HadesOmega
Well-known member
I happen to see that Hakone Gardens in Saratoga was having a hanami event. If you don't know what hanami is, it is flower viewing particularly of cherry trees or sakura blossom in Japan. In Japan they hold picnic celebrations underneath the cherry trees. I've always wanted to go Japan when the cherry trees blossom but I'm here so the next best thing is Hakone Gardens!
So my plan was since Hakone Gardens is at the foot of Highway 9, I figured I'd ride up Highway 9 and Skyline to the vista point around 6pm. Get a quick shot at vista point and head back down to Hakone Gardens. I took rode my KLR650 also. I'll say the ride up 9 and skyline was great too. There were no construction zones and I got lucky I didn't follow too many cars. There was a little bit of gravel on the road and I noticed there are some really shiny asphalt at the top of Skyline so I kinda slowed down at those areas. Other than that it was a great ride. :thumbup I have to say the KLR feels like its showing it's age it doesn't climb the hills with much gusto anymore =/
Panoramic on Skyline Road
Its a lot cleaner than the last time I was up. There was garbage all over the place. Little cloudy tonight.
4 corners
So immediately as I turn in to Hakone Gardens you are greeted by the sakura trees and they are lit up. Gives you a little taste of what riding through Hakone Turnpike when the sakura are blooming.
Last glamour shot of Barbie in front of the bamboo
The entrance fee to the garden is $12 for hanami. You pay at the little store and they give you a receipt you use to go through the entrance.
And we're in, always amazes me how clean this place is. There is still some light out. I've also never come here at night, usually its closed at night but for hanami it is not. When its totally dark the lighted trees really stand out.
This was probably the "bloomiest" tree in the garden.
Lighted walkway
View of the main garden from the balcony
So my plan was since Hakone Gardens is at the foot of Highway 9, I figured I'd ride up Highway 9 and Skyline to the vista point around 6pm. Get a quick shot at vista point and head back down to Hakone Gardens. I took rode my KLR650 also. I'll say the ride up 9 and skyline was great too. There were no construction zones and I got lucky I didn't follow too many cars. There was a little bit of gravel on the road and I noticed there are some really shiny asphalt at the top of Skyline so I kinda slowed down at those areas. Other than that it was a great ride. :thumbup I have to say the KLR feels like its showing it's age it doesn't climb the hills with much gusto anymore =/
Panoramic on Skyline Road
Its a lot cleaner than the last time I was up. There was garbage all over the place. Little cloudy tonight.
4 corners
So immediately as I turn in to Hakone Gardens you are greeted by the sakura trees and they are lit up. Gives you a little taste of what riding through Hakone Turnpike when the sakura are blooming.
Last glamour shot of Barbie in front of the bamboo
The entrance fee to the garden is $12 for hanami. You pay at the little store and they give you a receipt you use to go through the entrance.
And we're in, always amazes me how clean this place is. There is still some light out. I've also never come here at night, usually its closed at night but for hanami it is not. When its totally dark the lighted trees really stand out.
This was probably the "bloomiest" tree in the garden.
Lighted walkway
View of the main garden from the balcony
'
