garden was built over three years, starting in 1845, by Shigeyoshi Nabeshima, the 28th ruler of the Takeo Domain, as part of his villa.

The design masterfully incorporates Mt. Mifune itself as “borrowed scenery” (a traditional Japanese garden technique where distant landscapes are integrated into the garden’s design), creating a breathtaking backdrop for the various floral displays. The mountain’s rugged cliffs and verdant slopes provide a dramatic contrast to the meticulously cultivated garden.

Throughout the seasons, the garden transforms:

• Spring: Thousands of cherry blossom trees (around 2,000) and 50,000 azaleas burst into vibrant color, creating a scene reminiscent of a Shan Shui painting. Plum trees also add to the spring beauty.
• Summer: The garden is illuminated with various light installations and projection mapping by art collective TeamLab, creating a mystical and otherworldly atmosphere.
• Autumn: Fiery autumn foliage blankets the landscape, offering another spectacular display of color.
• Winter: Illuminations continue, often utilizing the lake’s surface as a projection screen.

Within the garden, visitors can find a traditional teahouse, a lake with koi fish, and even statues depicting the 500 disciples of Buddha. The park also features the massive Takeo no Okusu, a sacred camphor tree estimated to be over 3,000 years old, one of Japan’s largest.

What makes it famous:
Mifuneyama Rakuen is famous for several key aspects:

• Stunning Seasonal Floral Displays: Its magnificent cherry blossoms and vast fields of azaleas in spring, along with its brilliant autumn foliage, draw countless visitors.
• “Borrowed Scenery” Design: The skillful incorporation of Mt. Mifune as a natural backdrop elevates the garden’s aesthetic to an extraordinary level.
• TeamLab’s Art Installations: In recent years, Mifuneyama Rakuen has gained international recognition for its collaboration with the art collective TeamLab, which transforms the garden into an immersive, light-filled art experience, especially during the evenings.
• Historical Significance: As a former villa garden of a feudal lord, it offers a glimpse into historical Japanese landscape design.
• Holistic Experience: Beyond the garden itself, the presence of the luxurious Onyado Chikurintei inn and Mifuneyama Rakuen Hotel within the grounds allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in the tranquil and beautiful surroundings, often including access to Takeo Onsen’s hot springs.

Differences from some other wonders:

Compared to some other famous gardens or “wonders,” Mifuneyama Rakuen stands out due to:

• Integration of a Natural Mountain: While many Japanese gardens are meticulously designed within their own confines, Mifuneyama Rakuen’s unique characteristic is its seamless integration with the dramatic natural presence of Mt. Mifune, which serves as an integral part of its design rather than just a distant view. This “borrowed scenery” is taken to a grand scale.
• Dynamic Seasonal Transformations with Light Art: While many gardens are beautiful in different seasons, Mifuneyama Rakuen’s commitment to large-scale, cutting-edge light and digital art installations by TeamLab sets it apart. These events transform the garden into a completely different experience after dark, offering a multi-sensory journey that many traditional gardens do not.
• Scale and Scope: The sheer size of the garden (50 hectares) allows for a diverse range of landscapes and experiences, from intimate garden paths to expansive views of floral carpets against the mountain.
• Emphasis on Natural Landscape vs. Purely Manicured: While well-maintained, Mifuneyama Rakuen feels more like a grand natural park enhanced by human design, rather than solely a manicured traditional Japanese garden with strict rules of composition. The wildness of Mt. Mifune is celebrated.
• Connection to Wellness: The presence of onsen (hot springs) facilities within the broader property (Mifuneyama Rakuen Hotel) adds a wellness dimension that might not be as prominent in other garden “wonders.”