Takeo’s Mifuneyama Rakuen has been highlighted on a list of 30 reasons to go to Japan before you die by TsunaguJapan. It notes that:

This Japanese circuit style garden is in Saga, Kyushu, and was built in 1845. You can enjoy 200,000 azalea, 5,000 cherry blossom trees, and 170 year old Japanese wisteria.

Visible from afar, you know when you are getting close to Takeo when you see its centerpiece, Mt. Mifune. Although it is in the center of Takeo, the surrounding park is tucked away in its own little world. The mountain is home to heaps of Sakura trees that blossom in early spring, as well as the Azaleas that flower in mid-late April.

Night visits are also possible due to the many lights that illuminate the surrounding park. There is 400 yen entrance fee and the gardens are a 5minute drive or 30minute walk from Takeo Onsen station.