Hakone Gardens was originally the private estate of Isabel and Oliver Stine, San Francisco philanthropists. Mrs. Stine fell in love with the beauty of Japanese gardens at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. So much so, that she designed her summer retreat as a Japanese Garden. In January of 1917 Isabel Stine sailed to Japan visit Japanese historic garden estates, and after returning, got to work in building her own own Hakone.

Renown architect Tsunematsu Shintani designed and constructed the Moon Viewing Upper House, the Lower House and created the koi pond. Major Charles Lee Tilden bought Hakone from Isabel Stine in 1932 and built the main gate, "the mon" and also added the upper pavilion, the wisteria arbor and exquisite pathways. Tilden Park is named in his honor.

In 1966, the City of Saratoga purchased Hakone Gardens and in the 1990’s, the first Hakone Foundation raised money to build the Cultural Exchange Center (CEC) building. In 2004 Hakone Estate and Gardens was chosen by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the twelve national sites to receive funding under their “Save America’s Treasures” program. Hakone was the dramatic location for the movie, “Memoirs of a Geisha”, winner of three Academy Awards.