Saito Villa

Exquisite gardens

The Saito Villa in Niigata is a great place to visit for a few reasons. If you have any interest in architecture or history, the villa itself is stunning -- it was built in the early 1900s for one of Niigata's wealthiest families, so it's an impressive piece of craftsmanship. My favorite thing though is the gardens, which are lovely during summer because of the greenery, but they also really shine in autumn with all of the changing leaves and their colors. There is a small admission fee (300 yen for adults, 100 yen for elementary and junior high students) but I think it's worth it.