This popular attraction along the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco is the Japanese Tea Garden. This is the oldest public Japanese garden all across the United States. This complex site of its many paths, surrounded by many species of trees and a teahouse that features plants and trees in a Japanese set-up. The garden is a 3 acre with a plant of sculptures and structures that are highly influenced by Buddhist and Shinto religious beliefs. Many elements of rock and water create a calming landscape design to slow people down.
History
Created as a “Japanese Village” exhibit for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition, the site originally spanned about one acre and showcased a Japanese-style garden. When the fair closed, Japanese landscape architect Makoto Hagiwara and superintendent John McLaren reached a gentleman’s agreement, allowing Mr. Hagiwara to create and maintain a permanent Japanese-style garden as a gift for posterity. EZ San Francisco Junk Removal
Mr. Hagiwara expanded the garden to its current size of approximately 5 acres where he and his family lived for many years until 1942 when they, along with approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans, were forced to evacuate their homes and move into internment camps. When the war was over, the Hagiwara family was not allowed to return to their home at the tea garden and in subsequent years, many Hagiwara family treasures were removed and new additions were made.
Tea House
Enjoy a meditative cup of tea and sample popular Japanese refreshments in the newly refurbished Tea House which has a custom-designed irori or farmhouse style family table. The Tea House is nestled in the center of The Japanese Tea Garden and overlooks the picturesque landscape and South-facing Pond.
Mr. Hagiwara introduced fortune cookies to the United States from Japan in the 1890s or early 1900s. Initially, the cookies were made on-site by hand using a special iron mold or kata. When demand grew, Mr. Hagiwara hired San Francisco, California local confectioner Benkyodo to produce the fortune cookies in large quantities.
HOURS Open Everyday Winter 9AM – 4:45PM Summer 9AM – 5:45PM
Gift Shops
Authentic Japanese items including tea and sake sets, glazed ceramic bowls and vases, kokeshi and daruma dolls, a variety of green teas, Maneki Neko figurines, and children’s collectibles are available for purchase in the Gift Shop located above the Tea House on the Terrace level.
Like the Tea House, the Gift Shop possesses distinctively Japanese style in its architecture and interior design.
Address: 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive San Francisco, CA
Check out other tourist spots like Golden Gate Bridge