Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco

About Japanese Tea Garden

Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco is the oldest operating public Japanese garden in North America, where visitors walk among graceful Japanese maples, twisting pines, clipped azaleas, and cherry trees. The garden features a Buddha statue cast in 1790 in Japan, a restored pagoda originally built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Expo, and a dry landscape garden designed to represent hills, mountains, and running water using traditional Zen principles. Walking tours led by San Francisco City Guides explore classic elements including an arched drum bridge, stone lanterns, stepping stone paths, serene koi ponds, and native Japanese plants. The Tea House, located at the site of the original teahouse from 1894, overlooks a south-facing pond and serves Japanese refreshments and tea at farmhouse-style family tables. The garden suits visitors seeking natural tranquility and cultural landmarks during a meditative outing in San Francisco, California.