Hakone Gardens (www.hakone.com) is the oldest Japanese garden in the Western Hemisphere (94 years old!) and is a National Trust for Historic Preservation landmark (not sure what that is, but sounds important).  It’s a replica of a Japanese Samurai Garden, and also happens to be about a 5 minute drive from Saratoga Springs.  After driving by it every day for almost a month, I figured I should at least check it out before I left.

After driving up the steepest hill blacktruck has ever seen, I paid my $5 fee and roamed around the gardens for a couple of hours.  Lots to see, very impressive, very zen, very difficult to capture in pictures.  But I tried, there are about 40 here below.  I’d imagine that when things are actually in bloom it would be much more scenic, but it was still good stuff.

I’d imagine that when this was built nearly 100 years ago, the mountainside location would’ve been an incredible retreat, far away from whatever city life goings-on and noise and whatnot.  Unfortunately, any possibility of calm is ruined by the never-ending screams of the Loud Pipes Save Lives motorcyclists on their way out toward Skyline Drive.  I love motorcycles 99% of the time, but it definitely messed with the whole mood they’re going for.

Anyway, definitely recommended if you’re in the area.

Posted in: NorCal