Japanese Tea Garden
Welcome to the oldest operating public Japanese Garden in North America. Natural beauty and tranquility greet you amongst graceful Japanese maples, twisting pines, clipped azaleas, and cherry trees.
Today’s Hours
Open 9am – 6pm
Last entry today is 5:30pm
Explore
Buddha
Cast in 1790 in Japan, the Buddha, named Amazarashi-No-Hotoke, was donated by Richard Gump.
Dry Landscape Garden
Also known as a Zen Garden, this garden was designed by Nagao Sakurai in 1953 to represent hills, mountains and running water.
Pagoda
The lovingly restored pagoda was originally built for the 1915 Panama- Pacific International Expo, and designed to represent a Buddhist’s “treasure tower.”
Cherry Blossoms
Cherry blossom trees bloom throughout the garden in March and April.
Azaeleas
Azaeleas bloom throughout the garden in March and April.
Wisteria
Wisteria bloom throughout the garden in April and May.
Tea House
Visit the Tea House to enjoy a meditative cup of tea and popular Japanese refreshments at a custom-designed “irori” or farmhouse-style family table. The Tea House is located at the site of the original teahouse built for the Mid-Winter Exposition of 1894, nestled in the center of The Japanese Tea Garden overlooking the picturesque south-facing pond.
Walking tours
Enjoy a 60 minute walking tour of the Japanese Tea Garden led by San Francisco City Guides. Explore one of the most popular attractions in San Francisco and learn about classic elements such as an arched drum bridge, pagodas, stone lanterns, stepping stone paths, native Japanese plants, serene koi ponds and a zen garden. Cherry blossom trees bloom throughout the garden in March and April.
Gift Shop
Purchase 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. Like the Tea House, the Gift Shop possesses distinctively Japanese style in its architecture and interior design. The Gift Shop is located above the Tea House on the Terrace level in a two-story house that was part of the “Japanese Village” built for the 1894 Exposition and was rebuilt in 1959.
Become a member
Enjoy members-only perks and unlimited access to the Gardens, all while supporting our mission.
History
Since the creation of Golden Gate Park in 1870, each garden has enjoyed a rich and varied history. Dig deeper into how the Gardens of Golden Gate Park have evolved through the years.
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