I’ve lived in the South Bay most of my life, yet somehow I’d never visited Hakone Gardens. It’s been nestled in the Saratoga foothills since 1918 & open to the public for nearly 40 years. What a treasure this place is! Delicate & structured yet wild & natural, all at the same time. Gentle waterfalls, swarming koi, snappish turtles, climbing wisteria, elegant cedar buildings, all arranged so precisely on the hillside & lush with authentic plants, dotted with traditional stone lanterns. It’s a must-see for Japanophiles & a really lovely spot for anyone to visit.
But we didn’t just go for the zen goodness, oh no! We went to dress up & play among costumer folk. I was delighted to see all my old friends there, all looking resplendent in Victorian finery and/or Japanese elegance. This was such a simple costumed event too — all you had to do was throw on a kimono or hapi coat over a dress or pants & shirt, as about half the guests did. That was enough to get into the spirit of things.
I must admit, I felt almost like the belle of the ball. Everyone loved my Sushi Victorian. People would do a double-take. “Oh what a lovely bustle gown” (thinking it was just a bright red floral print). Then, upon closer inspection, “Oh my goodness, that’s sushi! And the parasol & purse match! And look at her hat & the hair sticks!” I even did a few peep shows where I unbuttoned two mid-waist buttons on my polonaise to reveal a strategically placed image of a California roll on my corset (Yosa must have planned that!). Of course, that just got ppl asking if I had sushi-print knickers (note to self: get black sushi fabric & make proper Victorian bloomers to match ;-).
Even aside from the gluttony of praise, it was a great afternoon. I chatted with amazing people in a beautiful setting. I admired everyone’s costumes & took pictures of many. It was exactly what a good costumed event should be.
