Mature maples and a historic villa give Momijien Garden an intimate setting for a stroll in Nagaoka. Explore the garden around the villa, looking from the shape of the old trees to the details of individual leaves.
Featured image: AT / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photographed 10 November 2020. Resized and converted to WebP; no additional compositional crop. Image source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Why visit
Created around 1896 as the Takahashi family's villa garden, Momijien brings together roughly 4,000 square metres of grounds, mature maple trees, mountain cherry trees and azaleas. Tomoegaoka Sanso adds a villa setting to the planting. The attraction is not just a close-up of maple leaves: consider the relationship between the mature trees and the garden as a whole.
Plan your visit
For a straightforward visit, choose a daylight garden walk. Strolling is free; villa interiors, guided visits and reserved room use are separate services, so consult the operator in advance if those are your priority.
The garden is at 600 Asahi, Nagaoka, about 10 minutes on foot from Raikoji Station. Drivers should check the operator’s parking map: the garden-front car park is unavailable during the maple festival, when other parking restrictions also apply.
Make the most of your visit
Try looking at the maples at two scales: first the shape of a mature tree, then the detail of individual leaves. Keep the mountain cherry trees and azaleas in mind as part of the garden's planting, too, rather than looking only for red foliage. Autumn colour depends on conditions, so let the garden's structure and villa setting be part of the reason to come.
Planning notes
Checked on 18 October 2026: the official visitor guide lists an April–end of November season, 09:00–17:00 hours and Wednesday closure for the villa and managed facilities, while explicitly stating that the garden itself is always open. Those facility hours should not be read as a Wednesday or 17:00 closure of the garden.
The guide asks visitors not to bring pets, except guide dogs. Leave plants, animals, soil and rocks in place, and take your rubbish away. Check the current event information before planning an evening visit; the timing of autumn colour varies.
Practical information
Highlights
Highlights: Momijien was created around 1896 as the Takahashi family's villa garden. The roughly 4,000-square-metre grounds include mature maple trees, mountain cherry trees and azaleas, together with the Tomoegaoka Sanso villa. Autumn colour depends on conditions.
Information as of .
Opening hours
The official visitor guide lists the garden/villa season as April–end of November, with 09:00–17:00 hours and Wednesdays closed, while explicitly stating that the garden itself is always open. Treat the villa/managed facilities separately and plan an ordinary garden walk in daylight.
Information as of .
Price
Garden strolling is free. Villa interiors, guided visits and reserved room use are separate; consult the operator in advance for those services.
Information as of .
Access
Address: 600 Asahi, Nagaoka. The operator describes about 10 minutes on foot from Raikoji Station. Several car parks are shown on its access map; the garden-front car park is unavailable during the maple festival, and the temporary front car park gives priority to visitors with disabilities during the festival. Check the current map and signs.
Information as of .
Closures and restrictions
Leave plants, animals, soil and rocks in place, and take rubbish away. The visitor guide asks visitors not to bring pets, except guide dogs.
Information as of .
Useful links
Momijien Nagaoka tourism profile
Momijien official visitor guide
Momijien official access and parking map
Information based on checks dated 2026-10-18.