🌿🏯 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!* 🍵🍰