This Serene San Francisco Tourist Destination Is A Walkable Paradise With A Zen Tea House

When you think of San Francisco, your mind may wander to popular sites such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, or the famous row of Painted Ladies. You may even try to catch a glimpse of the famous Tanner Family home from the hit TV series "Full House." While San Fran's streets are bustling with tourists year-round, getting away from crowds at this serene tourist destination that's a walkable paradise with a zen tea house might just be a hidden gem in the city that you need to visit.

There are many family-friendly activities to add to your San Francisco bucket list, and a visit to the Japanese Tea Garden, located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, blends beautiful scenery with serenity, and will transport you to Japan without the cost of an expensive plane ticket. While Nagoya may be a must-visit Japanese city for your next culinary vacation, the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco has been welcoming visitors since 1894 as the oldest maintained Japanese garden outside Japan. San Francisco is also home to the oldest Japantown in America.

The Japanese Tea Garden is open daily from 9AM, with the last entry fluctuating seasonally. Free entry to the gardens is between 9AM-10AM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Priced at $20.25 for adults, and $9.25 for youths and seniors, a walk through five acres of stunning Japanese maple trees, cherry trees, and twisting pines await in what was once lovingly maintained by Makoto Hagiwara, the original caretaker, as part of the Midwinter International Exposition.

A stop at the original site of the 1894 Midwinter International Exposition Japanese teahouse within the garden is a highlight of the visit. Known for its Japanese farmhouse table style called "irori," as you overlook the pond while sipping on a cup of green tea, you'll feel your day's stress melt away. The Tea House offers a menu consisting of numerous Japanese teas, including a matcha tea ceremony, light snacks like edamame, miso soup, sweet treats such as Daifuku made with red bean paste, and mochi ice cream. 

While strolling through the harmonic design of the gardens, boasting trees up to 100 years old, you'll come across pristine zen gardens from 1953 that were designed by Nagao Sakurai to represent running water and mountainous landscapes. A Japanese Buddha named Amazarashi-No-Hotoke that was donated to the garden can also be seen along the walk, as well as colorful and intricately designed tall red pagodas and a unique arched drum bridge.

Visitors to the gardens share their positive experience and photos on TripAdvisor. Analuisa S mentions their visit by writing, "What a treat! Visiting immediately you feel the inner peace; your soul melts with beauty of the harmony that nature offers. The perfect design of each area is a gift to your eyes." Enjoying a moment of zen in a city as busy as San Francisco is easily achieved with a visit to this Japanese masterpiece that seamlessly blends intricate architecture, blissful waterfalls, relaxing koi ponds, and a taste of Japanese culture right here in the U.S.