Come to the Tea House in the Garden

When in San Francisco, do as the natives do...play tourist! Go to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. The park is as old as institutions can get in this new/old city. The land, sand dunes by nature, were deeded to San Francisco in 1870, and a master gardener, a man named John McClaren arrived that same decade. By the 1890's he had succeeded in coaxing the land to accept grass and trees.

In 1894 came the Midwinter Fair that gave birth to the Japanese Tea Gardens. Begun by an Australian, the gardens are a myriad of pathways that lead you onto endless discovery. It changes with the season, and over time. It's a little pocket of peace in the sometimes too-bustling atmosphere of the rest of the city. Originally part of Japanese Town, an expo at the fair, it became an institution

Within the five acre expanse are Japanese and Chinese plants, rocks, trees, bridges, sculpture and vistas galore. The garden was 'taken over' from 1895 to 1942 by Makato Hagwara and his family. With an eye to what a garden can be, and a lot of talent, they have created an oasis. Oh, and he also created the Fortune Cookie, so we must assume his sense of divinity was leavened by a sense of the ridiculous.

Tea is served at the tea house, not too far from the entrance. Entry was still at $3.50 on the day we went. The most expensive tea ran us about $13. For. this you get your choice of teas, and a little bit of a delightful snack mix. It's served in pots and Japanese-style cups and bowls. Be sure to splurge and get the 'expensive' tea. You don't really want to go wandering around the park with a styrofoam tea cup, do you? I didn't think so. The style of the little tea house is what I would describe as rustic tourist. And all the best of society takes their tea that way every time the go to the garden.

Um, 'the best of society'. That would be me and mine, my favorite teacher as a child, schoolchildren on occasion, and many more. Sometimes the garden is crowded, sometimes it is not. Go anyway. Climb the old bridges, skip across the stones, discover the vistas. You'll love it. I do.

Recently, in a burst of tourism, I climbed the steep-sided bridge that allows you to look across the tops of the shorter trees, and down into the faces of your less enthusiastic friends. For my efforts, my husband managed to snap a fine photo of my arse as I descended backwards down the less-than-gentle slope. I highly recommend the experience, but if you're not up to it, you can always volunteer to take a picture of your companion's arse as they descend.

Other bridges and paths have gentler slopes. See you there!