This week, I took my kids to see the cherry blossoms in bloom at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco for free. The timing couldn’t have been better—we’re currently working through a Kitchen Garden Unit Study, and just learned about phenology, the study of seasonal natural events, like cherry blossoms blooming, that help people know when to plant.
The garden visit turned into a beautiful hands-on lesson, and I wanted to share how you can experience this peaceful place for free—plus the picture books we used to prepare and enrich the trip for our kids.
Free Admission: How to Get Discounted Admission to the Japanese Tea Garden
There are three ways to visit the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco for free:
- Early Bird Admission:
Free entry every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday before 10:00 AM for all visitors. - San Francisco Residents:
Free admission year-round with a valid ID showing a San Francisco address. - Museums for All Program:
EBT cardholders can receive up to four free tickets with their benefits card and a photo ID.
About the Japanese Tea Garden
Located in Golden Gate Park, the Japanese Tea Garden is the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. Originally created as part of the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition (a world’s fair), the garden was later expanded and maintained by Makoto Hagiwara, a Japanese landscape architect who poured his heart into the design.
The garden features traditional elements like koi ponds, stone lanterns, a curved drum bridge, and a tea house, all surrounded by beautifully maintained plants and trees, many of which were imported from Japan.
During World War II, the Hagiwara family was unjustly removed and incarcerated under internment policies, and the garden was renamed the “Oriental Tea Garden.” It wasn’t until after the war that the name was restored and the space began to reclaim its original identity.
Today, the Japanese Tea Garden stands as a symbol of resilience, peace, and cultural exchange—and a perfect place for children and adults alike to slow down and observe nature.
Read Before You Go: Books to Introduce Japan’s Culture and Gardens
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We use The Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer as the backbone of our lower grade history curriculum. Susan Wise Bauer chronicles history across the globe from early nomadic humans to end of the twentieth century. I like to time our reading on Japan to line up with visits like this one. To deepen the experience, we read picture books that highlight Japanese poetry, garden life, and traditional art.
Here are our favorites:
- One Leaf Rides the Wind by Celeste Davidson Mannis
A counting book set in a Japanese garden, with gentle haiku woven throughout. A perfect introduction to elements of Japanese gardens and poetic form. - The Year Comes Round: Haiku Through the Seasons by Sid Farrar, illustrated by Ilse Plume
A lyrical celebration of nature and the seasons in haiku—ideal for sparking your child’s own poetic observations during your visit. - In a Spring Garden, edited by Richard Lewis, illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats (1965)
A classic collection of haiku by Japanese masters, brought to life by Keats’s expressive collage-style art. - Nature Art with Chiura Obata by Michael Elsohn Ross, illustrated by Wendy Smith (2000)
A look at a Japanese American artist who brought the spirit of Japanese landscape painting to the American West. This book is inspiring for young artists and nature lovers alike.
Plan Your Visit
Japanese Tea Garden Address:
75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118
Japanese Tea Garden Hours:
- Summer (March 1 – October 31): 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Winter (November 1 – February 28): 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Tea House Hours
Enjoy traditional Japanese food and tea inside the Japanese Tea Garden. The open-air covered restaurant offers delicious food in a tranquil ambiance for a reasonable price. My kid’s favorite menu items are the udon noodles, chicken karaage, and waravimochi (kind of like a matcha marshmallow).
- Summer (March 1 – October 31): 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Winter (November 1 – February 28): 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Make It a Learning Field Trip
If you’re homeschooling or just love learning alongside your kids, a visit to the Japanese Tea Garden is a memorable, affordable field trip. Talk about seasons, observe plant life, practice quiet observation, sketch koi fish or bridges, or try writing your own haiku while you’re there.
Whether you’re pairing your visit with a garden unit study like us or simply soaking in the beauty, this peaceful garden offers a natural moment to pause, reflect, and connect with the rhythms of nature.
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