Japanese Tea Garden

Entry price: $6 for residents, $8 for non-residents. And free admission on Mon, Wed, Fri before 10:00AM

7 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, in San Fransisco's Golden Gate Park

You can enjoy refreshments in the Tea House which has a custom designed irori (Irori is the traditional Japanese sunken hearth which is used for heating the home and for cooking food).

The tradition is that they serve fortune cookies to Tea Garden visitors. Mr.Higawari who created the Japanese Tea House, is the man who also introduced fortune cookis to US from Japan in the late 1890s - early 1900s. Originate fortune cookies make in Japan were savory, but they developed a sweeter taste adding vanilla in the recipe for a more appealing flavour in the Western.

You will also find a Zen Garden, which is a mixture of rocks, pebbles, trees, and possibly a small waterfall. A Zen Garden is a peaceful art form, that can have multiple purposes. It is traditionally used for meditation in Buddhism, and as a focal point for quiet contemplation. Some writers and artists use the methodical raking as a way of spurring creativity through. The simply striking art form that the stones and sand provide is alluring to most eyes.

Fun Fact: I saw a squirrel that jumped onto a stone and over to the other side of the Zen Garden. I believe it wanted to avoid distroying the art form, which is super cute! I love squirrels!