Mifuneyama Rakuen Hotel

Mifuneyama Rakuen Hotel is a hotel located within the historic garden grounds in Takeo Onsen, Saga Prefecture. The garden dates back to the late Edo period, and the hotel earned 4 pavilions in the Michelin Guide in 2014. The vast park of about 500,000 m² is filled with seasonal trees and flowers, offering highlights throughout the year, and is designated as a national monument. The mountain behind the garden resembles a Chinese-style ship, so it is also called “Tosen-yama.” The garden was created over about three years as a villa by Nabeshima Shigeyoshi, the 28th lord of the Takeo domain. Spring features about 2,000 cherry trees and 50,000 azaleas; autumn foliage colors the scenery in vivid oranges, reds, and golds. Beyond the seasons, the dusk “magic time” offers scenery distinct from daytime, making it ideal for a full-day stroll. After exploring, relaxing in the hotel’s hot springs and enjoying locally sourced meals is a recommended course. Access: by public transportation, it is about 5 minutes by taxi from JR Takeo-Onsen Station (JR Sasebo Line). By car, exit at Takeo-Kitakata IC (Nagasaki Expressway) and drive about 5 km.