The famous Japanese Tea Garden is located in Golden Gate Park, near the band shell, the DeYoung Museum and the Academy of Sciences.
The Japanese Tea Garden originated as a one acre display at the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894. Now 5 acres in all, it is the oldest public Japanese Garden in the United States. The cost is $3 to $7 to tour the grounds, however, if you arrive before 10 am on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday the admission is free.
And yes, you can have tea in the tea garden. A cash only area offers a menu of tea and small Japanese dishes.
After the fair, original creator, Makoto Hagiwara, made a handshake deal with Golden Gate Park head, John McLaren, to expand and make the Japanese Tea Garden permanent. He served as its overseer from 1895 until his death in 1925. Hagiwara's family continued to live there and maintain it until 1942.
Stroll through the serene gardens and view such classic Japanese elements as the arched drum bridge, the koi ponds, pagodas, stone lanterns, incredible number of Japanese and Chinese plants and the zen garden. If you visit during March or April, the cherry blossom trees are blooming. It was here at the Japanese Tea Garden that the fortune cookie was first invented by the Hagiwara family. Ultimately, of course, it became known as a Chinese treat at the end of the meal.
In the middle of the city, the peace and tranquility of the Japanese Tea Garden is an experience you don't want to miss.
Japanese Tea Garden
75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr
San Francisco, CA
Pillar Point RV Park is just over 20 miles from Golden Gate Park and the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco. It's an easy drive ...just go north on highway 1 and stay on it as it runs right through the park..then turn right on Martin Luther King Drive, then left on Music Concourse Drive..and left on Hagiwara Drive....
More information about the history of the tea garden:
http://www.golden-gate-park.com/japanese-tea-garden.htmlRV Dream New Radio's Visit...