Tranquil Tea

Sure, Saratoga's Hakone Gardens is the oldest Japanese-style garden in the Western Hemisphere, and the filming location for Memoirs of a Geisha; but you wouldn't know it. Hakone isn't a showy kind of place. Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Hakone Gardens is all about tranquility. Get a cultural zen experience by participating in the once-a-month tea ceremony. Hosted in the tatami room, a tea master dressed in the traditional kimono gives people a glimpse into Japanese culture. The hour-long ceremony includes a tasty Japanese sweet, and some fresh (amazingly bright!) green tea. Remove your shoes and get ready for a mind massage: The meditative atmosphere relaxes you from head to toe, down to the bones. Afterwards, mill around the hillside estate: multi-tiered waterfalls, koi ponds, and individual gardens stretch for 18 acres. Wander to the Moonviewing House and under the Wisteria Arbor to a secluded pavilion. Or stroll through the Bamboo Garden (pictured) where plants rise over 60 feet. Hakone is heavenly.

Hakone Gardens, 21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga; 408-741-4994. There is a $5 admission fee. Attending the once-a-month tea ceremony is an additional $5. Tea ceremonies happen every third Sunday of the month at noon, 1 and 2 p.m. No dogs.