Beautiful San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden, 3/06/2018

The Japanese Tea Garden is a gorgeous, year-round, garden featuring shaded walkways, stone bridges, a waterfall, and ponds with koi (and turtles). Open daily from dawn to dusk (and wheel chair accessible), it is a lovely city park. 

Here’s a brief history:

• 1901: A public park opened adjacent to the rock quarry (that closed in 1908).
• 1919: City Park Commissioner, Ray Lambert, came up with the idea of a lily pond at the quarry that would eventually become the Japanese Tea Garden.
• 1926: A local Japanese-American artist, Kimi Eizo Jingu, took over maintenance and expansion of the tea garden adding the Bamboo Room (offering light fare and tea). 
• 1942: The Jingu family was evicted due to anti-Japanese sentiment during World War II. A Chinese-American family operated the park, renaming it the Chinese Sunken Garden, until the 1960s.
• 1984: The park was re-dedicated the Japanese Tea Garden.
• 2008: After a $1.5M+ renovation, the park re-opened with relatives of the Lambert and Jingu families in attendance. 

The huge pavilion near the entrance can be seen from all parts of the park. It was wonderful to see so many plants in bloom here! We are anxious for spring to arrive.

We enjoyed seeing the colorful koi and so did our sweet doggie, Sadie. They seemed very interested in her as well!

The stone bridges, waterfalls, and small islands of plants in the ponds create a beautiful backdrop to the gardens.

There were also lots of turtles enjoying the pond here.

We followed the path to the top of the waterfall for a bird’s eye view of the gardens. 

The stonework here is so impressive. 

Lunch, snacks, and drinks (non-alcoholic) can be purchased at the Jingu House where they have both indoor and outdoor seating. Reservations can be made for events at the gardens and restaurant. 

We all loved this place. If I lived in San Antonio I would be a frequent visitor to this serene setting. For additional information about the Tea Garden, go to www.sanantonio.gov/ParksAndRec/Parks-Facilities/All-Parks-Facilities/Parks-Facilities-Details/ArtMID/14820/ArticleID/2912/Japanese-Tea-Garden.