Photograph by Robert Scheer
Visitors drink in the beauty of the traditional Japanese garden.
By Michelle Gabriel
Caught up in the everyday stress of living in Silicon Valley, it's easy to forget that the peaceful serenity of nature is only a short drive away at Hakone Gardens. Set in the hills above the village of Saratoga, the garden has captured the imagination of artists and dreamers alike since Isabel Stine first created the weekend retreat in 1918. Used to entertain San Francisco diplomats, friends and artists, the picturesque gardens changed hands a number of times before being purchased by Saratoga as a city park in 1966.
Hakone Gardens, named after the mountain hot-springs resort in the Fuji-Hakone National Park in southeast Honshu, has maintained its natural beauty and tranquil setting. Tanso Ishihara, the original Japanese-garden specialist, is credited with bringing the garden back to its high standards after the city purchased it. Soon after the city bought it, Hakone Gardens became the link to establishing Saratoga's sister city relationship with Muko-shi, Japan.
Under the nurturing care of Japanese-garden specialist Jack Tomlinson, the Hakone has continued to flourish. In 1987, a bamboo park was added, and recently, a tea garden was planted to grow teas from Japan. Roots and cuttings from the Kyoto Tea Research Institute have been received and planted on the hill, Tomlinson says. (The plantings are still small, but they are worth seeing.)
According to Tomlinson, bamboo, tea and rice are the three main plants that epitomize the Japanese culture. "Bamboo is a very important, highly prized part of Japanese culture, and now that bamboo has been established [at Hakone]," he says, "we are starting to develop tea."
While he has no plans to include rice in the garden, Tomlinson says the whole idea of growing tea is very interesting and quite unique in this area. Many people drink tea, but not too many people have any idea how it is grown or what it looks like in its original form. Hakone offers an opportunity to see and learn what Japanese tea is all about.
Tomlinson says people respond to Hakone Gardens because it provides a glimpse of another time and another cultural experience. "They are drawn to the beauty of the trees and waterfalls, and the beauty that surrounds the gardens freely and spontaneously. Hakone Gardens provides a kind of tradition that is appreciated by people from all over the world."
And indeed it is. Individuals from all over the world make it a point to visit the gardens, and many locals bring friends or out-of-town visitors, says Kay Duffy, Hakone Foundation president and onetime Saratoga resident.
"Hakone Gardens is one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in the United States." adds Duffy, who teaches a number of watercolor painting and abstract collage classes at Hakone.
There are many classes offered throughout the year, including pottery and jewelry, as well as an assortment of art-related classes. Duffy describes it as "a little of everything."
According to Duffy, a full schedule of events and activities are planned for the fall, including visiting artists from Japan, a quilt-making class taught by Grace Townsman and the San José Opera's production of Madame Butterfly, to be performed in the garden.
"And of course," she adds, "Hakone continues to be a favorite setting for weddings and business gatherings."
The Hakone Foundation, established to develop a plan and provide resources for the preservation, improvement, development and management of the gardens, also works to promote a cultural exchange between the United States and Japan.
The popularity of the traditional tea ceremony is another favorite among visitors to the gardens. Thanks in part to the skill and dedication of Aiko Tauchi, who has been teaching and conducting the ceremony for more than a year, the tea ceremony continues to be a big draw. Offered on the first Thursday of each month from 1 to 4 p.m., the ceremony is open to the public to observe, or for a $5 fee, guests may participate in the ceremony. Tauchi, who has had visitors from all over the world, including Saratoga schoolchildren, plans to offer more classes in response to the growing interest.
Even the Cultural Exchange Center is a tourist attraction. Designed by Kiyoshi Yasui, a 16th-generation architect whose roots date back to the imperial family of Japan, the center resembles an authentic model of a house used by Japanese tea merchants. "Mr. Yasui has helped us at Hakone Gardens for 30 years," Tomlinson says. "He, along with Dr. Morihito Nagai, have told me that they regard Hakone as the most authentic Japanese garden in this country."
Given this high regard, it is not surprising that the number of visitors flocking to Hakone has increased. "Hakone has been very popular this year, especially on weekends," says a happy Tomlinson. "Even with the parking fee in effect [$3 on weekdays, $5 on weekends], people are still coming here, and business is flourishing."
While it is certainly a far cry from the days of Isabel Stine's secluded hideaway, Hakone Gardens has successfully managed to retain its peaceful charm. "This is such a fantastic resource," says Marty Clevenger, a member of the sister city committee. "It is a shame that there are still many people who have not heard of Hakone Gardens, but they will. It is here, and I think eventually more and more people are going to find about it."
Located on 15.5 acres of land at 21000 Big Basin Way, Hakone is a quarter-mile from downtown Saratoga. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For information, call 867-3438. A program guide, listing classes and special events, will be published in the fall. Those wishing to be placed on the mailing list can call the Hakone Foundation at 741-4994.
Fall classes and programs
* Koji Wada of Japan's Kasuri Dyeworks will lecture on Japanese textiles at 11 a.m. Oct. 17 and offer items for sale. Registration fee is $5, and refreshments will be served.
* The Hakone Foundation sponsors a bus trip Nov. 14 to see "Splendors of Imperial China" at the Asian Art Museum. Registration fee is $35 for Museum Society members.
Classes in watercolor, calligraphy, paper-making and ikebana flower-arranging are offered.
* Kay Duffy teaches watercolor painting Oct. 7 and 21, Nov. 4 and 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
* Stephen Zander teaches ikebana flower-arranging Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 10 a.m. to noon.
* Bertolet Class teaches calligraphy Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30 and Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
* Carolyn Hofstetter teaches oil painting Oct. 11 and 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Linda Mau teaches paper-making Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
* Marta Szoboszlay teaches the art of pastels Oct. 14 and 28, Nov. 11 and 25 and Dec. 2 and 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Call Hakone Gardens, 741-4994, for information about classes.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, October 2, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved