🌸🌉Japanese Friendship Garden: Silicon Valley’s “Chill” Oasis… or Not

🌴💦Tucked in San Jose’s Kelley Park, this garden promised serenity—but delivered déjà vu! 🌄✨ Two years post-pandemic, the iconic red bridge still stands wrapped in scaffolding, its “waterfall” dry as a desert mirage. 🌵💧 The lone cherry blossom tree? Barely knee-high—a far cry from the bloom-filled paradise I’d hoped for. 🌳 Flat Paths, Steep Disappointment The trails are smooth—perfect for strollers, joggers, and dog-walkers—but at $10/hour parking, it’s pricier than most county parks! 🅿️💸 Skip it unless you’re pairing with Happy Hollow Zoo nearby. 💡 Silicon Valley’s “Lay-Back” Paradox In a region famed for hustle, this garden feels like it’s choosing to slack. 🌴🌵 No rushing repairs, no rushing visitors—just a quiet spot to ponder life’s slow moments. Yet, for $10, I’d rather chase waterfalls at Hakone Garden! 🌅 Pro Tip Come for the shade, not the hype. Pack snacks, skip the parking rip-off, and embrace the irony: Silicon Valley’s “chill” park is ironically stuck in time. 🌄💦 #BayAreaParks #SiliconValleyChill #ParkLife