Japanese Tea Garden to reopen, with new restrictions in place

Citywide, Golden Gate Park

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today that the Japanese Tea Garden will reopen tomorrow, joining the nearby Botanical Garden on the list of reopened public amenities in Golden Gate Park.

The garden, which has remained closed since March 17, will open for up to 100 people at a time during restricted hours, every Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended.

Originally built for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exhibition as part of a model village, the tea garden is a showcase of traditional Japanese landscaping, architecture and design.

The reopening will take place even as the garden's pagoda remains under scaffolding as part of a $2 million restoration project, fundraising for which is still ongoing.

The fundraiser, hosted by Friends of the Japanese Tea Garden and the SF Parks Alliance, is also raising money to stabilize the Torii Gate, repair the Long Bridge, and landscape around the pagoda.

Rec & Park spokesperson Tamara Aparton said the garden was exploring guidelines and approval for safe food and beverage service, but that for now the garden's tea house would remain closed for service.