The Guests' Path Down From the Hill
Umegayatsu Kairakuen Stone Fence and Stone Steps (梅ヶ谷津偕楽園石塀及び石段, Umegayatsu Kairakuen ishibei oyobi ishidan) are stone structures built in 1839 at Umegayatsu Kairakuen in Akenokawachicho, Hirado City, Nagasaki Prefecture, running from the hill on the north side of the estate to the path in front of the main house entrance; they became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on December 26, 2005. They consist of a flight of stone steps 11 meters long and, below it, a stone fence 6 meters long.
Nagasaki Prefecture explains that the steps and fence were built as the route for visitors coming down from the northern hill. Guests at Matsura Hiromu's retreat, in other words, arrived not from the sea but from above, following this path to the house.
Treads, Side Walls and a Final Curve
The steps are paved with flat stones and flanked by low side walls. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that at the bottom they curve gently toward the main house. Instead of dropping straight down, the path turns at the end so the house swings into view in front of the person descending.
That curve is the heart of the Umegayatsu Kairakuen Stone Fence and Stone Steps. At the end of a hill path the direction shifts and the visitor is brought face to face with the building, an arrival staged with care, as befits a villa made for refined leisure.
Two Masonry Methods in One Fence
The fence below the steps changes its masonry halfway up. According to the Agency, the lower part is Karazumi, dry-laid rough fieldstone, while the upper part is mortared. Both levels use cut stone at the corners to give crisp edges.
Nagasaki Prefecture describes the same fence as having a lower section of shaped stones with their faces aligned and an upper section of fist-sized black stones set in lime plaster. The two sources differ on how finished the lower stones are, but agree that the method changes from bottom to top and that the upper part is bound with plaster.
Dry-laid stone below for drainage and stability, small black stones in plaster above for the surface, and cut stone only at the corners: it is a detail you will only notice by standing close.
Visiting the Umegayatsu Kairakuen Stone Fence and Stone Steps
The Umegayatsu Kairakuen Stone Fence and Stone Steps are outdoor structures seen from within the grounds when the estate is open. The steps were built as a working path, so watch your footing and avoid climbing on the side walls or handling the stones. The estate is privately owned; stay within the areas you are shown.
Opening hours and directions are on the Umegayatsu Kairakuen page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Nagasaki
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Q&A
- When were the Umegayatsu Kairakuen Stone Fence and Stone Steps built?
- In 1839. They became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2005.
- What were the Umegayatsu Kairakuen Stone Fence and Stone Steps for?
- They formed the path for visitors coming down from the northern hill to the area in front of the main house entrance.
- How long are the Umegayatsu Kairakuen Stone Fence and Stone Steps?
- The steps run 11 meters and the fence 6 meters.
- What is special about the masonry of the Umegayatsu Kairakuen Stone Fence and Stone Steps?
- The fence changes method between its lower and upper parts, with small black stones set in plaster above and cut stone at the corners. The steps curve gently toward the house at the bottom.
- Can I see the Umegayatsu Kairakuen Stone Fence and Stone Steps?
- Yes, from within the grounds when the estate is open. It is private property, so follow the staff's directions.
Basic Information
| Name | Umegayatsu Kairakuen Stone Fence and Stone Steps |
|---|---|
| Location | 348 Akenokawachicho, Hirado City, Nagasaki Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered December 26, 2005 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 (listed as one building unit in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database) |
| Dimensions | Stone fence 6 meters long; stone steps 11 meters long |
| Owner | Private owner (per Nagasaki Prefecture's cultural property database) |
| Public Access | Viewable within the grounds when the estate is open (call ahead) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Umegayatsu Kairakuen Stone Fence and Stone Steps
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00005208
- Nagasaki Prefecture Cultural Properties: Umegayatsu Kairakuen (Japanese)
- https://www.pref.nagasaki.jp/bunkadb/index.php/view/392
Last verified: 2026.09.19
