Envision yourself transported to a serene oasis. Right here is the Japanese Tea Garden. It is the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States.
The Japanese Tea Garden began as a Japanese Village. It was for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition. Australian-born George Turner Marsh built it. He hired Japanese craftsmen.
After the fair, Makoto Hagiwara managed the garden. He expanded it using his own funds. Hagiwara created stone paths and koi ponds. He planted native Japanese plants. He made a Zen garden.
But in 1942, tragedy struck. Hagiwara and his family were sent to internment camps. This happened during World War II. They were not allowed to return after the war. Their treasures were removed. The garden was renamed “The Oriental Tea Garden”.
Later, the name was changed back to Japanese Tea Garden. The Hagiwara family was honored. The road was named Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive in 1986.
The Tea House is central to the garden. It dates back to 1894. It is the oldest tea house in the United States. Visitors can enjoy tea and Japanese refreshments. Fortune cookies are also served. Mr. Hagiwara introduced fortune cookies to San Francisco. He enlisted Benkyodo Company to produce them.
Look there. Do you see the five-tiered pagoda? It is a beautiful wooden structure. It was originally built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. John McLaren saved it from demolition. He had it moved to the Tea Garden.
Notice the cherry blossoms. They bloom in March and April. These flowers symbolize the fleeting nature of life. They also represent the arrival of spring.
Walk over to the drum bridge. When reflected in the water, it looks like a drum. This bridge slows people down. It lets boats pass underneath.
The dry landscape garden is called Karesansui. Nagao Sakurai designed it. Stones and gravel represent waterfalls and oceans. Islands are shaped like tortoises. They symbolize immortality and good luck.
The Japanese Tea Garden has a variety of trees. These include cherry trees and Japanese maples. Dwarf trees were planted by the Hagiwara family. They were returned to the garden after the war.
Water is very important in Japanese gardens. It represents purity and liveliness. Ponds and waterfalls reflect the sun. Tsukubai is a water basin. Guests use it to purify themselves before tea ceremonies.
Rocks are also key elements. They represent mountains and bodies of water. They are thought of as dwelling places of gods. Tall stones represent masculinity. Low stones represent femininity.
The garden’s design is influenced by Japanese aesthetics. These include miniaturization and concealment. Extended scenery makes the garden seem larger. Asymmetry reflects the ever-changing nature of things.
The Japanese Tea Garden is influenced by Shinto and Buddhist beliefs. It is a place to appreciate nature. It is a place to find peace and harmony.