Hakone Gardens
add photosThe oldest Asian and Japanese estate in the Western Hemisphere--eighteen acres of magnificent beauty nestled in the verdant hills of Saratoga overlooking Silicon Valley.
Lots of special events, so be sure to check the website for upcoming events.
4 Reviews for Hakone Gardens
182
52
'11, '12
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"Tranquil"
Of the half dozen bay area Japanese gardens that I have visited, Hakone is my favorite. It is so well tended, peaceful, and zen like. Its impossible to feel stressed here.
We came for a wedding- I wish we had had time to explore more of the space. We will definitely be returning!
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"A peaceful and well-tended Japanese Garden"
I brought my 2 1/2 year old son here on a whim after aborting a hike with him further up in the Saratoga hills (it had rained the previous day and the trails were still too muddy). It worked out perfectly, though, as we were one of the first to arrive at this Japanese garden tucked just a few minutes away from downtown Saratoga.
My son and I had a great time walking along all the well-maintained paths and trails around the estate, and since we arrived just before 10am, it felt like we had the entire garden to ourselves. The paths down by the pond were very easy to stroll around, but the trails further up the hill were a little steeper and more slippery (because of the rain) so my toddler still ended up quite muddy. We spent about 45 minutes here, briskly covering all the paths we could find and then checking out the koi pond and waterfalls. The garden started filling up by the time we were leaving, as a bus load of school children unloaded for a field trip, and moms with strollers and similar aged toddlers started crowding the paths. Come early to fully experience the tranquility of this beautiful garden.
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"One of the cutest places I have ever been"
Sometimes the nicest places are close to home. This is how I feel about the Hakone Gardens. It is one of those perfect places to take your family and enjoy the simple pleasures of life: observing the nature and being happy just for the sake of being there and together.
They have picnic tables and the cherry trees in blossom are not to be missed. I have to say that the gardens are beautiful year round.
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"Impressive Japanese Garden "
Hiking around the gardens, you get a feeling of Zen with the green shrubbery, rocks, and waterfalls. Trails are gradual, with a bit of up and down walking, but the area is small enough for kids to handle. I like to just soak in the beauty of the garden. Worth paying the admission if you have never been there.
Special events are held for year of the ox celebration. http://www.hakone.com/calendar/events.html
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