Hakone Gardens

In 1915, inspired by both a lifelong interest in Japanese Culture and their travels throughout Japan, San Francisco cultural leaders Oliver and Isabel Stine purchased 18 acres of Saratoga hillside to build a summer retreat for family and friends. Stimulated by displays at the 1915 Pan-Pacific Exhibition, Stine traveled to Japan to gather ideas and when she returned home named her retreat after one of her favorite places in Japan, Fuji-Hakone National Park.

In 1918, she retained architect Tsunematsu Shintani (1877-1921) a native of Wakayama prefecture, to design the Upper "Moon Viewing" House and landscape gardener Naoharu Aihara (1870-1941), born to a family of Imperial gardeners in Koyobashi, Tokyo, to design the gardens.

The garden began on a logged out hillside with a dramatic view of the "Valley of the Heart's Delight", what Silicon Valley was then known as. During Japan's late Edo Period (early 19th century) hillside sansos, or country villas, were popular throughout Japan where the pond is set on the slope from which a waterfall can drop into the lake below. All the classic elements of a hill and pond garden can be found at Hakone where there is a master stone, a worshipping stone, guest Isle, meandering pathways with centuries old lanterns, and residential style architecture popular with samurai. The dramatic elevation change from the lower gardens to the Upper House (aligned for moon-viewing) is an ideal setting. The Upper House (built in 1917) includes a study space, a tokonoma or alcove, and a sliding door shelf. The architecture was developed by the tea masters and is characterized by lightness of design and use of natural materials, and minimal ornamentation; similar to the imperial villas in Kyoto where the tea houses are placed throughout the elaborate pond garden.

21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA
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