Saratoga News

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Photograph by George Sakkestad

Taking in the tranquility of Hakone Gardens while watching koi swim in the pond are (from left) Sue Bouckley, Sarah Bouckley and Kumi Sato.

It's election time; residents need to vote--for Hakone

By Shannon Burkey

Historic Hakone Gardens is looking to modern technology to help bring its past back to life.

With the help of the people of Saratoga, Hakone could be one recipient of a portion of a $1 million grant to put toward the preservation of the gardens.

Hakone, along with 25 other historic sites in the Bay Area, has been selected for a contest in which the public votes online for their favorite historical site. The sites with the most votes will split the money, based on the public's votes and the preservation needs of each site.

"We need the help of the people of Saratoga," said Hakone Foundation executive director, Lon Saavedra. "Hakone is the jewel and gateway to Saratoga."

The contest came together through a joint effort among American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the World Monuments Fund. The three committed to a $10 million, five-year effort towards historic preservation.

Hakone Gardens was one of 25 landmarks that "reflect the diversity, cultural heritage and vitality of the Bay Area" culled from a field of 100 to qualify as a contestant. Some of the other locations include the Angel Island Immigration Station, the Fox Theater in Oakland, the Pigeon Point Lighthouse Station in Pascadero, San Francisco Streetcar No. 798, the Tilden Park Carousel and Casa Grande in Almaden.

Saavedra said he hopes people will see how vital Hakone Gardens is to the community and cast their votes.

"Silicon Valley is an environment for emerging global culture, and Hakone Gardens is a venue for the emerging global culture of art, ideas and spirituality," Saavedra said. "We are an amazing crossroads of culture."

If Hakone receives a portion of the money, it plans to use it to restore its Cultural Exchange Building, which was designed by Kiyoshi Yasui, a 14th-generation architect to the Imperial family. The building was designed to be a replica of a 19th-century Kyoto tea merchant's home and shop.

The building was completed in 1991 in Japan, then disassembled and shipped to Saratoga to be reassembled at Hakone Gardens.

"It is the only building of its kind anywhere in the United States," Saavedra said.

Currently the gardens need about $2 million to $3 million in restoration money to restore the building to its former self, and Saavedra is looking to Saratoga to help their efforts.

"We need people to vote early and often, every day," Saavedra said. "We are already at a disadvantage because as a foundation we haven't been around as long as some of the other places, and we don't have the depth of consistent support that they do."

Bay Area voters can vote once a day through Oct. 31 by visiting www.partnersinpreservation.com/.