🌿🏯 *Sorakuen Garden (相楽園): Kobe’s Hidden Edo-Meiji Oasis* 🎋🌸

#summervacay Tucked between skyscrapers, this **19th-century strolling garden** blends **Edo-era tranquility with Meiji Western flair**. Once a private villa, it’s now a serene escape with **teahouses, koi ponds, and a rare Western-style greenhouse**—all just minutes from Kobe’s bustling Sannomiya district. ### **🌟 *MUST-SEE HIGHLIGHTS*:** - **The Red Bridge & Waterfall:** A **postcard-perfect** scene straight out of a woodblock print. 🌉💦 - **Former Hassam House:** A **colonial-style mansion** (rare in Japan!) with a rose garden and vintage gramophone inside. 🏡🎶 - **Moon-Viewing Platform:** Visit in **autumn** for *tsukimi* (moon-viewing) events with tea and wagashi. 🍡🌕 ### **💡 *TRAVEL TIPS*:** - **Cherry Blossom Season:** **Early April** paints the garden in soft pink (*somei yoshino* trees). 🌸 - **Pair with Kobe Beef:** Hit **Steak Aoyama** (10-min walk) post-garden. 🥩 - **Free Entry Days:** Every **4th Sunday** of the month! ### **📸 *INSTA-WORTHY SPOTS*:** - **Silhouetted under the wisteria trellis** (May blooms). 💜 - **Reflections in the pond** with the **Hassam House** in the background. **#sorakuen #kobehiddengem #japanesegarden #edomeijivibes** *Sorakuen doesn’t just relax—it* time-travels. *Whisper to the koi and listen for history.* 🐟 **🚇 *Getting There:* 5-min walk from Sannomiya Station.** *Entry: 300 JPY (~$2).* *P.S. Grab **matcha tiramisu** at *Nishimura Coffee* nearby!* 🍵🍰