![A bridge over the koi pond at Hakone Gardens in Saratoga on 2 April, 2006. Source: Flickr at [1]. Author:doopokko](https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Hakone_Gardens_Bridge.jpg/960px-Hakone_Gardens_Bridge.jpg)
Located in Santa Clara County, California, Hakone Gardens is a botanical garden. The nearest town is Saratoga, about 2.0 km (1.2 mi) away (Hakone Gardens lies SW of town). It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Hakone Gardens is an 18-acre (7.3 ha) traditional Japanese garden in Saratoga, California, United States. A recipient of the Save America's Treasures Award by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, it is recognized as one of the oldest Japanese-style residential gardens in the Western Hemisphere. Notable features include a bamboo garden, a Zen garden, a strolling garden (the Hill and Pond Garden), tea houses, and the Cultural Exchange Center, which is an authentic reproduction of a 19th-century Kyoto tea merchant's house and shop.From the Wikipedia article “Hakone Gardens”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Hakone Gardens the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:12 AM | 90° E | 7:20 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:49 AM | 59° ENE | 8:33 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 44m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:57 AM | 89° E | 7:07 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:19 AM | 119° ESE | 4:55 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 36m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Gardens are best on bright overcast days or early mornings when dew is fresh and the wind is calm.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:53 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:35 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:43 PM | 9h 53m |
| February | 6:31 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:34 AM | 5:12 PM | 5:48 PM | 6:15 PM | 10h 50m |
| March | 6:54 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:54 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:16 PM | 7:42 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:07 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:43 PM | 8:10 PM | 13h 09m |
| May | 5:31 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:10 PM | 8:40 PM | 14h 10m |
| June | 5:17 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:31 PM | 9:02 PM | 14h 43m |
| July | 5:30 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:29 PM | 8:59 PM | 14h 29m |
| August | 5:58 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:29 PM | 13h 36m |
| September | 6:25 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:44 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 6:50 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:52 AM | 5:57 PM | 6:32 PM | 6:59 PM | 11h 16m |
| November | 6:20 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:21 PM | 4:59 PM | 5:27 PM | 10h 11m |
| December | 6:47 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:22 PM | 9h 37m |
Local time (America/Los Angeles), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Hakone Gardens, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:06 AM – 5:26 AM | 0.3 | 14° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:12 AM – 5:42 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:05 AM – 4:55 AM | 2.8 | 24° | SE → S |
| May | 12:14 AM – 4:14 AM | 4.0 | 24° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:24 PM – 3:54 AM | 5.5 | 24° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:18 PM – 2:28 AM | 4.2 | 24° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:38 PM – 12:28 AM | 2.8 | 24° | S → SW |
| September | 8:45 PM – 10:25 PM | 1.7 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:59 PM – 8:19 PM | 0.3 | 14° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.48 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (59%). September is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 67 | 69 | 76 | 80 | 87 | 88 | 78 | 85 | 94 | 84 | 78 | 65 |
| Low °F | 36 | 40 | 41 | 43 | 45 | 48 | 51 | 53 | 51 | 47 | 39 | 36 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.4 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 4.4 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this botanical garden
- Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
- Kaleidoscopic and abstract images are great for flower close-ups — try the online kaleidoscope tool.
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.
Suggested gear: Macro lens, Diffuser, Small reflector. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Hakone Gardens, closest first.
State Park
Waterfall
Ghost Town
Ghost Town
Ghost Town
Ghost Town
State Park
Mountain Peak
Ghost TownFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Hakone Gardens?
What time is golden hour at Hakone Gardens?
Where does the sun rise and set at Hakone Gardens?
Can you see the Milky Way from Hakone Gardens?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Hakone Gardens?
How far is Hakone Gardens from Saratoga?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.