What other travelers are saying about Former Saito Family Villa, Niigata
I almost made a huge mistake by trusting the reviews and nearly decided not to visit this place.
People who leave negative reviews probably just don’t know how to see beauty.
This place is an absolute must-visit if you love Japanese culture, gardens, and interiors, if you are interested in history, and if your heart knows how to feel.
The villa was built in 1918 to receive guests and was designed in the late Taishō style, where the house and the garden are experienced as one unified space.
Large windows and sliding doors create a seamless connection between the interior and the garden — when you are inside, it feels as if you are already outdoors.
The garden features a pond, a stream, small bridges, and a waterfall, as well as more than 80 types of trees and shrubs — pine, maple, bamboo, plum, and more.
Unfortunately, the maple leaves had already fallen, but it was still incredibly beautiful.
The villa is considered an important cultural heritage site of Japan and is officially designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty (国指定名勝).
The entrance fee is only 300 yen, yet the beauty is worth a million.
When people say it is very small — are you serious? I spent 50 minutes walking through the villa, examining every detail of this magical place, and couldn’t tear myself away.
Absolutely worth visiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Interior rooms of the villa with traditional sukiya-zukuri (tea house) style architecture, tatami floors, decorative alcoves (tokonoma), painted sliding doors, and period furnishings. A Japanese garden designed by Matsuoka Kenzo featuring ponds, stone paths, and seasonal plantings.
Spring offers cherry blossoms, while autumn provides colorful foliage. The garden's stroll path design creates seasonal beauty year-round with changing plantings and landscape compositions.
Yes. The tea house structure within the garden hosts occasional tea ceremonies. Check in advance for specific dates and participation requirements.
Most visitors spend 60-90 minutes touring the villa interior and strolling through the Japanese garden.
The gardens were small, but very pretty. They have some artwork and small exhibits there. We participated in the quick tea ceremony. We had a nice time. It was very busy and noisywhen we went, so it made it hard to walk around and take everything in.
Worth a visit! Beautifully landscaped garden with a small tearoom at the top. Bring your Google Translate so you can read about the history of the family and villa. Small admission fee. Weekdays are not crowded. No English guides.
A lovely old house in the middle of Niigata.
The house was owned by a famous family and then a poet. Inside is a traditional Japanese house with a stunning garden and a great place to zone out and enjoy some peace, or Zen.
Besides that there is some rooms and pictures of the family with information about them ,old ornaments. Most of the information is in Japanese only but easy enough to translate.
On 1 Aug 2025, my wife took me here. I was particularly interested in seeing the size and decor of the Tea Room as simplicity has been the theme, then and now. If one has no place to go in the city of Niigata, a short visit here can be an option.
