Hagiwara Japanese Tea Garden
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California
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One of the most serene and beautiful places in the city of San Francisco, the Japanese Tea Garden started as a one-acre attraction at the California Midwinter International Exhibition in 1894, as part of the "Japanese Village." Since then, it has undergone a series of evolutionary changes that have brought it to its present day condition. The garden is now just over 5 acres, and is meticulously maintained by skilled gardeners.

Theresa and I visited on a cool afternoon at the end of August. We spent a good deal of time strolling along the garden pathways, admiring the attention to detail, and enjoying some down time from our tourist activities.

Even though the garden is a popular tourist attraction, it is not overly crowded. In addition, most visitors seem to naturally respect its peaceful atmosphere. Despite dozens of people walking its paths, it's remarkably quiet and tranquil.

If you choose (and I do recommend it), you can sit down for tea service in the central teahouse. Your choice of green, pekoe, or jasmine tea is available - with a bowl of rice crackers and assorted biscuits - for about $3 a person. The teahouse is located at the head of the water garden lakes, between two graceful waterfalls.

For more information, you may want to check out the history essay (with photos) located here.

This is the main gate to the garden.

The two most striking features of the garden are these structures, which tower brilliantly above the rest of the landscape. The one on the left is an ornate Shinto temple gate, and the building in the center is a pagoda-style Bhuddist temple.

Here, Theresa stands against one of the columns of the Shinto temple gate pictured above. What you can't see is the underside of the gateway, which features painted panels depicting symbolic natural elements such as flowers, birds, and fish.

The walkways criss-cross over bridges and stepping stones as they meander around and through the large water garden. The lakes contain dozens of large and colorful koi. Along the banks, various lilies, ferns, and other water plants grow.

Koi in the water garden pond.

Theresa and I are on top of the Drum Bridge. The bridge over the water is a perfect semi-circle, and can be a bit of a challenge to gracefully navigate. The gentleman who donated this temple bridge paid for it by selling his family farm and estates. He labored for many years to rebuild his wealth so that he could buy back his family's lands. Ironically, the garden fell into neglect and almost met its demise when the Hagiwara descendants and caretakers were stripped of their possessions and intered in camps during World War II.

This is one of the two rock gardens and waterfalls that flank the teahouse and seating area. The slopes are planted with ferns, dwarf maples, bonsai evergreens, and various mosses. The sound of the falling water permeates the tea pavillion and fosters a very relaxing atmosphere.

Theresa is cooling down her cup of green jasmine tea. Tea is served, along with a small bowl of sweet and savory snacks, by kimono- and sandal-clad waitresses. We nestled into a secluded, rocky corner at the roots of a large fir. Small blackbirds hopped about, eating up the sesame seeds and crumbs dropped by patrons.

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