Visiting the Japanese Tea Garden

I hadn’t been to San Francisco’s Japanese Tea Garden since I was a small child, so when I was in Golden Gate Park recently, I decided to take my family to check it out. I had forgotten how magical this place is. The moment we walked in, my 4-year old son said “Wow!” and ran to one of the bridges that crossed the series of little streams, ponds, and waterfalls that graces the garden. My first thought when I first entered was, “Why did I wait so long to come back and visit?” It was lush, tranquil, and beautiful with all its spring flowers in bloom, and even with the many tourists roaming around it still had the feeling of being a peaceful retreat from the bustle outside.

The many paths, ponds, streams, sculptures, plants, stone lanterns, and stepping-stones are a real hit with children, as is the steep, improbably arched moon bridge (Drum Bridge) that requires you to scale it like a ladder. There are also stunning examples of traditional Japanese architecture and craftsmanship, such as the spectacular cypress gates and a Buddhist pagoda, as well as a monumental bronze Buddha sculpture. The 5-acre Japanese Tea Garden has been a fixture in Golden Gate Park since 1894, when it was constructed for the California Midwinter Exposition. True to its name, there is a traditional Japanese teahouse on the grounds where you can sit, relax, and drink a pot of tea. We ordered a pot of genmai cha (brown rice tea) and some decaf green tea for our 4-year-old. They also bring you a bowl of Japanese cookies and rice crackers. This of course includes fortune cookies, which, although associated with Chinese restaurants, were invented here in 1909 by the original designer and caretaker of the garden, Makato Hagiwara. There’s also a gift shop selling assorted San Francisco trinkets and Japanese style souvenirs.

The Japanese Tea Garden is located on the appropriately named Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, next to the de Young Museum. Open 8:30 am to 6 pm daily. Admission is $4.00 for adults and $1.50 for children; children under 6 are free. Table service for tea and cookies in the teahouse runs about $3.50 per person.

For a better look, here's an amazing 360º panorama of the Tea Garden.