This 10-hectare site is perhaps the most ambitious Japanese garden ever constructed in North America.

The estate includes a large waterfall, a cascade, a pond and seven buildings. A round stone bridge and pathways lead to a courtyard where guests can see the main residence (north and south wings) over the three-acre pond. The teahouse, which was re-assembled in Woodside after being brought from Japan, stands in a deep forest.

The garden is being constructed by Shigeru Namba, a Japanese garden builder. He has already moved 3,500 tons of rock. About 81,000 cubic yards of earth were moved from the pond and redistributed to make way for hills and islands. Over 500 trees were added to the 700 existing natural trees.

The estate's design is based on that of Katsura Rikyu. (Source: jgarden.org)