Attend A Lantern Floating Ceremony At One Of The Oldest Japanese Gardens In The Western Hemisphere—1 Hour From SF

Hakone Estate and Gardens is preparing to welcome guests to its 4th annual Toro Nagashi , a traditional Japanese lantern floating ceremony where participants release candle-lit lanterns into the garden’s koi pond to honor their loved ones. This year’s festival will take place at the Saratoga garden on August 14th and 15th, 2025. If you missed Hakone’s magical nighttime cherry blossom event in the spring, the Toro Nagashi event is a fantastic opportunity to see one of the Western Hemisphere’s oldest authentic Japanese gardens right here in the Bay Area. Toro Nagashi 2025 ----------------- Guests can now book tickets for Hakone’s Toro Nagashi event from 6:30-8:30pm on Thursday, August 14th, and Friday, August 15th, 2025. Tickets cost $60 for non-members and $30 for members. Both evenings follow a simple schedule of events, beginning with a brief period of lantern personalization and exploring the gardens, followed by remembrance presentations by several speakers and the launching of lanterns at 7:45pm , which is accompanied by live Koto music. Traditional Toro Nagashi, or river lantern festivals, are held throughout Japan in the summer. They coincide with the Obon holiday in mid-August, in which families visit the graves of their ancestors and give special offerings. When the Obon season ends, families send off their ancestors’ spirits using okuribi lights , such as bonfires and Toro Nagashi water lanterns. Visiting Hakone Estate and Gardens ---------------------------------- First established in 1915 as a private summer residence, Hakone Estate and Gardens has since become a public park managed by the city of Saratoga. Spanning 17 acres, it endures to this day as one of the oldest authentic Japanese gardens in the Western Hemisphere. Visitors are welcome to observe the meditative Dry Garden with raked gravel and mosses, stroll along the Tea Garden’s stone path, and marvel at the longstanding Bamboo Garden. 🌐 Website : Hakone Estate and Gardens 🚗 Travel : It takes about 50 minutes to reach Hakone Gardens by car from San Francisco. 📍 Location : 21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070 Source: https://secretsanfrancisco.com/hakone-gardens-toro-nagashi-lantern-festival-saratoga/