Nicolai Bergmann Hakone Gardens — Attraction in Hakone

Surprise foodie goodness at the cafe here! The gardens are a work in progress & ok but the food in the cafe was...OMG... unbelievable. We enjoyed the hydrangeas & seeing mushrooms growing on the logs. The route was STEEP in alot of places without alot to keep your interest (except the summer cicadas & birds). We stopped & got a bowl of broccoli soup at the cafe and were blown away. It was not just any regular soup! There was an explosion of unexpected complex flavors and goodness that were so good. So much so my husband ordered a tartar dish that was like something out of a New York, San Francisco or European high end restraunt! The chef came out & talked to us. He is Danish & Michelin star restraunt trained. His food creations are complex, unexpected & DIVINE. If you have a chance to stop by this garden the cafe is worth it! SERIOUSLY the BEST food we've had in all of Japan (and...

The three stars are for the food and the service. Brocoli soup was great and the espresso lemonade was really good nver tried that before and was amazed by the flavor might try to do it at home. The forest/garden has potential but its too small and it doenst offer anything fascnitaing it needs more plants if you are calling it a gardenn . Maybe i need to lower my expectations . It is pretty but too smal...

I think this is one of my favorite places in Japan. It's just really calm and peaceful. After few mins of walk inside of this garden, my mind became so peaceful that all my small distractions were gone.

Nicolai said it's not completely done at this moment, and this space will develop day by day, year by year. I hope I can visit there again in the...