This tranquil replica of a Japanese samurai estate is a beautiful place to walk around and relax in.
Dating back to 1915, the Hakone Japanese Gardens are the oldest Asian estate and gardens in the Western Hemisphere. The 7 hectares of gardens are an authentic replica of a Japanese Samurai's garden, which were designed by one of the descendants of the imperial gardening family members. Located in the Saratoga hills, a 20-minute drive from San Jose, Hakone is made up of chaparral, woodland and manicured Japanese gardens. It was designed and built by San Francisco art patrons Isabel and Oliver Stine and designed to be a summer retreat. After falling into disrepair and changing hands several times, Hakone was rescued in the 1960s by a group of local families. Today Hakone is owned by the City of Saratoga and are open to the public.It's a delightful experience to wander through the harmoniously arranged trees, manicured hedges, historic buildings, flower gardens, rock formations and water features that make up Hakone. The gardens express the Japanese philosophy that the garden is a space in which art and nature merge seamlessly. Hakone has four principal gardens: the Hill and Pond Garden which is a great place for strolling with twisting paths leading to a pond the Zen Garden which you cannot enter but view from the sides the Tea Garden which is tranquil and soothing and has a tsukubai, or water basin, used before tea ceremonies, and the Bamboo Gardens which houses highly prized bamboos from Yasui in Japan.As well as the gardens, Hakone acts as a Japanese cultural centre and offers classes in flower arrangement and origami, yoga and meditation. There are also tea ceremonies and kimono-wearing demonstrations, but these must be booked ahead: see the website for details. The gardens are open every day and are quietest during the week.
